As our technology advances and the future gets closer, virtual money is becoming more and more common, and in 20-30 years is likely to dominate the world of finance. Maybe the moment has arrived to teach our children just what kind of monetary horizons they're likely to be exploring as adults.

Twenty years ago, typing in school was becoming the norm. Our teachers knew that times were changing, and the idea of a home computer was becoming less and less foreign to suburban families. Now, we teach more advanced digital tactics, such as coding, but in an age of virtual payments and growing digital currency reliance, is it time to begin showing our children the ways of cryptocurrency?

When I was in junior high, computer and typing classes became mandatory. Our lessons consisted of trying out a few small words at a time, learning a few letters each week and getting a hang of these letters before moving on. The first week saw us studying A, S, and L, and much of our practice involved typing out words such as ALAS, LASS, etc. Things obviously became more complicated from there, but after several months, many of us had learned the keyboard and the respective letter placements by heart. By the time I was in eighth grade, turning in a printed report on clean, crisp paper with clear black lettering over something handwritten and ink-stained was no longer considered strange or unique. It had simply become “the norm.”

Our teachers knew that times were changing. Technology was changing, and we were expected to keep up and “get with the program,” so to speak. Typing lessons are still offered in school, but things are different even now. Most modern-day children seem to master keyboards by the time they’re halfway through elementary school. My generation didn’t receive training in this department until we were much older, likely because up to a certain point, the idea of a home computer was still fairly new.

Schools and classes exist to prepare us for whatever life throws our way. It is important to stay afloat with the times and never allow ourselves to fall behind. We have emphasized the teaching of digital skills such as coding to our younger generations. Now, it’s time to go a step further and make sure they understand the magical technology behind cryptocurrency.

The reason is because we are heading into a digital age. Offices are becoming paperless. The world consists of digital books, Google Docs, and other things that have kept us technologically savvy. Now, the world of finance is going digital, and anyone who thinks that bitcoin and its virtual cousins are not the ways of the future probably don’t see things clearly enough. Over time we have integrated PayPal, Stripe, and other platforms and methods of allowing e-payments. Many people admit that they no longer carry cash and while fiat currency hasn’t lost its popularity altogether, its days are arguably numbered and it’s only a matter of time before virtual currency completely takes over.

We teach our children typing and coding because we want them to be prepared for what’s expected of them in the future. For that same reason it’s time to train children on digital currency. Children learn very quickly, faster than adults it seems, so waiting until they are older is only going to make things harder. It’s important to “poke at brains” while they’re still developing. Furthermore, virtual money methods are likely to achieve further integration throughout their younger years. Time is constant and never-ending, so while something is occurring while one person is older, it’s also occurring at the exact same time for someone else who may be a lot younger.

Technology is consistently moving forward, and much like our elders did with us, it’s important to train our kids for what’s coming and develop their understanding for all they have ahead.