Starter coin collection

Kids love building collections, and what sneakier way to teach them the value of saving than by associating collecting with cold, hard cash? Give your youngsters a one-year basic membership to the American Numismatic Association ($14). They can explore its website, Money.org, and join the “Coins for A’s” program, which lets them earn coins for good grades. “Those Amazing Coins: A Kid’s Guide to Collecting” by Kevin Flynn, R. Volpe, and Kelsey Flynn (about $9 in paperback from Amazon) and “The Instant Coin Collector” by Arlyn G. Sieber (about $13 in paperback from Barnes & Noble) are good primers. Find those books, coin albums, and other storage solutions at wizardcoinsupply.com.

Framed stock certificate

lets you buy a single share in a company that strikes your child’s fancy, including Disney, DreamWorks Animation, and Nintendo. Your budding capitalist can then follow the stock’s rise and fall, and potentially attend shareholder meetings and receive dividends. Prices are based on the share’s market value; the transaction costs $39; you’ll also pay more for framing. (We’d like one share of Berkshire Hathaway, please.)
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Oneshare.comDirect stock ownership

Alternatively, invest through companies themselves. The Walt Disney Co.’s direct stock purchase plan, for instance, lets you buy stock directly from Disney for an initial minimum of $250, or monthly deductions of $50 from a qualified bank account. Other direct plans with kid appeal include Domino’s Pizza, Harley-Davidson, Hershey’s, Mattel, McDonald’s, Nike, and Starbucks. (Go to the plan administrator Computershare for a complete list of companies.)

Coin sorter

We found a variety of them by searching the Web, including the MagNif Accu-Wrapper motorized coin sorter (about $32 at Kmart, not including two C batteries) and the industrial-strength digital Uline Coin Sorter/Counter for $235. Don’t forget to purchase extra paper tubes.

Piggy bank

Go as upscale as the $2,000 sterling silver bank from Tiffany & Co., or as plain as the plastic porker (about $2.50) from Windy City Novelties.