There are all sorts of sets of money out there- but the small coins present a problems for programs with children under 3 years of age.  They are a choking hazard, so they cannot be available when toddlers are present.

Melissa and Doug make a nice set that includes paper money in denominations from $1.00 to $100.  It comes in a nice wooden box with dividers that looks like a cash register drawer.  Children can sort them money into their correct spot, count how many bills they have and use the money to pretend spend in the classroom.

Put the coins away and only take them out when you have your older children around.  For the younger ones, you could make laminated paper coins (by enlarging these on a color copy machine and then cutting them out).  They will be safe to use and will look like the real things except bigger.

When my children were little the Melissa and Doug company didn’t exist, or if it did, I was not aware of it.  My friend Alison (Holla!) in California has young children and when I visit her, I marvel at the beauty of her Melissa and Doug puzzles.

To browse through the selection, you can click here.  They have the Jumbo Knob puzzles that I wrote about on Monday as well as several other categories that we will explore later in the month.

I don’t usually plug one company over another, but these toys are really well made and will last for years even with continuous use. Take a look.