Practice Writing Checks For Kids

1. Cursive Writing, Play Blank Checks, Voiding A Check And More

You'll find that your children like practice writing checks on our printable math worksheets. It's so much fun to write the names of real stores and to be able to pretend using checks. 

Older children practice and younger children play. The blank checks can be used as play money for preschool and kindergarten. Try printing on colored paper.

Sixth grade and up is a good time to learn how to write a check as many kids will start working and need their own bank accounts.

1. Print.
2. Cut.
3. Play! Ahem. I mean study, of course.

2. Do People Still Use Checks?

Ok. Writing checks is still important, even today.

It can also be a fun way for kids to learn to to keep records, learn cursive writing, and learn how to spell numbers correctly.

How?

Is putting the decimal point in the right place a problem? Show the Amount and Amount spelled out blocks on a check and show how the "and" separates the dollars and cents – with a decimal point in the Amount field and the word or symbol for and in the words. Some kids "get it" at a glance.

Many of us hardly use checks anymore. We use our credit card or a debit card to pay bills online. It's so easy to simply click through a utility account that is already set for online payments. Our children are way more likely to pay online than to write a check.

But there are still occasions when we need to use checks. How do I know? My older children ask me to write checks for them for certain things like

• Their first utility bill, or
• They need a voided check to establish direct deposit at a new job, or
• When setting up automatic payments for utilities.

If they've seen the process ahead of time, it's not so confusing in real life.

The main thing that younger children need to know is how to spell the most common store names and the number words. Often the name of the store is on the bill or on a sign by the register, but it's nice to have practice writing popular company names.

If a business' name is unusual, tell your children that it's no problem to ask the cashier how to spell the name if they do not see the spelling nearby.

3. Play Checks: Math, Spelling, and Writing Practice

Since most young children will not need to write a check for years and years, they can pretend in either spelling class as they practice spelling numbers or popular names in commerce.

Use the numbers and stores worksheets for practice spelling and then assign writing three checks to whichever store they choose. Use colored paper for a personalized and fun twist.

Instead of telling them to practice their numbers, let these blank play checks be a fun way to spell the numbers and make up amounts for pretend purchases. Get a little math in the deal, too.

Writing checks is also a fun exercise when learning cursive. The Payee or Pay To The Order Of blank, the second amount blank, and the signature line are usually written in cursive. For one thing cursive writing is fast when you have to check out. Kids need to learn that a signature is usually written in cursive.

See the worksheets below for printable blank checks and spelling lists of store names and how to spell the numbers. 

4. How To Write A Check

I know it's a bit of a stretch for sixth graders to need to know how to write checks, yet in a year or two some are able to get a job and will need their own check account, so it's good to have had some experience ahead of time.

At the beginning simply use the printable play checks below for practice. This way when they use the counter checks that the bank gives in their first package complete with the account numbers, a register to keep track of checks in and checks out, and some deposit slips for depositing pay checks, other checks, and cash the kids will not be too surprised at what it takes to keep track of their money.

Teach the different fields on the check: the date field, the name field or Pay To line, the number amount, the spelled words in the number, the memo – very helpful for business, and the signature. Show the kids how we usually use cursive when writing checks, especially in the signature line.

5. How To Correct Mistakes On A Check

So many times there is only one check left in your wallet. What happens if you write the wrong name or amount or misspell it? I've done it. It's probably the pressure of "getting it right" that causes extra mistakes.

What's the best way to correct a check? If you still have it in your possession, simply re-write the name or number, draw a line through the wrong one, and initial the change by putting your initials near the mistake. This way you save a check. 

If you've already sent the check, but notice on the duplicate copy that you've made a mistake, quickly call the company and ask the staff to watch for the check. You may have to replace the check in this case.

6. Writing Checks For Donations

One of the main times I find myself writing a check is when I am making a donation at church or to a school or some fundraiser. This way you have a record of what you have donated and you have something to put in the basket.

You can donate online and make a note to put in the basket, too, but it's sometimes awkward at smaller institutions.

7. Using a check at the Cash Register

Even if you write a check at a store, you may find that they use it as a debit and take the money out of your account as quickly as a debit card would. It used to be that there was a day or two between the time you wrote the check and the time that the amount is withdrawn from your account. Not now. 

I've been where the cashier would even say that I did not need to write anything on the check – BUT it is important to void this check, because you want to avoid the mistake of re-using the same check number at another time.

How do I know? There are times when I do not have my card; but I do have my check book, like when I give one of my children my debit card to run errands and get gas. They appreciate the time driving and I appreciate them doing the chores.

8. What To Do When You Don't Have A Check?

New checking accounts usually come with five to ten blank counter checks. You have to order more if you want to use them regularly. I sure recommend getting at least one box of checks, the register, and even return labels for when you have to mail a bill. This way, you have a better chance of having enough checks for when you need them.

If you run out, or did not get yours ordered soon enough, you can often go to a company's website to enter the information they need or call the accounting office to tell them the routing and account numbers.

You can start the check numbers at a high number so that it doesn't look like such a new account. Companies don't always like taking checks from new accounts, so think of starting yours in increments of twenty-five, so that the first check in each box should be something like 1001 or 2026. 

After the first box of check books, the numbers should run sequentially from the original. Consecutive numbers help you find where you have written a check but not recorded it.

9. So, Why Would You Void A check?

Your child will come home and ask, "What is a voided check?" What they're really asking is, "How do I get a voided check for my boss?" The simple answer is that the company needs an accurate way to record the correct bank routing and account numbers for future transactions. See more about voiding checks below.

Many companies still want a voided check in order to set up payroll direct deposit. It's a proof of your address because it is also a document from a financial institution.

Some investment companies request that you void a check. I know children who have followed good advice and started their investments as early as they can Dave Ramsey style. This is a wonderful way to start your children in the way of financial stewardship. Bank of America, TD Ameritrade, and others are examples.

10. How To Void A Check.

How do you void a check? Simply write VOID  in large letters across the face of the check while staying away from the electronic account numbers on the bottom line. Definitely leave the check blank. 

Here you do not have to fill in the blanks for payee, date, amounts, and signature. It can be good to cross each field as you write the word void to help ensure that the check does not get re-used.

I would not take a picture of a blank or voided check to send to the company because the digital information on the face of the check are not encrypted.

Remember to mark that check number in your check register as VOIDed. I sometimes also write a reason for voiding it in case it is for setting up an electronic account, I spelled the name wrong, or I wrote the wrong amount. I often will tear the check in half and leave the half with the check number in my wallet pocket just to make sure that the number does not get used in the future.

If you send a check to a company, family member, or friend that you need to reclaim or void, ask them to send it back to you torn in half, at least the half with the check number on it. Things happen.

Kids find it confusing, but all you have to do is show them to write the word in big letters through the main parts of the check. Also, teach them not to fill in any of the blanks. Void empty; yet in this case it tells the other business that they cannot use the check.

Be careful not to write VOID on a check that might get used and do not send it to someone else in case they try to use it. Why? 

Teresa Murray wrote at Cleveland that checks are sent through automatic scanners and the VOID mark may be missed thereby costing you the face value of what was written on the check. She wrote a great article on what happens when a voided check goes to the bank.

Long story short: If someone cashes a check that you have voided, quickly request that the bank stop payment. It may cost a fee; but it can save you overdrawn fees, time, and hassle. KeyBank recommends shredding your voided check. Again, remember to make a note in your check register.

11. Writing Numbers And Store Names Worksheets

This download has six pages.

• The first page has example checks.
• The second through fourth pages have blank example checks, one with a trace and write example. 
• The fifth page has common store names for practice spelling. 
• The sixth page has the spellings of the numbers one through one hundred. They are hyphenated the way that Saxon Math teaches.

Anyway, these also work out to be fun ways to practice spelling and writing numbers. You can also print on colored paper to make blank checks for practice more fun. Enjoy!

11.A. Write A Check For 1000

Here are several examples of how to write a check:

• For $1000
• And 3000

11.B. Sample $3000 Check Filled-In

11.C. Practice Writing Store Names

This is a great spelling worksheet. See the download of all of the worksheets on this page near the end of this post.

12. Practice Writing Checks Printable Worksheets

The free printable blank checks below are a great example of what checks look like and are fun to print and practice.

• The first page has filled-in examples. 
• The next page has blank checks. 
• Another page has store names. 
• Then comes the ever useful page of how to spell numbers in words that you can keep in a math book or binder.

We also have writing numbers worksheets and counting money worksheets for little ones. 

See more cursive writing practice.

See more number writing practice.

Check your answer with this Math problem solver .