How to Teach Kids About Investing. Show them how to grow money over time and think like an investor with a mindset shift, money habit, and free printable
Most (ok, maybe all) kids think money is for buying cool stuff.
Some learn it also pays for groceries, electricity, and Wi-Fi.
Others might already know how to save up for something big (hopefully from past Mini Millionaires editions).
But investing opens up a whole new way of thinking: that money can actually work for you. Quietly growing in the background while you play, sleep, or do your homework.
Here’s how to teach kids about investing with one mindset shift, one habit to build, and one easy tip to try.
Investors think like owners, not shoppers.
Kids are surrounded by messaging that says: buy more, want more, spend now. And here’s the kicker: younger children often can’t tell the difference between entertainment and advertising. That means we’re raising a generation of professional consumers.
But investing teaches kids a different way of thinking: they can own part of the brands they love by buying shares.
Takeaway: Ask your child: “What if you could own part of that company, not just buy its products?”
Saving feels safe.
Spending feels fun.
But investing?
That’s about putting money aside without touching it (sometimes for years) and letting time do the work.
Now’s the time to introduce a fourth jar: Sow.
Like planting a seed, your child adds a small amount weekly. You can secretly track its growth and reveal the surprise later.
(Pssst. ICYMI: We unpacked all 4 Jars in this edition of Mini Millionaires.)
Takeaway: Some money isn’t for now. Not even for now-now. It’s for later-later.
It's magic. Learn how to teach kids about compound interest.
Pick a few well-known companies, together with your mini millionaire.
Think Nike, Apple, Checkers, or even Roblox.
Create a simple poster with the company name, pretend investment amount, and track monthly stock movements using Google Finance.
Decorate with arrows, emojis, or stars to indicate changes.
Takeaway: Turn investing into a game your kids can see, touch, and talk about.
Help your kids track an imaginary R100 investment with our printable Watch It Grow worksheet.
Pick a brand they love, check stock prices monthly, and watch the growth unfold.
Bonus: Use past data weekly to speed up the lesson!
Got a cash gift from Granny and you want to know how to best use Granny’s gift?
