Summer is here, and that typically means lots of free time for your kids! Before the “I’m bored” cries start up (or maybe they already have in your house!), you can start planning activities and buying books that will nurture the budding entrepreneur in your kids. Here are some excellent ideas to get you started!
PHOTO: Tuttle Twins
Kids’ Books About Entrepreneurship
A great place to start is with kids’ books about entrepreneurship. If you’re wondering how to raise independent thinkers, books that teach critical thinking as a part of entrepreneurship are an excellent start.
The Tuttle Twins series features a range of children’s books about entrepreneurship. Some titles worth considering include The Tuttle Twins and Their Spectacular Show Business and The Tuttle Twins and the Food Truck Fiasco.
You might want to start with The Tuttle Twins and Their Spectacular Show Business because it sets the stage (literally!) for budding entrepreneurs to see what running their own business would be like. The twins learn that running a business isn’t easy, especially when competition arises. Like many Tuttle Twins books, this title also teaches critical thinking as the twins learn to solve problems that pop up while running their business.
The Tuttle Twins and the Food Truck Fiasco also focuses on running a business, but it explains how the government can shutter businesses by passing unfair laws. Your kids will learn how disruptive businesses must sometimes battle competitors with friends in high places who pass laws aimed at protecting them from innovative up-and-comers.
PHOTO: Tuttle Twins
Activities to Nurture Entrepreneurship
In addition to kids’ books about entrepreneurship, there are lots of activities that will help bring out the business owner in your child. Suppose you’re wondering how to raise independent thinkers. In that case, you’ll want to encourage several traits in your kids, including creativity, problem solving and critical thinking, a mindset of personal growth, and financial literacy.
To nurture creativity, give your kids access to plenty of art supplies and music and have a special place where they can nurture the artist inside by working on crafts, painting or drawing, writing, or any other creative activity they enjoy.
To encourage problem-solving abilities, let your kids solve problems on their own or help them come up with solutions to problems that present themselves. Critical thinking is a big part of problem solving, so to support critical-thinking skills, work with them on analyzing various situations, helping them evaluate their options, and challenging them to justify the choices they make. Explain the consequences of each option to help them decide what to do in a wide range of situations.
Personal growth is another critical skill for entrepreneurs. To foster a mindset of personal growth, teach them to embrace challenges and learn from their mistakes, explaining that mistakes are a learning opportunity. Applaud them when they persevere as they solve problems.
And if you’re wondering how to teach kids about money, it all starts with the basics like saving and budgeting, but you can apply these skills to entrepreneurship by helping them start a business. While setting up a lemonade stand is a traditional business model for kids, many other types of businesses are appropriate for children.
For example, service businesses present a massive opportunity because they often require little to no investment. Help your kids approach neighbors with offers to do yard work, clean their homes, or do other kid-appropriate odd jobs. If they’re especially creative, show them how they can sell what they make, teaching them the finer points of setting selling prices that are high enough to more than cover their expenses so that they can turn a profit.
Reinforcing What You’re Teaching
Of course, activities are great, but at the end of the day, you’ll need help reinforcing what you teach, and turning back to kids’ books about entrepreneurship will help build upon what you’ve been teaching through those activities. The Tuttle Twins series includes many books that teach critical thinking and the other skills necessary to be a successful business owner. The Tuttle Twins books turn learning into an exciting adventure your kids won’t forget anytime soon!
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 