Guest Post by Rebecca Ingram Powell at Mom Seriously
Is your child interested in starting his own business? Thanks to generous allowances, indulgent grandparents, and even us well-intentioned moms, many children simply are not motivated to pursue creative entrepreneurship because they already get everything they want. They do not need money, so unfortunately, they are being denied the opportunity to invest in themselves and work for the things they want. How can you promote a strong work ethic, creative business skills, and the opportunity for financial education in your own home? Encourage a sense of entrepreneurship in your kids.
Opportunities. Look for money motivators the next time you hear the words. “I wish I had one of those!” Give your child the opportunity to earn extra money through extra household chores or remodeling projects around the house.
Dreams. Give her time to dream up creative ways of making money on her own. What does she like to do? Babysit? Clean house? Garden? Take care of pets? Sometimes a seasonal summer job is the best place to start, offering a service for neighbors who are vacationing.
Guidelines. Together you can establish spending guidelines that include pre-determined amounts for giving and saving. Always let your kids make their own decisions on how to spend the bulk of the money they earn. Personal experience will teach them the importance of being a thrifty shopper, the significance of saving for a rainy day, and the value of hard work.
At its best, work should reflect a person’s passion. Find out what your child loves to do, and watch for potential business ideas. Move beyond one-time lemonade stands and branch into areas where kids can actually earn money. Investigate not only traditional self-employment ideas, such as developing a seasonal lawn-mowing venture or weekend babysitting business, but also bring in progressive, new prospects such as Web site design and retail. The Internet gives today’s children the chance to bypass yesterday’s yard sale and open their own global store through sites like eBay.com. With parental supervision, they can enjoy accepting bids on their used toys, books, and even collectibles such as Disney souvenirs and baseball cards.
In order to really encourage your child’s independence, take a few steps back. Be careful to realize that your child’s business should be just that—his own!
—Adapted from the book Season of Change: Parenting Your Middle Schooler with Passion and Purpose by Rebecca Ingram Powell. Copyright © 2008 Rebecca Ingram Powell. All rights reserved.
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About Rebecca of Mom Seriously:
As a parenting columnist and the author of five books, Rebecca Ingram Powell has been writing and speaking on parenting issues for over a decade. Married to her college sweetheart and the homeschooling mother of three, she offers information, encouragement, and inspiration on a variety of family topics at her blog, Mom Seriously.
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