Where to Get Fake Money for Your Child
Where to Find Play Money for Your Kid
Knowing where to get fake money for your child can pay off dividends when it comes to teaching them how to count currency, identify the various types of cash notes, and be a responsible consumer. Plus, younger children may be prone to rip or tear bills as their curious hands explore the texture, so using fake currency will save you from losing real money.
Fake Money on the Internet
Thanks to the Internet, fake bills can easily be downloaded or printed directly from the website. Here are some of the best (and safest) sites I’ve come across:
- Money Instructor – A comprehensive site devoted to teaching kids proper money management techniques. Play money can be printed off in order to teach children how to count money and recognize the various bills. Denominations include $1, $5, $10, $20, and $50. Coins can also be printed off in the same way.
- Printable Fake Cash – Offers printable fake money which can be used in school lesson plans ranging from kindergarten to middle school. Available in denominations of $5, $20, and $50, this fake money is ideal for teaching kids how to count and make change, how money works, and how to be financially responsible.
- Buy Cheaper – An online retailer selling everything from video games to women’s clothing. They have an entire section devoted to counterfeit or fake money, and images range from fake million-dollar bills to money featuring the face of President Obama. Besides teaching children to handle cash, this site may also be of interest to those who collect novelty items.
Counterfeit Money from Other Sources
While the Internet is a convenient source for fake currency, you will also find it available from other sources. Here are a few to try:
- Grocery Store – Most grocery stores have a section with toys, and you can often find a packet of play money hanging in this area. A larger retailer like Wal-Mart may have just as many options as a toy store.
- Toy Store – While a grocery store may only carry one type of play currency, a toy store should have a number of options. You child may be thrilled to get a million-dollar bill or one with a cartoon character on the front.
- Monopoly – If you want to know where to get fake money for your child, don’t forget about one of the most popular board games around. I’m talking, of course, about Monopoly, and the phrase “Monopoly money” has even become synonymous with fake currency. While it doesn’t resemble real money at all, and is printed on flimsy paper, the bright pinks and blues may keep some younger kids more interested than plain old green.
- Make Your Own Fake Money – If you’re more of a hands-on type, you and your child can create your own fake money. This is an excellent activity to do together, and it will allow your youngster to demonstrate their creativity. Just get some construction paper (white or green would be best), cut it into rectangles roughly the size of real bills, and draw whatever pictures you want on the front and back.
Now that you know where to get fake money for your child, it’s time to begin the process of teaching them about how the economy works. You may be surprised at how fast they pick up these lessons, and parents with more than one mortgage and steep credit card debt might expect to receive some sound financial advice from their kids.