Your child starts with one small, nearly worthless object and trades their way up through a chain of real swaps, no money, just deal after deal. Along the way they hit the question that drives all of business: what is a thing worth, and worth to whom? Real negotiation, value, and resourcefulness, inspired by the famous red-paperclip-to-a-house story.
Ages 6–14 · Project guide · 3 skill levels
Your child starts with something small and trades their way up. Every trade is a real negotiation with a real person who can say no. What something is worth turns out not to be fixed, and the same object is treasure to one person and junk to another.
Pitching, pricing, failing, and trying again. These are the skills no school subject teaches but every adult life needs. One small business taught at home beats a hundred worksheets on "economics."
From the families
Be the first to share your experience with Trade It Up.
Reviews come from members who’ve actually done the activity with their kids.
Only members who’ve used the activity can write reviews. Join the membership.
Related activities
All 120+ activities
The membership covers nine topics (math, AI, communication, planning, creativity, outdoor, entrepreneurship, worldschooling, and emotional & social skills) with new activities every quarter. $99/year, locked in for life as a founding member.
Unlock everything, $99/yr→$99/year founder rate14-day money-back guaranteeCancel anytime
Not ready to join?
Free 7-day guide
Seven real-world activities. One a day, for a week. No payment, no commitment.
Designed by a teacher with 15 years of classroom experience, now homeschooling her own kids.
