It was an ordinary Saturday morning, I had my nose buried in Make Your Kids Millionaires by Loral Langemeier and Kyle Boeckman, casually flipping through a chapter on how their children started their own businesses. I was telling Alessi and Basti about….
Suddenly, Alessi, my 9-year-old daughter, looked up from her toast and with all the certainty in the world, announced, "I want to start my own business... babysitting!"
The sheer determination in her voice caught me off guard. She wasn’t just daydreaming—she already had a plan. “Can I borrow your computer?” she asked eagerly, “I need to make a poster.”
I blinked, taken aback but impressed. It turns out they had been using Canva, the graphic design platform, in school. She already knew the ropes. Without wasting any time, she began working, and before I knew it, she had named her venture: "Alessi's Babysitting Business." But of course, I jumped in and suggested a brainstorming session—what entrepreneur wouldn’t, right? I taught it was the perfect timing to introduce how AI can be a brainstorming partner and help us expound on our ideas.
After a quick back-and-forth, she came up with “Bright Beginnings Babysitting.” The next few hours flew by as she meticulously designed her poster. She wasn’t just making something cute; no, this was serious work. She added everything from a logo to a catchy tagline, a full list of services, and her contact information.
But what impressed me most was her ingenuity—she even added a membership option. For just $3, clients could become members and enjoy a series of discounts. With every fifth session, they’d get an even bigger discount.
Then, in typical Alessi fashion, she got a little carried away. I watched as she created poster after poster, even dreaming up a business for her younger brother, Basti!
It was clear her creativity was on fire, but I had to rein her back a little. “Focus on one thing first,” I gently reminded her, “You can expand later.”
But this moment, watching her wheels turn, her hands flying across the keyboard, was a beautiful reminder of the creativity and abundance mindset that kids naturally have. They dream big, think outside the box, and don’t limit themselves the way we adults sometimes do.
By the time the posters were done, she was ready to go. “Can you send these to our friends and neighbors with young kids?” she asked. Of course, I did. How could I not support this burst of entrepreneurial energy?
To our surprise, by the end of the day, she had booked her first client for the upcoming weekend. It was a proud moment, but also a perfect opportunity to teach her some valuable lessons about work ethic. I sat her down and explained the importance of being on time, calculating travel time, and ensuring she arrived 10 minutes early for her appointment. Together, we worked through the math, and it became a natural bridge to more practical money lessons.
When the weekend came, Alessi was more than prepared. She had packed a bag full of activities, educational toys, and even designed her own membership cards. She beamed as she carefully placed a stamp on each card, ready for her first customer.
That evening, after her first babysitting job, she was buzzing with excitement. Her first client was happy, and Alessi had experienced, for the first time, what it was like to earn money from an idea she had built herself. The confidence in her eyes was something I won’t soon forget.
This entire experience wasn’t just about earning money; it was about nurturing creativity, responsibility, and the joy that comes from seeing a vision turn into reality. Teaching our kids entrepreneurship at a young age empowers them to see beyond limitations. It By giving them the tools to think for themselves and act on their ideas, we are planting seeds that will grow into lifelong confidence and financial literacy. And as parents, there’s no greater joy than watching those seeds take root.
