As parents, we find ourselves thinking about our child’s future often. We wonder what they will do with their lives and we want our kids to be equipped with the traits needed to make a successful entrepreneur. These traits include confidence, motivation, determination, and the ability to change course when needed.
Here are five ways to boost an entrepreneurial spirit in your child and help build these traits.
- Encourage purposeful playtime.
When your kids are young, encourage their imaginations by playing along with them as they open stores, set up restaurants, and create things to sell to you. Discuss these play adventures as real opportunities and discuss the steps involved in these imaginative businesses. Add in play money and discuss money transactions as well as goods and services your kids could pretend to provide.
Read books about different occupations and careers your child may enjoy. Be mindful of pointing out opportunities to discuss the traits you see in book characters that will build your child’s exposure and plant a seed for future dreams.
- Dialogue about daily activities.
In your daily life, business opportunities are all around. Discuss these with your kids as you visit stores, restaurants, doctor’s offices, and attend karate practice. Give kids the opportunity to start to see all of the ways they can provide a good or a service in the world. The next time the Amazon delivery person drops off a package at your house, take the opportunity to discuss the operation behind that package.
- Involve kids in your business opportunities.
If you are a small business owner or have a side business hustle, get your kids involved with this in as many ways as possible. Let them hear your discussions about your business, see the actions you have to do daily to keep your business thriving, and let them help. Even young kids can help with basic business tasks.
- Give opportunities to make money as your kids grow.
Before your kids are officially old enough to enter the work-force, there are many things they can do to start to make money. Discuss strengths and interests with your child and look for opportunities around your own house and neighborhood to encourage entrepreneurial skills.
Read these awesome ideas for kids to make money. You will find over 100 ideas and the steps to help your kids start their business and money-making ventures.
- Build leadership skills
Continuously work on leadership skills as your child grows. Model and practice leadership qualities in daily life.
- Being a good communicator
- Discussing problems and solutions
- Setting goals, tracking progress, and reflecting
- Working on time management
- Sticking with plans even when they get hard
Your child may not grow up to be a business leader. But with these ideas, your child will grow up to have self-motivation and drive to follow their path.
“There is no greater thing you can do with your life and your work than follow your passions- in a way that serves the world and you.”– Richard Branson