The holidays are coming, and you know what that means—endless requests for screen time, sugar-fueled chaos, and the inevitable “I’m bored” chorus. But what if you could hand your kids something that’s actually fun and teaches them about money at the same time?
What Makes This Different
Most financial literacy resources for kids are, let’s be honest, pretty dry. Worksheets about saving pennies. Coloring pages with piggy banks. Yawn.
This one’s different. Your kids get to help Santa’s elves shop for toys around the world—from toy robots in Japan to piñatas in Mexico—while learning that different countries use different money. They’ll solve real math problems (currency conversion, multiplication, budgeting) without even realizing they’re doing math.
And here’s the best part: there’s a built-in generosity component. The activity ends with a section about donating and helping other kids during the holidays. It’s financial literacy and values, wrapped up in one printable.
What Your Kids Will Learn
- Currency basics: Dollars, yen, euros, pesos, pounds—they’ll see that money looks and works differently around the world
- Conversion math: If 100 yen equals 65 cents, how much does that toy cost in dollars? They’ll figure it out.
- Geography awareness: Each problem connects to a different country, building a mental map of the world
- Generosity in action: The final section asks kids to plan how they’ll help another child this season
It’s the kind of activity that works equally well on a quiet Sunday afternoon, during winter break, or as a rainy day rescue plan. Teachers love it too—so feel free to share it with your child’s classroom.
Two Pages, Zero Stress
Page one is the setup—a gorgeous illustrated world map showing all the currencies and the candy cane challenge (because what’s Christmas without candy canes?).
Page two is where the action happens—five currency conversion problems, a bonus multiple-choice question, and the donation planning section.
Print it out, grab some pencils, and you’re done. No prep work. No hunting for additional materials. Just learning disguised as holiday fun.
Why This Matters Beyond the Worksheet
Understanding that money works differently in different places is a surprisingly sophisticated concept for kids. It introduces the idea that currency has value—and that value changes depending on where you are and what you’re trying to buy.
That’s early economic thinking. That’s the foundation for understanding exchange rates, international trade, and how global markets work. But for now? It’s just helping Santa shop for toys.
And the generosity piece? That’s where financial literacy becomes financial wisdom. Money isn’t just something you earn and spend—it’s something you can use to make someone else’s life better.
Get Your Free Download
Ready to add this to your holiday activity arsenal? Download Santa’s International Toy Shopping Spree right here. DOWNLOAD HERE
And if you’re thinking ahead about teaching your kids smart money habits beyond the holidays, check out our youth savings accounts. We built them specifically to help kids learn how money grows—and why saving matters—in ways that actually stick.
Share the Fun
Know a parent who’d love this? A teacher looking for a pre-winter-break activity? Pass it along. The more kids learn that money can be both practical and purposeful, the better off we all are.
Here’s to a holiday season filled with learning, laughter, and maybe—just maybe—a little less “I’m bored.”