Coin bank

I came across this product while browsing.

Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Learning Piggy Bank

I liked the product. This product offers multiple benefits. A child can learn counting, putting the coin in the bank improves the hand eye coordination drastically. A lot of other things can be taught using it. If your budget permits, you can consider buying it, mine didn't. I had already exhausted by monthly quota for A's books and toys.

I know lot of ways to teach A counting etc and she has other toys to learn animals, colours etc. I realise may be I want this toy just so that she can put the coins in the piggy bank. Every time she will put the coin, the toy will make some sounds.

So, I decided to give her my piggy bank for playing(Yes, I still have one!). After practising putting the coins inside the coin bank for sometime, A could do it all alone. Then I turned it upside down, so that the hole for putting the coin is not visible and gave her a coin. She adjusted the bank herself and then inserted the coin. Then I kept fiddling with the bank. She still sometimes find it difficult to put the coin if I put the bank in certain positions.

Overall, it was a very engaging and fun activity. And I didn't have to shell a single penny to buy anything.

What you need:
A coin bank and lot of large size coins

Method:
Show your baby how to insert the coin in the bank and shake it to make some noise to keep the baby interested. Then give a coin to the baby to insert. If the baby is struggling too much to insert it, help him/her. If he/she inserts it correctly, encourage them by praising them or by clapping for them. If the baby is still not able to do it even after you helping, leave it for a weeks and try later.

Advantage:
Improves hand eye coordination

Entertainment and learning for free(you might get all these materials at home) :)

Beaware:
Pick only large size coins which the baby can't swallow. Small coins can be a choking hazard.

If you don't have a piggy bank/coin bank you can consider getting one. It can be useful later to encourage saving habits in your kid.

Some links:
Superman Tin Coin Bank
Ollington Street Coin Box - Ice Cream Van

Note that I already had a bank. So the products in the above links have not been tried by me. You can check the reviews on amazon. I have just given the links as examples.