Children hear about money at this time of year as adults finish paying taxes. It’s a good tie to consider ways to teach them how to earn, save, and wisely spend. When my children were young we had so much zucchini one summer that we set up a bread stand and they continually sold out. They divided the money, tithed it, saved some, and spent some. It’s great to have a way to earn a little money whether from chores or a little job or money-making plan.

Can you recall your first ventures at making money?

I picked up empty soda bottles, washed them, and turned them into stores, picked cherries to sell to family, washed windows and artificial plants at my family’s restaurants, and then started babysitting when I was old enough. I recall when my youngest son had a nice job walking dogs in our neighborhood.

What are some kids doing?

• In my area a local mall holds a kid entrepreneur day once a year where my granddaughter Lily sells her paintings and jewelry. She enjoys making poured painting. Another location that has an artist boutique store may hold a similar event this summer.
• Another grandson who lives a few hours away started a holiday muffin bouquet business and one of his sisters sells chocolates. He uses my book The Gift of Bread for his recipes.They take orders and also sell on the sidewalk near their house.
• My grandson proudly earned money pressure cleaning my sidewalk and driveway.

You can help youngsters earn money:

• Consider hiring a neighbor or grandchild for chores you need done.
• Teach a child a craft or other skill they can use to start a small business. They might do well enough to sell online.
• Sign your children up for camp program that will teach them skills they can use to earn money. Even coding and computer skills can equip a girl o boy to earn money helping seniors and self-employed people who might need assistance at times.
• Brainstorm ideas for both jobs they might like and ways to advertise their skills.

As a child earns money he starts needing to make decisions on how to handle it and has more vested interest in it. They begin to realize how many hours it took to earn the dollars.

Blessings,

Karen Whiting