Entrepreneurial skills isn’t just about starting a business. There is a more fundamental value: survival. As you may have read here, entrepreneurship should be nurtured at an early age since it will enhance children’s self-reliance. Perhaps, you have also known about the important entrepreneurial lessons to teach your children here.
While entrepreneurship is important, we sure don’t want our children to miss out on their childhood. So, these are a set of tips to help you started.
1. Set effective goals
Goals will help your children to learn how to actually reach their dreams, so they won’t stay daydreaming. Start by letting them choose their big but short term goal, such as being able to read and write by Christmas. Then discuss with them on breaking down the goal into smaller tasks, such as practicing to write five letters a day and read one night time story before bed.
2. Teach them that rewards (money) must be earned
Introducing children to money matters could be tricky. Determining money values involve a lot of aspects into consideration. However, it’s important that they have a fundamental principle about finance. For starters, you can simply not give them ‘allowance’. Tell them that they need to do something to earn the money, be it helping to cook dinner or taking out the trash. Also, when it comes to spending the money, guide them that there is a difference between want and need. Therefore, you’ll implement priority.
3. Get them involved in communities
Successful and happy people are usually the ones who give back to their community. Fulfilling personal dream is nice, but being able to contribute and influence other people’s lives will support a stronger motivation: life purpose. Giving is associated with altruism and happiness. You can start by involving them in voluntary activities, as you can read here or here.
4. Foster creativity
What makes a successful business? An innovation that manages to make a significantly positive contribution to people’s lives. Where does it come from? Creativity. Lead your children to problem-solving and idea-triggering lessons, such as science, art, math or writing.
5. Let them fail
Failure is inevitable. This exercise is not to let your children fall into the pit, but to let them experience their own failure and then guide them on how to get back on their feet. You don’t need to fail them on purpose. Just get them to be involved in more social activities. Failure will come, sooner or later. When it happens, then it’s time for you to enter.
One of our communities is helping orphaned children by guiding them to become independent and impactful individuals. Read more about their movement here.