Wealthy

Dividends Explained: How Kids Can Earn Passive Income from Stocks

July 23, 2025โ€ข5 min read

Imagine if your child could earn money every few months without doing any extra work. Sounds too good to be true? Thatโ€™s exactly what happens when they invest in dividend-paying stocks!

โœ… Dividends are free money for owning stocks. ๐Ÿ’ฐ
โœ… They teach kids about passive income. ๐Ÿฆ
โœ… The earlier kids start, the more theyโ€™ll earn over time. ๐Ÿ“ˆ
โœ… Dividends can help build generational wealth. ๐Ÿš€

In this guide, weโ€™ll break down what dividends are, how they work, and why they are a powerful way for kids to build wealth through passive income.

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Step 1: What Are Dividends?

1. A Dividend is a Reward for Owning Stocks

When kids invest in a dividend-paying company, they get a small cash payment every few monthsโ€”just for being an owner!

๐Ÿ“ Example:

  • If a child owns 10 shares of McDonald's stock (MCD) and McDonald's pays a $1.50 dividend per share, they get $15 in passive incomeโ€”without doing anything!

๐Ÿ’ก Lesson for Kids:

  • "Dividends are like a thank-you gift for investing!"


2. Where Does Dividend Money Come From?

When big companies make a lot of profit, they share a portion of that profit with investors in the form of dividends.

๐Ÿ“ Example:

  • Every time people buy a burger from McDonald's, part of the money goes toward paying investors dividends.

  • Every time someone buys an iPhone, Appleโ€™s profits increaseโ€”and some of it goes to investors as dividends!

๐Ÿ’ก Lesson for Kids:

  • "When a company makes money, so do its investors!"


Step 2: Why Dividends Are a Smart Way to Make Money

1. Dividends Provide Passive Income

โœ… Passive income means earning money without working.
โœ… Dividends are paid even if kids never sell their stocks.
โœ… They can use dividends to buy more stocks and make even more money!

๐Ÿ“ Example:

  • If a child owns 100 shares of Coca-Cola, and Coca-Cola pays a $0.50 dividend per share, they get $50 every quarter (4 times a year)!

๐Ÿ’ก Lesson for Kids:

  • "You donโ€™t have to work to make moneyโ€”dividends pay you automatically!"


2. Dividends Grow Over Time (Compounding Effect)

Instead of spending dividends, kids can reinvest them to buy more stocks, making their money grow even faster!

๐Ÿ“ Example:

  • A child earns $10 in dividends and reinvests it to buy more shares.

  • Over time, those new shares also pay dividends, creating a money snowball!

๐Ÿ’ก Lesson for Kids:

  • "The more you invest, the more you earn, and the more your money grows!"


Step 3: How to Find the Best Dividend Stocks for Kids

1. Look for Companies That Pay Dividends Regularly

Not all companies pay dividends. The best ones to invest in are companies that:

โœ… Have been paying dividends for many years (Ex: McDonald's, Apple, Coca-Cola).
โœ… Increase their dividends over time (Ex: Nike, Johnson & Johnson).
โœ… Are stable, well-known brands (Ex: Disney, Procter & Gamble).

๐Ÿ“ Example Activity:

  • Have kids look up their favorite companies and check if they pay dividends.

๐Ÿ’ก Lesson for Kids:

  • "Pick stocks that pay you to own them!"


2. Avoid High-Risk Dividend Stocks

Some companies pay very high dividends but might not be safe long-term.

๐Ÿ“ Example:

  • A small new company might pay a 10% dividend but could go bankrupt next year.

  • A big strong company like Coca-Cola only pays 3% but has paid dividends for 100+ years!

๐Ÿ’ก Lesson for Kids:

  • "Slow and steady wins the raceโ€”choose safe dividend stocks!"


Step 4: Fun Ways to Teach Kids About Dividends

๐ŸŽฒ Game 1: The Money Machine Challenge

  • Give kids two choices:
    ๐Ÿ”ธ Spend $100 on toys (money gone).
    ๐Ÿ”น Invest $100 in a dividend stock (money grows and pays them back).

  • Track who earns more money over time.

๐Ÿ’ก Lesson for Kids:

  • "Investing turns money into a money machine!"


๐Ÿ“ˆ Game 2: The Dividend Snowball Experiment

  • Give kids fake money and let them reinvest their "dividends" into more "stocks".

  • Watch how their earnings grow bigger every round!

๐Ÿ’ก Lesson for Kids:

  • "Reinvesting makes your money grow faster!"


๐Ÿก Game 3: The Passive Income Field Trip

  • Visit a store like McDonald's or Apple and explain:

    • Every time someone buys food or an iPhone, stockholders make money!

๐Ÿ’ก Lesson for Kids:

  • "Dividends come from real businesses making real money!"


Step 5: How to Get Kids Started with Dividend Investing

โœ… 1. Open a Kid-Friendly Investment Account

Parents can open a custodial brokerage account so kids can start investing.

๐Ÿ”น Best Brokers for Kids:

  • Fidelity Youth Account (Great for dividend stocks).

  • Charles Schwab Custodial Account (Great for reinvesting dividends).

  • Stockpile (Allows kids to buy small pieces of dividend stocks).

๐Ÿ“ Example Activity:

  • Let kids help pick their first dividend stock and watch their dividends grow!

๐Ÿ’ก Lesson for Kids:

  • "This is your first step toward financial freedom!"


โœ… 2. Start with Small Investments

Kids donโ€™t need a lot of money to startโ€”they can invest just $10 or $20 at a time!

๐Ÿ“ Best Beginner Dividend Stocks for Kids:

  • McDonaldโ€™s (MCD) โ€“ Pays dividends every quarter.

  • Coca-Cola (KO) โ€“ Has paid dividends for over 100 years.

  • Apple (AAPL) โ€“ Pays dividends and grows in value over time.

๐Ÿ’ก Lesson for Kids:

  • "Every little investment helps grow your money tree!"


โœ… 3. Reinvest Dividends to Build Wealth Faster

Instead of spending dividend money, kids should reinvest it to buy more stocks.

๐Ÿ“ Example:

  • If a child reinvests $50 in dividends every year, theyโ€™ll earn even more dividends next year!

๐Ÿ’ก Lesson for Kids:

  • "Reinvesting dividends is like planting seeds that grow into money trees!"


Conclusion: Start Teaching Your Kids Dividend Investing Today!

By learning about dividends and passive income, kids will:
โœ… Understand how to make money without working.
โœ… Develop smart investing habits early.
โœ… Build long-term wealth through passive income.
โœ… Learn how to grow their money for life!

And the best part? You donโ€™t have to figure it out alone!

๐Ÿš€ Get The Stock Investing Bundle for Families at 96% OFF! ๐Ÿš€

Weโ€™ve created the ultimate stock market guide for families who want to teach kids about investing and financial success.

For a limited time, you can grab The Stock Investing Bundle for Families at an incredible 96% discount! Inside, youโ€™ll get:

๐Ÿ“ˆ Step-by-step stock investing guides for beginners.
๐Ÿ“Š Fun activities & games to teach kids about dividends.
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๐Ÿ”ฅ And much more!

๐Ÿ‘‰ Donโ€™t miss out! Click here to secure your bundle today:
๐Ÿ”— www.childrentowealth.com/stocks

This offer wonโ€™t lastโ€”start teaching your kids investing today! ๐Ÿš€๐Ÿ’ฐ๐Ÿ“ˆ


Dre Mudaris is a visionary educator, author, and entrepreneur dedicated to empowering individuals through financial literacy, business strategy, and personal development. With a passion for breaking down complex financial concepts into engaging and accessible content, Dre has authored multiple books and developed educational programs that inspire both children and adults to build generational wealth.

Dre Mudaris

Dre Mudaris is a visionary educator, author, and entrepreneur dedicated to empowering individuals through financial literacy, business strategy, and personal development. With a passion for breaking down complex financial concepts into engaging and accessible content, Dre has authored multiple books and developed educational programs that inspire both children and adults to build generational wealth.

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