If your child is still having difficulty counting coins, they may just need to meet the Hairy Money Family! Read the story below:
Hairy Money Family
Once upon a time in a land far away lived the hairy money family. This was a special band of monkeys who helped the local tribes count their money. There was Five Hair Papa, Two Hair Momma, One Hair Brother and the No Hair Twins.
When Five Hair Papa was near a quarter, his five hairs stuck straight up from his head as if they were frightened -- each standing up like a soldier in honor of the five nickels in a quarter. When a dime was in the neighborhood, the two hairs on Two Hair Momma would curl like a coil in honor of the two nickels in a dime. The one hair on One Hair Brother danced and swayed in the wind when a lone nickel rolled by. The No Hair Twins had lost all of their precious hairs upon entering this world and couldn't wait to be big like their brother with one beautiful, playful hair. However the No Hair Twins screamed with joy whenever a penny worth just one cent zoomed by.
Look at the picture below of the Hairy Money family.
Now watch the video below to learn how to count using the help of the Hairy Money family.
Have your child practice this strategy. Put four coins on a blank piece of paper and have them draw the appropriate number of hairs and then count by fives. Your child can also practice this strategy by using the activity below to drag some coins into columns. Although the answer will be displayed, your child must prove that the answer is correct by drawing the hairs on the coins and then counting by fives.