When it comes to breaking down the business world for kids, just using words and explanations can only go so far. Trying to explain stuff like marketing, operations, legal, all the obstacles you face when running a business, and how much things cost can be pretty tough for kids to wrap their brains around. That's why getting hands-on experience is usually the best way to show kids the ropes of business – actually seeing and doing stuff can help make these tricky concepts more real and easier to understand.
One reason why business can be a tricky concept for kids is because it's like a big puzzle with a bunch of pieces that all fit together in unexpected ways. From dealing with stuff like how much product you need, to getting the word out about your business and making sure customers are happy, there's a whole bunch of stuff that goes into running a business that might not be super obvious to kids right off the bat. Plus, when it comes to the money side of things, it can be a real eye-opener for kids who are used to cash magically appearing whenever they need something. Things like tech costs, buying stuff to sell, and promoting your business – these are all real costs that kids might not fully get until they see how everything adds up in a hands-on business activity. By getting involved in setting prices, figuring out budgets, and keeping an eye on expenses, kids can get a real-world feel for the financial side of starting a business.
When kids ask what their parents or other grown-ups do for work, the answers they get might just leave them scratching their heads or feeling a bit lost. Words like "manager", "CEO" or "marketing consultant" might not click with a kid who's never seen these jobs up close. Instead of getting bogged down in trying to explain these fancy job titles, giving kids a taste of what it's like to run a business through hands-on activities can help make the working world less mysterious and get them excited about checking out different kinds of jobs.
DOG apparel was built not only to provide kids and grown ups fun apparel, but also to teach the 8 and 4 year old founders what it takes to start a business. Who knows, maybe one day they will fully embrace entrepreneurship and take their businesses to the moon. Or, experiencing the grind will help them decide that business isn’t for them and they will happily pursue other dreams. Either way, hands-on experience is invaluable for young minds. Things don’t have to be as complicated as starting an actual company like DOG Apparel. You can get a taste of entrepreneurship with a simple lemonade stand.