Kid Entrepreneurs
By Gina Ritter
As the summer reaches it's middle and winds down, your child may be getting a little bored, and would love the opportunity to start their own business, or help you with yours. It's amazing what our kids can do when they're ready to get down to work like you do. They see your accomplishments and work ethic, and it's only natural that an entrepreneurial child would want to follow suit.
Kids of all ages can be little entrepreneurs and helpers! Whether it's a three-year-old stapling papers for you, or a 17-year-old launching a company, there are almost as many choices as there are kids.
It's ok to let the kids do chores as their business. They're filling a need, and they're making money from it. They're learning responsibility and work ethic, and doing a job right before getting paid. We will often pick and choose between things that are done "for the family" only and do not come with financial gain, and other things above and beyond that are paid.
Debbie of http://www.bearfamilygifts.com gave her 9 and 11-year-old boys $5.00 for cleaning the bathroom and $15.00 for mowing the lawn. The boys formed a partnership and pooled their money. Despite Debbie's family setting aside 10% for Sunday School, and 10% for future savings, they were successful in purchasing a $100 drum kit in a month’s time.
Encouraging your child's natural abilities, work ethics and interests will foster independence and self-esteem.
My 8-year-old son loves to be outside or doing hard work, and he doesn't mind heat or cold. During a move in May, Taylor carried more boxes over two days than I did, and surpassed the adults in energy and enthusiasm. Because of this, he also earned more money than if he'd just carried a box or two and had gone off to play. He showed initiative and a self-starting attitude that employers look for. He kept us all moving when we wanted to wilt and he was paid more than one of the 17-year-olds we’d hired to help us.
Taylor could easily be hired and trusted to help a neighbor or family member do yard, and housework; and now he knows that, which is almost as important. His personality, physical nature, and work ethic made him an entrepreneur overnight, and his self-confidence was raised.
Age appropriate help - Toddlers through school-aged kids just love to help moms with their work! While sometimes a scary thought, there's bound to be something you can let them do, even if it’s just made up to look important.
Younger children can help count things, stuff, stack, sort, paper clip or staple items. They also make great product testers! Who else will be so honest as a scrunched up nosed 3-year-old when you introduce a new berry bubble lotion?
A book simply called Toddler, edited by Jennifer Margulis, is a collection of "real-life stories of those fickle, irrational, urgent, tiny people we love". When I received the review book in the mail, little ones with markers had colored the white bubble envelope! It was darling, and appropriate for that mailing. There are times when your own child could offer the same genuine illustrations in your own work, depending on what you do.
As your children grow, so do their duties. They can also serve as packagers and product testers, but they can do so much more. Delivering fliers to local businesses, post office trips, filing and computer work like website design and data entry would fit with many older children.
They can even go for the big time! Your child may just have a great idea for a new product line, design, website, and promotional items. They may even launch a business on their own!
The founder and designer of Girlvival kits at http://www.girlvival.com is now an 18-year-old college freshmen. Girlvival sells about 16 different kits for anything from aching feet, to sweet 16, to dating and break-up.
Your child can do just about anything, from lemonade stands, to helping mom, to launching a full business on their own. Search through some of the resources below for more ideas and support.
Resources:
-- Book: 50 Money Making Ideas for Kids
-- Book: 101 Marvelous Moneymaking Ideas for Kids
-- Book: Better Than a Lemonade Stand: Small Business Ideas for Kids (Kid's Books by Kids)
-- Book: Fast Cash for Kids
-- Kids Lemonade Stand business Program - business plan for kids
-- Front Yard Success stories - ideas and inspiration
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Gina Ritter is a freelance writer, family coach and work at home mom of three young boys, living in New York. Gina owns and publishes Natural Family Online magazine and the new Balter Catalogue Company.
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