What Is Opportunity Cost? How to Make Hard Choices, for Kids

Can something free still cost you something? Almost every choice comes with a price that never shows up on a receipt, and plenty of adults forget to count it.

This family-friendly show for kids explains opportunity cost, the idea behind every hard choice: a birthday party or a big match, college or a paycheck, a steady job or a business of your own. Two kids work out the hidden price of choices they already face, do the math on one of the most expensive decisions a person can make, and hear how a company name made up on the spot led to a brand you have probably worn. Then the idea gets turned upside down. If every hour has a price, should you feel bad about a movie, a sleepover, or a night of pure fun? And what is someone who never stops working really giving up?

Best for ages 7 to 12.

Junior Boardroom is a family podcast where kids break down business, money, and how the real world works. Hosted by Raina (10), Devin (8), and their dad Mel. More at juniorboardroom.com.