Exact Change Board Game Review

"Exact Change" is an educational money board game that focuses on creating exact change. The board game is appropriate for children from ages seven and up, depending on their understanding of money. Two to four players can play the board game. It features several pieces of realistic looking plastic coins, a set of rules and game cards that dictate the way the game plays and the way the players earn money.

Players are attempting to earn the most money before the board game is over. Each player gets a specific amount of coins before the game begins. Players start by pulling a card from the top of the list. They lay down one coin into the pot. The next player lays down another coin. Play continues with players laying down coins in order.

Play continues in this way until a player lays down a coin that creates exact change. For example, if the players are trying to get $0.60 and they have $0.55, play ends if the next player lays a nickel. This player takes the change from the pot and puts it into their account. The bank gets the money if players cannot make exact change. Play continues until one player has collected all of the money.

Kids learn about the proper methods of making change and counting change. The concept of "exact" change is very important and children must learn this process. The game often goes beyond $0.99 meaning that players will also learn how to convert cents into dollars and how to add cents to dollar amounts.

Pros: "Exact Change" eliminates the concept of luck and focuses strictly on strategy. Children must carefully plan which coins they place to make sure they don't use all of one kind in case an important moment pops up later. For example, if they use all their pennies but end up one cent away, they must pass instead of going over, losing that round. The rules of the game are so simple they can be taught in a few minutes. Mastering the game can take much longer. Players will want to replay the game often, which helps bring the game a lot of replay value. It also helps reinforce the change making lessons your child learned by playing the game repeatedly.

Cons: The focus on strategy may be too difficult for many younger players to master. They may struggle to master the concept of exact change, making the game potentially frustrating. Another problem is playing the game with players of varying skills. Adults should easily dominate this game. The game play can also be unbalanced if one player continues to win. She will have access to a wider variety of coins, making it hard for other children to catch up. Another potential con is the fact that the game could easily be homemade. Adults could take their own change, write change values on index cards and create their own version of the game. However, the game cards are sturdier than index cards.

The strategic element of the Exact Change game is a highlight. It really puts a lot of focus on teaching the children proper change making methods. Although it is a challenge, any child that comes to the challenge will easily master making exact change in no time. The simple presentation combined with the rules make it a prime example of a great game with coins.