I don't know about teaching kids to trade at 5 or 6, but just speaking from my experience, the best education and introduction to investing I ever got was during my freshman year in HS in a class on financial literacy. This was back when you would actually learn how to write checks and balance a checkbook.
I don't remember what all we learned, but I do remember going on a field trip to a brokerage - again back in the day when you had to call your broker to place an order and you could only monitor your stock price once a day by looking in the newspaper. Whatever it was about that class inspired me to buy some stock in Motorola. I also actually got the paper certificate for my shares mailed to our house. Being able to physically see the shares made it seem that much more real. I didn't keep the shares for an extended period of time before I decided I wanted to sell them - if I remember correctly I think it was to put the money towards a car. I also don't remember if I made or lost money (either way I don't think it was much), but the lesson's on investing had been learned.
That class, along with typing, were the most valuable classes I ever took. I wish I could remember that teachers name so I could see if he was still around so I could thank him for sharing his knowledge and passion for investing.
I think before a child can grasp the idea of investing and trading in a mature way, some critical preliminary necessary steps would include having a checking and savings account, a job or experience making money selling lemonade, slushies, or whatever else - so that one has a real understanding of the value of money.
You can teach someone all day long about how to trade but I think those lessons need to have real benefits and consequences to actually be absorbed in any meaningful way.
I don't remember what all we learned, but I do remember going on a field trip to a brokerage - again back in the day when you had to call your broker to place an order and you could only monitor your stock price once a day by looking in the newspaper. Whatever it was about that class inspired me to buy some stock in Motorola. I also actually got the paper certificate for my shares mailed to our house. Being able to physically see the shares made it seem that much more real. I didn't keep the shares for an extended period of time before I decided I wanted to sell them - if I remember correctly I think it was to put the money towards a car. I also don't remember if I made or lost money (either way I don't think it was much), but the lesson's on investing had been learned.
That class, along with typing, were the most valuable classes I ever took. I wish I could remember that teachers name so I could see if he was still around so I could thank him for sharing his knowledge and passion for investing.
I think before a child can grasp the idea of investing and trading in a mature way, some critical preliminary necessary steps would include having a checking and savings account, a job or experience making money selling lemonade, slushies, or whatever else - so that one has a real understanding of the value of money.
You can teach someone all day long about how to trade but I think those lessons need to have real benefits and consequences to actually be absorbed in any meaningful way.