How to Play the Cash Register Game

Setting Up

• 1

  Get out your cash register or calculator. This can be an old cash register, a play cash register or a calculator.

• 2

  Organize your play or real money for the game. You will need at least four of each coin and bill. The bills should be ones, fives and tens. Also keep an extra few bills and coins for the shopper.

• 3

  Set up your store. Gather about five to 10 items from your kitchen: cracker boxes, bananas, apples, soup cans, or whatever you want to use. You can label them with prices or just choose prices as you play the game.

Playing the Game

• 4

  To play the game, you or another person will be the shopper. The child will be the cashier. The cashier stands at the register, and the shopper, with a small amount of money, peruses the store. Start shopping in the store. Begin with a purchase of just one item so the child can learn the game and the concept.

• 5

  Bring the item to the register and have the child tell you the total. Upon hearing the total, tell the child what you will be paying with. For example, if the total is 75 cents, tell the child you will be paying with $1. Give the money to the child and have him make change in his head before entering anything into the calculator or cash register. He can double-check using electronics afterward if he would like.

• 6

  The child will give you the change back. Make sure he is using the correct combination of coins. If he gives you a quarter, ask him if there are other coins that he could use if he had no quarters.

• 7

  Once the child has mastered one item, start shopping for two or more items. This allows the child to practice addition as well as subtraction.