Entrepreneurship for Kids

Entrepreneurship for Kids: An Overview & Resources

If you've discovered that your one of your enterprising children is selling your homemade cookies at school, it may be that you should be looking into material on entrepreneurship for kids. Not that you want to turn yourself into a full-time baker, but for kids with a challenging spirit, and a drive to succeed, even at a relatively young age, there is a whole new world out there, that doesn‚Äôt need to wait until

Many kids (and parents) don't realize what business skills they have already acquired. Even the youngest child with X number of dollars to buy a pair of sneakers, has compared the price of them at several different stores. That‚Äôs their introduction to product comparison.

And that introduction can be taken to the next level, through research on the Internet, or through in-school programs offered by a number of organizations and foundations, which not only promote entrepreneurship for kids, but in the process utilize the current class curriculum and basic subjects like math.

Going into business for themselves is a mind-boggling concept to kids. But it's one that will not only earn them extra money, it can fire their imagination for the future.

The business leaders and professionals who contribute to the resources used by programs that teach entrepreneurship for kids, are seldom surprised by the innovative approaches and creative strategies invented by even elementary students.

If your child has a yen to become a businessman or woman, start them down the right path with material and information from the following resources:

Parents Fostering Entrepreneurship in Their Children- a March 2004 article by Julie Bick of Entrepreneur Magazine, detailing how parents in business themselves, and those that aren‚Äôt, can foster an interest in becoming part of the business world. http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,314203,00.html

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation- Offering programs and partnerships to children aged 5-18. The foundation also provides grants, internships and business advice on its website. Their ‚ÄúMini Society‚Äù course conducted at schools and camps, allows children to experience al time business ideas, and the financial, social, and consumer impact that they create.
http://www.kauffman.org/

Junior Achievement Inc. ‚Äì Started in 1919 as an after school business club, this organization now has chapters across the country, offering tips and strategies for starting a business, as well as professional advisors who donate their time as consultants. In each state there are volunteer business owners or professionals, who come into the classroom and help the teacher to create a hands-on business experience, showing kids the entire gamut of how a business is run. The J.A. also has an Entrepreneur center on its website.
http://www.ja.org/

YoungBiz.com- Introducing the world of business to kids, by showing them how much of the business world they already understand without knowing it. Programs offering real world experience to develop basic business skills.
http://www.youngbiz.com/

Teaching Kids Business- A comprehensive learning center containing everything from the most basic and familiar concept of selling for kids, the lemonade stand, to introducing, preparing and launching kids into their own businesses.
http://www.teachingkidsbusiness.com/

Biz World- A program reaching grades 1-8 with age appropriate materials, teaching the basics of being part of the business world, including the establishment of a "business", manufacturing and marketing the product, advertising, assessing consumer demand and more. Taught in 50 states and several countries around the world, Biz World introduces the concepts of spending, saving, and investing.
http://www.bizworld.org/factsheet.html

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