Guide Contents
You might have seen Big Plans, our online money adventure for Tassie kids and their families. This guide can be used alongside Big Plans or on its own.
It is designed specifically for pre-school aged children, helping you introduce money concepts through play, conversation, and everyday experiences. It works best when used little and often and revisited as your child grows.
The guide covers understanding money in different ways:
- What is money?
- Saving & earning money
Spending wisely & making choices
Each section includes:
- What children are learning
- Simple ways for grown-ups to explain the idea
- Short conversation starters
- Play-based family activities
- Quick reflection check-ins
How to get started
The goal is not perfection—it’s familiarity, confidence, and positive feelings about money.
If your child loses focus, that’s okay, learning happens in small moments.
By talking, playing, and exploring together, you’re helping your child build foundations that will support them for life.
Quick Tips
Be consistent, not perfect: Regular small steps beat occasional big efforts.
Make it concrete: Use real coins/notes, pictures, jars, and checklists.
Connect to life: Markets, supermarkets, bus trips, outings—money is everywhere.
Model calmly: Share your thinking out loud when you budget or compare prices.
More things to try
Adopt a weekly rhythm: one conversation, one activity, one quick app update.
Record progress: savings goals, chores/earnings, budgets, and choices.
Celebrate milestones: small rewards (stickers, a special family activity) when goals are reached.
Small conversations today make a big difference tomorrow.
Australian Coins
In Tasmania (and all of Australia), we have special coins:
- 5 cent coin - The smallest coin! It's silver and has an echidna on it
- 10 cent coin - Silver with a lyrebird
- 20 cent coin - Silver with a platypus
- 50 cent coin - Silver with a kangaroo and emu
- $1 coin - Gold coloured
- $2 coin - Gold coloured and smaller than the $1 coin
Australian Notes
We also have colourful plastic money called notes:
- $5 note - Pink/purple
- $10 note - Blue
- $20 note - Orange/red
- $50 note - Yellow
- $100 note - Green
Fun Facts!
- Even though the $2 coin is smaller than the $1 coin, it's worth MORE!
- Our coins are shiny when they're new
- Notes are different colours so we can tell them apart easily
Conversation Starters
“Can you find the coin with the platypus?”
“Which coin do you think is worth the most?”
“Can you find the 20c piece?”
“Why do you think our notes are different colours and sizes?”
Family Activity: Coin Play & Sorting
What you’ll need: A handful of Australian coins
What to do:
- Spread the coins on a table or floor
- Sort by size, colour, or animal
- Count how many of each coin you have
- Line them up from smallest to biggest
- Line them up by value
Teaching Tip:
Turn this into a game. Accuracy matters less than familiarity and confidence.
Reflection Check-In
Ask:
“What do we do with money?”
“Which coin do you recognise now?”
Let's Practice!
Ask a grown-up to help you:
- Look at the coins in your piggy bank
- Sort them by size
- Can you find the animals on each coin?
- Which coin is worth the most?
Remember: Money helps us get the things we need, but it's important to use it wisely!
Where Can We Save Money?
Piggy Bank
A piggy bank sits in your room and keeps your coins and notes safe. You can see and hear your savings grow!
Bank Account
The bank is a special place that keeps your money very safe. Your money stays there until you need it, and the bank helps it grow a tiny bit!
How to Be a Good Saver
- Put some money aside - When you get money, save some of it
- Don't spend it all - It's okay to spend some, but try to save some too
- Watch it grow - Check your savings to see how much you have
- Be patient - Saving takes time, but it's worth it!
Why Should We Save?
When we save our money, we can:
- Buy bigger things that cost more
- Be ready for special occasions
- Reach our goals!
Tips for Young Savers
- Start small - even 50 cents counts!
- Every time you save, you're getting closer to your goal
- It feels great to watch your savings pile up!
Conversation Starters
- “What would you like to save for?”
- “How long do you think it will take?”
- “What happens when we don’t spend our money?”
- “How does it feel to watch it grow?”
Teaching Tip:
Seeing money grow is very motivating at this age—clear containers work best.
Add a sticky label with a progress bar, so their progress towards their goal is visible.
A Saving Challenge!
Can you save:
- One coin every week for a month?
- Half of your birthday money?
- Money from helping with chores?
Remember: Saving money is like planting a seed - it grows bigger over time!
How Can Kids Earn Money?
Helping at Home (Chores)
- Sorting washing
- Feeding or walking pets
- Watering plants
Helping in the garden
Jobs for Kids
- Walking a neighbour's dog
- Washing cars
- Helping at a family market stall
- Collecting bottles for recycling
- Making things to sell (with a grown-up's help)
What is Work?
Work is when we do something helpful and get paid for it. When we work:
- We help others
- We learn new skills
- We earn money
- We feel proud!
Why is Earning Special?
When you earn your own money:
- You feel proud of yourself
- You learn that work has value
- You appreciate your money more
You understand that money doesn't just appear!
Important to Remember
- Always check with a grown-up before doing jobs
- Do your best work
- Be reliable - if you say you'll do something, do it!
- It's okay to be tired after working - that shows you tried hard!
Conversation Starters
- “What jobs help our family?”
- “How did you earn that money?”
- “How did it feel to earn your own money?”
- “Why do you think people work?”
Your First Job!
Think about what job you could do:
- What are you good at?
- What do people need help with?
- How much could you earn?
Talk to your family about ways you can help and earn!
Remember: When you work hard and earn money, it feels extra special because YOU did it!
Smart Spending Tips
Think Before You Buy
- Wait a little bit before buying
- If you still want it later, it might be worth buying!
Compare Prices
- Sometimes the same thing costs different amounts in different shops
- Look for the best price!
Don't Spend It All
- Save some money for later
You might want something else another day
Needs vs. Wants
Things We NEED
- Food to eat
- Clothes to wear
- A place to live
- Medicine when we're sick
Things We WANT
- Toys
- Lollies and treats
- Games
- Special things that are fun but not necessary
Both are okay! But we buy needs first, then wants.
Before You Spend, Ask Yourself:
- Do I really want this?
- Will I still want it tomorrow?
- Will I use it more than once?
- Do I have enough money?
- Count your money first
- Make sure you have enough
- Is this the best choice?
- Could I find it cheaper somewhere else?
Is there something better I could buy?
Quality Matters
- Sometimes it's better to buy something that costs a bit more but lasts longer
- A cheap toy that breaks quickly isn't a good deal!
When You Spend Money
Once you spend money, it's gone! You can't spend the same money twice.
So think carefully:
- Is this what I really want?
- Is this a good use of my money?
- Will I be happy I bought this?
Let's Practice!
Imagine you have $5. What would you do?
- Option A: Buy a lolly for $1 today
- Option B: Save your $5 for something bigger next week
Both choices are okay - it's YOUR money and YOUR choice!
Remember: Wise spending means thinking before you buy and making choices that make you happy!
Conversation Starters
- “Is this something you need or want?”
- “Do you think you’ll want something else tomorrow?”
- “How do you feel about your choice?”
- “What would you do next time?”
What Are Choices?
A choice is when you pick one thing over another. With money, you often have to choose because you can't buy everything!
Types of Money Choices
Choice 1: Spend or Save?
- Spend now = Get something right away
- Save for later = Wait and get something bigger
Choice 2: This or That?
- If you have $5, you might have to choose between:
- A toy OR a book
- Lollies OR a sandwich
- You can't buy both if you don't have enough money!
Choice 3: Need or Want?
- Sometimes we have to choose between:
- Something we NEED (like new shoes)
Something we WANT (like a toy)
How to Make Good Choices
Step 1: Stop and Think
Don't rush! Take time to think about what you want.
Step 2: Ask Questions
- What do I want most?
- What will make me happiest?
- What will help me reach my goal?
Step 3: Talk to Someone
Ask a grown-up or friend:
- What do you think I should choose?
- Can you help me decide?
Step 4: Choose!
Make your choice and feel good about it!
What If You Make a Mistake?
That's okay! Everyone makes choices they wish they could change sometimes.
What to do:
- Learn from it
- Think about what you'd do differently next time
- Remember: it's just one choice, you'll have more chances!
The Power of Choice
When you make a choice with your money:
- YOU are in control
- YOU decide what's important
- YOU learn what works best for you
That's pretty powerful for a kid!
Let's Think About It!
What would you choose?
Situation 1: You have $10
- Buy a small toy today OR save for a bigger toy next month?
Situation 2: You earn $5
- Put it all in your piggy bank OR spend $2 and save $3?
Conversation Starters
- “Which one do you want more?”
- “What happens if we choose this?”
- “What helped you decide?”
- “Was it a tricky choice?”
There's no wrong answer - it's YOUR choice!
Remember: Making choices is a skill. The more you practice, the better you get!
What Does a Bank Do?
Keeps Money Safe
- Your money is locked up securely
- Nobody can take it
- It won't get lost or stolen
Helps Money Grow
- The bank helps your money grow a tiny bit while it's there
- The longer you leave it, the more it can grow!
Lets You Check Your Money
- You can always find out how much money you have
- You can see your money growing
Parts of a Bank
When you visit a bank, you might see:
- The counter - Where bank workers help people
- The vault - A super strong room where money is kept safe (like in the movies!)
- ATMs - Machines where grown-ups can get their money
- Desks - Where people sit to help you
How It Works:
- You give the bank your money to keep safe
- The bank puts it in your account
- You can check how much you have anytime
- When you need your money, the bank gives it back to you
Bank vs. Piggy Bank
Piggy Bank at Home
✓ You can see and touch your money
✓ Easy to add coins anytime
✗ Someone could take it
✗ You might be tempted to spend it
✗ Money doesn't grow
Savings Account at a Bank
✓ Very safe and secure
✓ Helps your money grow
✓ Good for bigger goals
✗ You need a grown-up to help
✗ You can't see the money sitting there
You can use BOTH! Some money in your piggy bank, some in the bank!
How to Open a Savings Account
- Go to the bank with a grown-up
- Tell them you want to save money
- They'll help you open an account
- You can put your money in!
Keeping Money Safe at Home
If you keep money at home:
- Put it in a piggy bank or money box
- Keep it somewhere safe
- Don't tell everyone where it is
- Count it regularly
Why Safety Matters
Money is special because:
- You worked hard to earn it OR someone gave it to you with love
- If you lose it, it's gone forever
- Keeping it safe means it's there when you need it
Visit a Bank!
Ask a grown-up if you can:
- Visit your local bank
- See what it looks like inside
- Learn about savings accounts
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Apply/ Switch
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Interest Rates
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Calculators
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Contact
Bank of us acknowledges and pays respect to the palawa - Tasmanian Aboriginal people - as the traditional owners of all the lands and waters. And we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging for they hold the knowledge, memories and culture of Aboriginal people in lutruwita/ Tasmania.
Bank of us is a trading name of B&E Ltd
ABN: 32 087 652 088
AFSL & Australian Credit Licence: 236870
BSB: 632 001
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