Learn about the importance of instilling an entrepreneurial spirit in your child and how Acton Children’s Business Fair can help support your child’s bright ideas for his or her own business.
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As a homeschooling mom, I am constantly thinking about what I can teach my kids beyond academics. What skills can I teach my children now at such a young age that would pave the way to a successful future?
After receiving an MBA (Master in Business Administration) and later on becoming the owner of my own small business, I realized the importance of developing entrepreneurship skills at a young age.
Teaching your kids how to make money goes beyond putting money in their piggy bank. They need to learn that they have to provide value, whether it be a service or a physical product, to someone to earn something in return.
And in the process of becoming a successful entrepreneur, your kids will learn so many soft skills that will prepare them for the future job market. They will learn skills that can be applied across all industries, such as leadership, commitment, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving.
With all that said, how do you raise an innovative and entrepreneurial kid? The best way is to start a business and learn through experience! Having your kids go through the entire process of making their own products and selling them will help young entrepreneurs find their calling in business and life.
Not sure how to start? The Acton Children’s Business Fair will provide you the resources you need to host a business fair for your kids right in your own neighborhood (perhaps in your own front yard). Keep reading to learn more!
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
The Acton Children’s Business Fair is a free program offered to entrepreneurial families with the purpose of inspiring young minds to start their own businesses. Sponsored by the Acton Academy, the Acton Next Great Adventure, and the Sandefer Family, the event gives kids all over the world the opportunity to launch their own startup businesses.
According to Cyn Johnson in Seguin, TX, “this is the most effective program for promotion of entrepreneurship and the enabling of ‘normal people’ to provide ‘regular’ kids with the opportunity to market to their community.” Not only does the Acton Children’s Business Fair great for the kids, it also helps bring the community together in one amazing event.
By participating in the fair, children learn the ins and outs of starting their own business. They learn how to price their products, and some even decide to raise or drop the price during the fair based on the supply and demand.
After earning money at the fair, the young entrepreneurs have the option of saving the money, spending some, or even giving some to good causes. Now not only do they have the opportunity to grow their businesses beyond the fair, but they also have the chance to change the world.
Excited to get started? You can either host your own business fair, or participate in a local fair.
How to Participate in a Local Fair
To find an Acton Children’s Business Fair near you, simply type in your location here. Depending on where you are located, there may be a few fairs within driving distance.
How to Host Your Own Fair
Perhaps you can’t find a fair in your area. Or if you are like me, you have a group of homeschool kids who are eager to produce and sell their own products. Or maybe you participated in a local fair and are so inspired that you want to host your own.
Whatever the reason is, hosting an Acton Children’s Business Fair can be easy and inexpensive. For a small fair, all you need is a small space such as your front yard where you can set up some tables. Other ideas include local parks that have greenspace or even churches or community centers.
Acton will provide a kit that includes a step-by-step guidebook and pre-made marketing templates as well as your own customized website for registration. You can also receive up to $500 in prize money after your fair ($10/booth for the first 25 booths and $5/booth thereafter).
For small fairs, all you need is about 8-10 tables and about 3-4 weeks of planning. This includes attracting young entrepreneurs to participate in the fair and reserving a space (check to see if permits or licenses are needed for your local facilities).
The audition process is short and simple, but it helps weed out people who shouldn’t be fair hosts. This helps ensure that your children are able to present their products and ideas in a safe environment with proper support.
To host your own fair, complete your audition here and get ready to change a child’s life!
What Can My Kids Sell?
If you have young kids like mine, you may be wondering what your kids can sell at the Acton Children’s Business Fair. No idea is too small! Talk with your kids and encourage them to come up with a product or service that they would be interested in creating or providing. Then support them all the way!
Just in case your kids are stuck, here are some ideas to get the creative juices flowing:
- Scrunches
- Slime
- Baked goods (gluten-free, vegan, etc.)
- Custom art
- Photographs
- Jewelry
- Picture frames
- Puppets
- T-shirts
- Fairy gardens
- Painted seashells
- Recycled art
- STEM kits
Final Thoughts on the Acton Children’s Business Fair
Teaching your kids about entrepreneurship means giving your kids the opportunity to pursue a career they love. Instead of being stuck in a job that they don’t want to get out of bed for, they can be happy creating real solutions to solve real problems all the while making good money.
I am so thankful that the Acton Children’s Business Fair gives the opportunity for kids to explore what it’s like to be an entrepreneur. Not only can you participate in other fairs, but Acton also makes hosting a fair as stress-free as possible. To learn more, check out the FAQs on their website and their social media channels:
No matter how old your kid is, it’s never too early to start instilling an entrepreneurship mindset. With age, they’ll gain a better understanding of how to add value in everything they do so that they can stand out and be successful.
And most importantly, they will learn that with hard work, anything is possible.
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