Kids & Business
Thanks for stopping by! I can't begin to tell you how many times I am asked "How did you get your children involved in business?" or "What did you do to get them interested in business?" and "How did they learn so much about business?" So, I thought I would take a moment to share some of my thoughts on this very important subject.
First of all, we didn't get our children involved in business. While raising our children, we have tried to help them see what is going on with our own business, letting them ask plenty of questions and helping along the way. You see, in my opinion, children learn to think and reason by watching others go through the same process. So, we share plenty around the dinner table and while driving along country roads - sharing and reasoning and brainstorming aloud. In the midst of it all, they have been encouraged to wonder and investigate, to try out their own ideas under our watchful eyes. What a blessing this has been for all of us! Have you read the book "Cheaper by the Dozen?" We listened to the unabridged audio version several times, and the parents in the book tend to educate their children along the same lines -- a great audio book for the family going on a long trip!
Our oldest child, now in veterinary college, has always loved books. At the age of 15, she had built her first used book website and had a thriving business developed in no time at all. She would shop garage sales and library sales, then list the books on her website. We have always surrounded our children with quality books, and she learned to explore her interests from an early age. She had to learn how to build a website, what the terms of business meant, and how to make a profit. She had a wonderful time with this business, and still has some of her favorite finds that resulted from her book searching. Through this business, she taught herself how to build websites, and still builds web sites for extra income, when time permits. Now that she is in vet school, this endeavor has been set aside for bigger lessons!
Our middle child will be graduating from high school this year, and has developed quite a business of his own. His website is www.sheltering-trees.com and he uses it to sell trees from his tree farm operation. From about the age of 11, he has developed a tremendous interest in botany and turned this interest into a thriving tree farm business. His education continues as he develops the gifts and talents that God has given him. He is very self-motivated in learning about his areas of interest -- his room is loaded with college-level books on botany, tree propagation, woody ornamentals, and more. He strives to learn all about business and economics, and has read and benefited from books by Robert Kiyosaki, Richard J. Maybury and others. I can honestly say that, once again, homeschooling has been an education for both the teacher and the student.
A list of our favorite books on business and finances for
the whole family can be found at:
Books to
Teach Kids About Money
I've written an article that you might find helpful - click here to read Kids, Money & Business.
If you are interested in helping your children learn about business, I am going to be opening a new website soon, called www.kidsandbusiness.com and will list my recommendations for books along with some suggestions for teaching kids about business. Check back soon!
Blessings,
Amanda
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ShelteringTrees.com