I’m Disappointed in You, Barefoot

Scott,

I was disappointed with your response to the teacher last week. Why not provide a real solution when you are asked? The ASX School trading game is a lot of fun and can be done in a safe way to encourage kids to get a taste of investing. I would have thought you would jump at sharing a low cost, safe way to learn how to invest.

Denise

Hi Denise,

The ASX school trading game is, in my view, redic-or-us.

Students get a virtual $50,000 and have 10 weeks to trade stocks throughout the school day.

What does that teach kids?

That investing is basically gambling. Just without the sports.

That is monumentally wrong. It’s dangerous. It’s poisonous. After all, if investing were a 10-week sprint, Warren Buffett would’ve retired at 14.

The ASX should shut it down and leave the gambling grooming to Sportsbet.

The best way to learn to invest is to actually do it. Take some pocket money — as little as $25 — and put it into a low-cost index fund. Google “kids investing app” and you’ll find plenty of options.

At the same time, plant an apple tree in the backyard.

Watch both grow.

That’s investing.