Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Toy Shop Role Play Prices: Free Printable Game for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Toy Shop Role Play Prices is a free printable game for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children play in a pretend toy shop with nine price tags, from bricks to puzzle. The shopper picks a tag and counts out 1p coins to pay. It is for 2 players, takes about 10 minutes and needs no screen.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages. Page 1 is the game for children. Page 2 is for the grown up, with notes, help and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children meet nine price tags for a pretend toy shop. Each tag shows a toy and its price in pence, using the numbers 1 to 9. The shopper picks a tag, reads the price and counts out that many 1p coins, one at a time. The shopkeeper checks the payment. Then the players swap roles. Real toys can sit beside the tags to make the shop feel real.
- Bricks 1p
- Ball 2p
- Kite 3p
- Car 4p
- Doll 5p
- Teddy 6p
- Drum 7p
- Robot 8p
- Puzzle 9p
Setting up your toy shop
Cut out the tags
Cut out the price tags from page 1. An adult can do the cutting for younger children. Lay them face up so the toys and prices are easy to see.
Choose your stock
Find a few real toys, soft toys or building bricks. Put each one next to a tag. Matching a real toy to its tag makes the prices feel real.
Gather your coins
Use toy coins or real 1p coins. Keep them in a small pot or purse. Ask the shopper to hold the coins and the shopkeeper to hold the tags.
Make a shop counter
Use a table, a tray or a cardboard box as the counter. A simple sign saying Toy Shop helps children step into their roles.
Why shop play helps early maths
Shop play gives numbers a purpose. A price of 5p is not just a symbol on a tag. It means five coins, and children can see, touch and count them. Using real objects helps young children link the spoken number, the written number and the amount. That link is one of the main ideas in early number work in Reception.
Pretend play also builds talk. Children ask for a toy, say how much it costs, count aloud and check each other. They take turns and learn how shops work. Because the prices are all small, children can succeed quickly and gain confidence. The grown up can listen in and notice who counts carefully.
Real 1p coins are small. Keep them away from babies and toddlers, who may put them in their mouths. An adult should stay nearby while the game is played, and count the coins back into the pot at the end.
Fun facts about money
- We say pence for an amount of money, like 5 pence, and write it with a small p.
- A price tag tells shoppers how much something costs before they pay.
- There are 100 pence in one pound.
- Money in the United Kingdom is counted in pounds and pence.
- Shops often put price tags on the shelf or on the toy itself.
Skills and curriculum link
- Counting to 9
- Counting out objects one by one
- Matching numbers to amounts
- Using 1p coins
- Role play and talk
- Taking turns
Helping your child count and pay
- Touch each coin onceAsk your child to move each coin as they say a number. This stops them counting the same coin twice or skipping one.
- The last number tells how manyWhen your child finishes counting, ask, "How many coins is that?" Listen for them to repeat the last number they said.
- Say it in a sentenceEncourage full phrases such as, "The drum costs 7p." Saying the price aloud links the written number to the amount.
- Let the shopkeeper checkThe shopkeeper counts the coins again. Checking is a good habit, and it helps children see that counting can be repeated.
Key words
- PriceHow much something costs.
- CoinA small round piece of metal money.
- PenceThe word for small amounts of money. We write it as p.
- ShopperThe person who buys things in a shop.
- ShopkeeperThe person who runs the shop and takes the money.
- PayTo give money in return for something you want.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2 for the grown up. Cut out the price tags.
- Set out the tags with some real toys. Put the coins in a pot. Choose who is the shopper and who is the shopkeeper.
- The shopper picks a tag, reads the price and counts out that many 1p coins. Help with reading the first time.
- The shopkeeper counts the coins back and checks. Talk about it together. Then swap roles.
- Check the notes on page 2, then play again another day. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Use only the first four tags to begin with. Count the coins together, touching each one as you say the number. Put the coins in a line so your child can see them clearly. Add more tags once counting feels easy.
To stretch confident children
Let the shopper buy two toys at once. They find both prices, then work out how many coins they need to pay in total. Use real coins to check. Later, ask the shopper to explain how they worked it out.
Make it a game
Set up real toys with the tags and take turns to run the shop. The shopkeeper greets the customer and takes the money. Add a bag, a till or a pretend receipt. Swap roles after each customer.
Talk about it
- Which toy would you choose from the shop, and why?
- How did you know how many coins to count out?
- What happens if you miss a coin when you count?
- Which toy costs the most? Which costs the least?
- What do you like about being the shopkeeper?
- Where have you seen price tags in real shops?
Take it off the page
Teddy bear shop
Ask your child to set up a shop for their soft toys. Make small price tags from paper. The soft toys can be the customers, and your child counts out the coins.
Coin hunt
Hide ten 1p coins around a room. Your child finds them and counts them as they go. Count them again at the end to check the total.
Snack shop
Use pretend coins to buy snack time items such as raisins or crackers. Agree each price first. An adult handles the food and any kitchen tasks.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. About 10 minutes is plenty. Praise careful counting more than speed. If your child gets tired, stop and come back later.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a role play area task or a table activity. Pair children so one shops and one checks. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider maths plan. It pairs well with real shopping trips, number songs and counting games. Use it again for brothers and sisters, and play the shop game with real toys from around the house.
Where this fits in learning
Before this game, children count objects and match each number to one item. They learn that the last number said tells how many. These ideas come from number work in the Early Years Foundation Stage, and they make coin counting much easier.
After Reception, children in Year 1 learn to recognise coins and know their values. Later, in Year 2, they solve simple money problems using addition and subtraction. Playing shop now gives them an early, friendly start on both.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Toy Shop Role Play Prices for?
It is written for Reception, which is ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Younger children can join in with a grown up, and older children can try the stretch idea.
- What will children practise?
They practise counting from 1 to 9, matching small amounts to toys and paying with 1p coins in pretend play. They also practise taking turns and talking about what they are doing.
- How do I play it?
It is for 2 players and takes about 10 minutes. The shopper picks a price tag and counts out the right number of 1p coins. The shopkeeper checks. Then the players swap roles.
- What if it feels too hard?
Use only the first four tags and count the coins together. Touch each coin as you say its number. Once your child feels confident, add more tags a few at a time.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another class, and it works well in black and white.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, a role play task, an early finisher activity or a table game. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting out the tags.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper, scissors, some coins and a few toys. That makes it a good choice for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays, and it gets children talking and counting.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.