Fuel Your Child’s Entrepreneurial Spirit
Sarah Basile
| 3 min read
It’s never too early to teach your children responsibility, problem-solving and the value of a hard day’s work. If your daughter or son is interested in earning extra cash, invest in their entrepreneurial spirit and help them try out one of the following business ideas.
- Gardening: If your child loves the outdoors and has a green thumb, have them try gardening. Your child can help the neighbors, friends or family by offering to weed, plant, water and care for new seeds or flowers.
- Car Washing: This one is pretty easy too – all your child will need are some mops, sponges, hot water and towels. Your child can make posters and advertise on the sidewalk to attract customers. Have the cars pull up in the driveway and use the hose to rinse after the wash. Your child will have a blast washing cars, especially in the summer heat.
- Yard Work: If your kid likes getting some fresh air, they can help take care of the lawn. Depending on the season and their age, they can mow and take care of weeds in the summer, rake the leaves in the fall, or shovel in the winter. For these opportunities, your child needs minimal supplies and they can charge by the hour, by the day or by the bag (for raking or weeding).
- Helping Around the House: Who doesn’t need an extra set of hands to help with cleaning? If your kids enjoy being organized and neat, suggest helping around the house. Kids can ask if a neighbor or family friend needs help dusting, straightening up, cleaning the bathroom or even washing and putting away dishes.
- Babysitting: This is a fantastic opportunity for kids to demonstrate responsibility and make extra money in the process, provided they’re old enough and trustworthy. Some parents might need help watching their children for a few hours while they straighten up or run some errands, so if your child isn’t comfortable being completely alone with their charge, find a family that has a parent home but needs some alone time to do other work. Many local community centers offer babysitting and Red Cross classes for training in CPR, child safety and information about what to do in an emergency. Sign them up if they express an interest in babies or little kids.
- Dog Walking: This business idea is perfect for kids who like pets and the outdoors. If your child doesn’t have a dog, make sure they learn about dog safety and the responsibilities that come with dog walking. Before starting, have your child talk to the pet owner to see what they need to know about their dog specifically, such as if their dog should try to avoid other dogs on their walk. Your kids will have a blast taking on the extra responsibility of watching over a dog while enjoying their friendly company, plus they’ll be getting in some exercise.
- Vlogging: If your child loves to make videos, has a creative personality and is talkative, vlogging is the business for them! Kids can make money being an “online personality” if their videos receive enough views on YouTube, prompting advertisers and sponsors to reach out. Before going this route, make sure your child doesn’t release any private information and is mentally prepared to receive some negative comments.
Are your kids entrepreneurial? What are their favorite ways to make extra spending money? Share with us in the comments.
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Photo credit: Barney Moss
