| Does talking to children about entrepreneurship at an | | | | well, writing down brief entries into a personal journal |
| early age make sense? Our school system is set up | | | | on a daily basis of things that interest or perplex them |
| to lead our children into the workplace as employees, | | | | is a great way to get them started with being |
| not employers. Now don't get me wrong, we as a | | | | responsible, planning for their future, and allowing them |
| society definitely need employees: police officers, | | | | time for natural, real world problem solving! |
| firefighters, doctors, nurses, etc., but why not shine | | | | 5. Use Your Imagination |
| some light on entrepreneurship too? | | | | Go online or to your library and search for wonderful |
| Incorporating the principles and philosophies of success | | | | places around the globe that you would love to visit |
| with emphasis on teamwork, community involvement, | | | | sometime in your life. Have the kids look through books |
| and entrepreneurship go well with all types of learners | | | | or at websites. Take notice as to what types of |
| of varying ages. Children deserve the opportunity to at | | | | places intrigue them the most and talk about those |
| least hear about what entrepreneurship is, why they | | | | places. Ask them what they would have to do in order |
| may want to be entrepreneurial, when they could do | | | | to get to visit these wonderful places. Have them |
| this and, of course, how to be an entrepreneur. We | | | | search how much it would cost to fly there if you |
| find that children are very responsive when talking | | | | were to leave today. What could they do to raise |
| about making money on their own. As early as six | | | | enough money for a trip like that? What other |
| years of age, children are starting to realize the | | | | expenses may they encounter planning for a trip to |
| importance behind making your own money vs. | | | | that location? If its something they really want to do |
| working for someone else. Unfortunately, not enough | | | | have them list it in their journal as one of their goals |
| children in the world are being introduced to this kind of | | | | and then start to list all the things they need to do in |
| lifestyle. So below you will find some great tips, in no | | | | order to reach that goal. |
| particular order, to help introduce your child to | | | | 6. Break Out the Seasonings |
| entrepreneurship. | | | | Sharpen you children's sense and general memory by |
| 1. Story Time | | | | playing memory games/puzzles. Play silly and fun |
| A great way to get your child started is by sharing | | | | games like "Identify that smell" or "Name that object" |
| with them inspiring stories of kids today, who are | | | | where children are paired off in teams and try to |
| already entrepreneurs. The internet is a great resource, | | | | identify blindfolded certain odors or identify what object |
| making available great stories about kid entrepreneurs | | | | they are touching without being able to see it. Not only |
| from around the world, what they are doing right now | | | | is it fun but it will also help enhance the brain |
| and how they are doing it. When sharing inspiring kid | | | | performance of its participants. Thereby increasing |
| entrepreneur stories ask your children questions like: | | | | creativity and problem solving abilities, two key |
| How did they do that? Why did they do it? Do you | | | | ingredients in becoming an entrepreneur! |
| think you can do something like that? What makes | | | | 7. Don't be shy |
| you feel that way? If you get an answer like "I cant do | | | | I know that there is a lot of old fashioned parents out |
| that," then just follow up with "Well, if you could do that, | | | | their that think that the household finances should be |
| how would you do it?" This usually gets an answer. | | | | top secret and not discussed with children. When it |
| Oh, and don't forget to show your kids pictures, watch | | | | comes to bill time or any time money needs to be |
| video's or check out news clips of kid entrepreneur's. | | | | discussed, don't be shy. Share with children the |
| Its also quite effective when kids hear the stories right | | | | expenses and income you manage each month and |
| from another kids mouth. | | | | each year. Show them the bills you pay, how much |
| 2. Field Trip Fun | | | | they are, and when they are due. Explain to them how |
| Contact local businesses, churches or news agencies | | | | you make your payments on these bills. If you write |
| to see if you could arrange for your kids to visit with | | | | checks to pay them, then have them help you with |
| them and get a behind the scenes look at how the | | | | that. If you pay some of your bills online, have them |
| particular business operates. Approach businesses that | | | | help with that too. Don't be shy, show them how you |
| hold a high interest level for your kids. Let the places | | | | balance your checkbook and keep track of your |
| know that your interested in a behind the scenes look | | | | finances. If your not sure how yourself, research it |
| at their business operations for your children and their | | | | online or at the library and learn it with your children. |
| friends who are learning about entrepreneurship. I highly | | | | You would be surprised as to how many kids are |
| recommend that you bring your children's friends too, | | | | actually interested in learning how to pay bills, balance a |
| so you all can enjoy the experience together and so | | | | bank account, or even create a budget...and it |
| that your child has like minded individuals to discuss | | | | increases their interest in math by giving them purpose |
| their findings with. | | | | for learning the subject! |
| 3. Raising Some Bucks | | | | 8. Try Something Different |
| Have a fundraiser for a cause that is very important | | | | Have a "what I want to be when I grow up" party with |
| to your child or have them pick products they think | | | | your child and their friends; where everyone comes to |
| they can sell either in the neighborhood or to local | | | | the party as what they want to be when the grow up. |
| businesses. Let your kids bring in some of their friends | | | | Children play the role and parents encourage by |
| that want to be a part of the action. Have them | | | | catering to the children's needs. You can give prizes to |
| brainstorm ideas and narrow the list down to a few | | | | the kids for acting their parts and encourage the |
| that they all agree on. Assist them in organizing the | | | | role-playing. This will help them see themselves now as |
| timing and the locations they conduct these "business | | | | they could potentially become in the future, bringing the |
| meetings." | | | | feelings of success of what it would feel like. By the |
| 4. Make Planning Fun | | | | parents catering to the "grown-ups" needs, the kids get |
| Start planning with your kids. For the younger kids | | | | the idea of what respectful/professional treatment |
| create a plan book from scratch, even some of the | | | | would seem like when they actually reach their goals. |
| older kids can get into this too. Design it however they | | | | Conclusion |
| want. They can add stickers or make fancy title | | | | These unique tips are a great starting point to |
| pages within their planner. The point here is for them to | | | | introduce entrepreneurship to children. Informing children |
| personalize it as much as they like. You can even pick | | | | at an early age about entrepreneurship gives them |
| up an inexpensive planner for their use. Talk to them | | | | more time to really find within themselves the things |
| about the importance of using the planner daily, and | | | | that they want to do in life. The things that make them |
| getting into the habit of planning for each day the night | | | | happy. Many successful people agree that part of |
| before. Explain to them how this will start to free up | | | | success is doing the things you love to do. The more |
| more time for them to do the things they want to be | | | | time children get to explore different things (with this |
| doing, instead of just doing the things they have to be | | | | future awareness in mind) the better chance they |
| doing as they become more focused. In addition to a | | | | have of finding their true passions and going forward |
| planner/goal book, have children create a journal as | | | | with it successfully. |