How do we explain a BITCOIN to a small child?

[Proassetz Exchange]

Ordinary money is physical like a coin. Bitcoin is like a coin stored on a computer, it is computer money.

When you see ordinary money on a computer, it is basically physical money that is in a bank. But computer money is actually on your computer.

With ordinary money, the government decides how much money there is.  With computer money, a computer formula tells you how much money there is.

With ordinary money you almost always know who you are doing business with. But with computer money you don't need to know who the person is, you just need to connect to his computer.

With ordinary money the government can easily tell how much money you have and how much money you should pay the government, because that money is in a bank. With computer money it is difficult since that money is on your computer.

With ordinary money you need to pay a fee when you send money because the money has to go from one bank to another and those banks have fees. With computer money you don't need to pay a fee because the coins go directly to the other person's computer.

So with ordinary money you need governments and banks, but with computer money all you need is your computer!

This isn't quite true anymore, but it is the closest approximation of the truth I think that would make sense to a small child.

[HabBear]

This isn't quite true anymore, but it is the closest approximation of the truth I think that would make sense to a small child.

It is true! It's just not the full explanation. Follow up talks should include how bitcoin is created, how transactions are confirmed, etc.

The only comment I'd remove is this one...

With ordinary money the government can easily tell how much money you have and how much money you should pay the government, because that money is in a bank.

The government can subpoena bank records but you make it sound like it's regular course of business. No government is looking at my bank account, and if they are they aren't telling me how much money to pay in taxes - i need to calculate that number on my own! Taxes and bank records are separate things.

You're on to a good start here!

[KingScorpio]

dont explain bitcoin to a small child, its not good for them

[Nnedaddy1]

MI don't think that to explain bitcoin to a little child is an uphill task, even though the child may not understand or fully comprehend the blockchain terminologies.
You can start by explaining fiat , tell the child that fiat money can be felt and used to purchase goods and services world over while bitcoin is not physical money and so cannot be felt.
And can only used I carrying out transactions within the Cryptocurrency space.

[biskitop]

Your assumption is right for small children, that bitcoin is money on a computer and can tell small children that bitcoin can be used to buy games on the internet or buy toys, so they will keep it for a long time until they get the games and toys.

[larrylegend33]

dont explain bitcoin to a small child, its not good for them

Yes, i am agree with you on that. And if you try to explain the bitcoin to a child, he would never understand it because no one can explain that to him. Even we really don't understand the all system as well. When i try to tell something about the BTC to someone, sometimes i can't answer the questions which asking to myself. Yes i know about the blockchain system and know many things about the BTC and the cryptocurrency but i can't asnwer all questions for sure.

[btyco]

There is no use for explaining bitcoin to a small child, they are not going to have anything to get through the kyc process! Bitcoin needs to be easier to obtain before children can use it

[ThirdPrize2]

You tell them you are paying their pocket money in BTC but there isn't anywhere they can actually spend it.

[senyorito123]

Your assumption is right for small children, that bitcoin is money on a computer and can tell small children that bitcoin can be used to buy games on the internet or buy toys, so they will keep it for a long time until they get the games and toys.

Children has different attitude and status in life mate their are some child that want to find earnings to help their families,for me its better to tell a child who is in need instead of going to the street to get a income here in Bitcoin they will spend their time to get a income and to help their families and pay their school fees and also they will get a lot of knowledge in Bitcoin.

[Kakmakr]

Your suggestions are good, but I have a better idea,

You first tell them that all electronic money is just a reflection of numbers in some computer. So when you do a payment with say your credit card, then the credit card companies subtract the money electronically from your account to the account of the person your are paying.

Now Bitcoin is the same thing, with a small and very important difference. Bitcoin transactions does not go through a Bank or a credit card companies computers. It goes through 1000s of computers on the internet, where the changes are reflected and verified by other people on the internet. <electronically> 

[boyptc]

With ordinary money you need to pay a fee when you send money because the money has to go from one bank to another and those banks have fees. With computer money you don't need to pay a fee because the coins go directly to the other person's computer.

Well by sending bitcoin, you are now required to pay a very small fee.

In short you can tell a kid that bitcoin is a computer money that you can send to others computer wherever they are in this world.

[Dudeperfect]

To be honest, I believe that practical knowledge is the best solution to explain Bitcoin and blockchain technology to kids. We have seen Australia has introduced Crypto to primary grade students in their academic curriculum. You can give little demonstration along with an explanation in easy to understand language. Make sure that the kid is understanding what you are trying to explain.

[Bravijaya]

dont explain bitcoin to a small child, its not good for them

I agree, for me to learn about crypto / bitcoin takes weeks to know just in surface, not the core yet. I still need to learn more.

[clover12]

Little kids are going to be teaching You about this stuff not the other way around

[Dreamace7]

I don't think a small child has much to do with bitcoin but the simple definition of bitcoin is that is can be transferred from one person they sender to the other person the receiver through there wallet

[Coyster]

Little kids are going to be teaching You about this stuff not the other way around

Kids lecturing adults on the bitcoin,did you really just say this,even most developers haven't fully understood the bitcoin and the blockchain technology to the latter.

I wouldn't even recommend the bitcoin to be taught to children just yet, it could be brought up to them maybe in their college years,when they probably could assimilate much better,and be wise when using the network

[abysstriumphant]

Why do you need to explain bitcoin to a small child?

[mudyak99]

Bitcoin and any cryptocurrency is very dangerous and too much people try scam by creating phising and fake website to steal your assets. Small child should not try anything dangerous to make it sad. They are not sure to keep save their asset or that private key to any people.

[mundang]

Seriously? Even if you explain step by step what is bitcoin to a small child still they dont have interest on it, a child will be a child dont force them to learn a thing that still beyond of thier knowledge

[jjjfff]

Same way you explain Bitcoin to an average adult.

In fact that's how lots of stupid projects sold their shitcoins to fully grown adults.