By K. Westie Rant
The other day, my daughter came home upset. The reason? Her school had banned trading supermarket collectibles. My first reaction was relief—finally, an end to these things ruling my life. But then, a thought hit me: Wait, what? Since when did schools start outlawing basic childhood economics?
Kids have been trading for centuries—marbles, stickers, Pokémon cards, even questionable snacks. And, of course, let’s not forget history’s most famous swap: Jack trading his family’s only cow for some magic beans. Sure, his deal ended with him robbing a giant, but still—a legendary trade. As long as no one’s climbing beanstalks and looting castles, what’s the harm?
So why the ban? Turns out, some parents were unhappy that their kids made bad trades. Well… too bad. That’s how life works! Did Jack’s mum demand her cow back? No, she did not. Instead, she let Jack learn the hard way—sometimes you strike gold (or a goose that lays it), and sometimes you get swindled.
Trading teaches kids about negotiation, decision-making, fairness, and yes, disappointment. And honestly, isn’t that the point? Better they learn these lessons now, swapping footy cards, than later when they’re buying used cars or dealing with scammers on Facebook Marketplace.
Rather than banning it, there’s an easier fix: have parents sign a waiver acknowledging that whatever their child brings to school, they’re responsible for. Done. Problem solved. It covers everything—marbles, stickers, watches, earrings, and that expensive phone a ten-year-old is somehow carrying around.
I’m also reminded of a classic YouTube video where little Tommy proposed to Millie at school after he swiped his mum’s diamond ring. Of course, Millie’s parents found it hilarious, but did Tommy’s parents sue the school? Demand immediate government intervention? No. And if Millie kept the ring? Painful (and pricey) lesson—but guess whose fault it isn’t. The school’s.
Parents keep calling for more real-world learning in education, and as much as AI is advancing at warp speed, this is one lesson ChatGPT can’t teach. This is exactly the kind of hands-on experience schools should embrace—learning without a structured lesson plan. But instead of encouraging these valuable life skills, we’re banning them? If little David traded his rare Gary Ablett footy card for a scratched-up Pokémon card, well, that’s on him. Welcome to life.
And let’s not forget teachers. They’ve already got enough to deal with. This shouldn’t be their issue. Let’s empower them to say, You brought it to school? You sort it out.’ Teachers shouldn’t have to police whether a Ronaldo card is really worth three Bluey stickers and a half-eaten muesli bar. Who is to say that deal isn’t mutually beneficial?
So, let’s stop bubble-wrapping our kids. Let them make mistakes. Let them learn. And for the love of all things logical—stop banning trading at school.
