10 Fun Ways to Teach Kids About Investing

Make money lessons a game the whole family wins.

Teaching kids about investing doesn't need to be dull.

From fantasy stock games to lemonade stand experiments, there are fun, hands-on ways to build money smarts early.

Ticker is a hero tool that lets families run safe, private investing competitions—with zero risk and max engagement.

Why Should Kids Learn About Investing? 🧒💡

Investing isn’t just for Wall Street pros—it’s a life skill. Kids who learn about investing early:

Make better money choices later
Understand risk vs. reward
Think long-term, not impulsively

It’s not about turning them into stock-pickers.

It’s about giving them confidence with money.

Enter: fun, interactive investing games.

1. Start a Family Fantasy Investment League 🏆

Use Ticker to create a private, risk-free investing game. Everyone gets a virtual portfolio and competes to grow it by picking real stocks.

Kids can invest in companies they already know—like Disney, Roblox, or LEGO’s parent company.

This keeps it fun and relevant.

✅ Safe (no real money) ✅ Beginner-friendly ✅ Instant engagement

Bonus idea: Make it a weekly ritual and offer fun prizes like "pick next movie night" for the winner.

2. Turn Brands Into Teaching Moments

Every time you shop, talk about the company behind the product.

Buying Oreos? That’s Mondelez. iPad? Apple. Ask your child:

What do you think makes this company successful?
Would you want to “own a piece” of it?

Real-world = real retention.

3. Try the “Lemonade Stand Investor” Game

Let kids run a pretend business, then ask them:

What if someone gave you $5 to help your stand grow?
How would they earn money back?

Introduce terms like:

Investor
Profit
ROI (Return on Investment)

No spreadsheets required—just imagination.

4. Use Ticker for Classroom or Homeschool Challenges

With Ticker’s Family Games, you can run small-group challenges in classrooms or learning pods. Set goals like:

Best portfolio performance
Most diversified portfolio
Best long-term thinker

It’s like fantasy football—but for financial literacy.

5. Create a Savings-Investment Matching Game

Set up a system where every time your child saves $10, you “invest” $5 in a pretend portfolio.

Let them track the growth weekly using Ticker or paper charts. This shows the value of saving AND investing.

6. Read Kid-Friendly Money Books Together

Try these hits:

“The Everything Kids’ Money Book”
“One Cent, Two Cents, Old Cent, New Cent” (Dr. Seuss Money Book)
“Investing for Kids” by Dylin Redling

Pair reading with a Ticker game to reinforce what they learn.

7. Play the "Investor or Consumer?" Game

Look at household items and ask:

Would you rather spend money to buy this—or invest in the company that makes it?

This builds the investor mindset early. Everything becomes a teachable moment.

8. Use YouTube Smartly

Channels like:

Two Cents
The Money Guy Show (Teen Edition)
Graham Stephan (family-friendly picks)

Watch short clips, then start a Ticker game that reflects the concepts—like diversification or long-term investing.

9. Design a Stock Market Poster Wall

Print logos of kid-favorite companies. Track their “prices” weekly.

Talk about:

Why some go up
Why some dip
What influences change

Visual learners will thrive here.

10. Let Them Lead a Family “Investor Meeting”

Every weekend, let your child:

Review everyone’s portfolio
Talk about big winners and losers
Propose a new stock idea

With Ticker, they can run the show—and actually enjoy it.

FAQ

What age should I start teaching my kid about investing?

As early as 7–8 years old. Start simple—money jars, brands they recognize, and basic concepts like saving and spending.

What’s the best way to explain “stocks” to a child?

Say this:

"A stock is like owning a tiny piece of a company. If the company does well, your piece becomes more valuable."

Is Ticker safe for young kids?

Yes. There’s no real money involved. Ticker is 100% private, ad-free, and designed for beginners—including kids.

Wrap-Up: Kids Learn Best Through Play 🧠🎮

Forget lectures. Fun beats fear. When you use a tool like Ticker, you’re not just playing—you’re building confidence, curiosity, and future-ready skills.

So if you're wondering how to teach kids about investing…

Start with fun. Start with family. Start with Ticker.

Launch your first Ticker family challenge today