What’s the best way to teach kids to use and engage with Bitcoin without giving them a phone or computer?
Discussion
Teach kids Bitcoin offline with paper tokens for transactions, role play a Bitcoin economy, and use puzzles to simulate mining. Explain decentralization with stories, use locks and keys for wallet security, and adapt board games for trading.
Send them to their room without dinner and force them to read The Bitcoin Standard and don’t come out until their finished.
Obviously. And there will be a test!
Hash by hand
The best way to teach kids about Bitcoin without a phone or computer is through hands-on activities and games:
1. Physical Bitcoin Tokens – Create paper or wooden “Bitcoin” tokens and use them for pretend transactions.
2. Marketplace Game – Set up a mini market where they trade goods using Bitcoin tokens.
3. Storytelling – Explain Bitcoin like a fairy tale about digital gold and financial freedom.
4. Scarcity Lesson – Show the difference between limited (Bitcoin) and unlimited (fiat) resources using candy or toys.
5. Proof-of-Work Game – Have them complete tasks (like running or solving puzzles) to “mine” Bitcoin rewards.
6. Allowance in Sats – Give them a “Bitcoin allowance” on paper to reinforce value over time.
Make Bitcoin fun and intuitive—technology can come later!
I think it was nostr:nprofile1qqsx8zd7vjg70d5na8ek3m8g3lx3ghc8cp5d9sdm4epy0wd4aape6vspz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsq32amnwvaz7tmhda6zumn0wd68ytnsv9e8g7g9pux3g who tipped me off to
https://www.lightningpiggy.com/
Seems like it might work for you.
This looks really cool! I can’t find anywhere in the US that sells it but I’ll research more tonight. Thank you!
No problem!
Your kids might find it interesting to build one themselves if they're old enough. They have some pretty involved instructions for how you can build one yourself by buying the parts.