So last weekend, my kid comes running with a handful of pennies, right? Eyes all lit up like they struck gold. But then I remembered reading about coins carrying germs, plus little ones like putting stuff in their mouths. Total mom panic moment.
Step 1: The Hand-Washing Party
First thing? Grabbed those coins and marched straight to the sink. Made it a game – kiddo stood on their little stool beside me while I dumped all pennies in a bowl. We squeezed dish soap like it was glitter glue, blasted warm water, and scrubbed each coin together with an old toothbrush. Made “slippery fish!” sound effects when they’d drop one. Took maybe 10 minutes but felt like playtime already.
Step 2: Operation Dry Squad
Wet coins? No way. Spread baking paper on the table, laid every penny flat while kiddo used paper towels to pat-dry like a mini doctor. “Dr. Alex on duty!” they yelled. Left ’em there for full 30 minutes watching cartoons – crucial drying time. Tested by shaking ’em in our hands: zero moisture? Check!
Step 3: Coin Sorting Olympics
Dug out plastic muffin trays from the kitchen. Taught sorting by color/shiny-ness: “This one’s brown like daddy’s coffee!” “That one’s bright like Spidey’s suit!” Kid grouped copper vs. shiny new ones, cheered each time the tray filled up. Bonus: used sticky notes to practice counting numbers 1-10 in each section.
Step 4: Indoor Treasure Hunt
Hidden pennies = maximum joy. Made “X marks the spot” maps with crayons (super simple – couch cushion, bookshelf shelf 2). Kid wore pirate hat while hunting. Rules:
- No mouth touches (high fives instead!)
- Coins ONLY in treasure pouch (used sock)
- Yell “found one!” so mom tracks ’em all
Total giggle fest when dog “guarded” coins under the rug.
Step 5: Penny Rubbing Art Finale
Satisfaction phase. Taped pennies under thin paper, gave kiddo peeled crayons. Watched eyes go wide when Lincoln’s face magically appeared! We made:
- Rubbings for grandma’s birthday card
- Tower-building contest (spoiler: 18 coins toppled)
- Coin trails spelling kiddo’s name
Cleanup involved re-washing hands and storing pennies in a sealed jar labeled “Adventure Money”.
Biggest win? Zero panic about germs or choking. Plus kiddo learned counting without realizing it! Pro tip: keep sessions under 20 mins – tiny attention spans love fresh games. Now our couch cushion hoards way less surprises…
