Does your child see a need in the community? Does he love to create art, fix computers, or teach others math skills? Creating a small business or organization is an excellent way to build character.
What does building a business or a nonprofit teach your child?
Building an organization teaches children how to find a passion and pursue it. This zest for an interest and the dogged pursuit of this interest will get you far. Starting an organization or a business gives children and teens the opportunity to determine what they like to do in a very practical, real world setting.
Building an organization teaches your child how to plan and what to do when plans fail. How do you build a budget? How do you schedule your time to balance home life, homeschooling, and your organization? What do you do when things go wrong? You can help your child navigate these questions, and local business centers also offer free or inexpensive business development workshops.
Some advice for the terrified: making something that is a little bit new is easier than making something from scratch. If you’re worried about starting something completely new, look for opportunities to create change within the organizations that you currently associate with. If you belong to a church, see if you can start a youth program that provides care packages to the elderly or socks for those who are homeless. If your local school has an after school tutoring program, volunteer there or put up a tutoring ad and use this to attract students. A senior’s center might have computer learning sessions for adults who want to learn how to access the internet. Of course, with web sites like Cafepress and Etsy, the opportunities to create your own business or organization and develop it online are almost endless.
Has your child created a business? What has she learned from the experience?
Image Credit: Jan Willem