What Are You Teaching Your Kids about Thinking Like an Entrepreneur?
“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”
― James Baldwin
Your children are always watching you. They learn how to act and react based on how you do. So what are you teaching them?
Learning the skills it takes to be an entrepreneur will help any child advance later in life. Here are some ways to make sure your kids are learning the things they're going to need in the future:
Communication skills. When asking your children about their school day, are you really listening? Do they tell a good story (events in order, the story makes sense, etc.)? Make sure your children have opportunities to express their opinions, feelings, ideas, etc., to you.
Money management. While it's important to allow children to gain experience handling money, remember they learn many of their spending and saving habits from you. Explain how you arrive at certain spending decisions—whether you do research before purchases, your ideas on thrift vs. quality, and so on.
Time management. If you’re constantly late or if you never have time to do the things you've promised to do, your children will pick up on it.
How to handle stress. This is a big one. Do you have a drink at the end of a tough day? Do you lash out whenever things don't go your way? Exploring positive ways to deal with stress—from breathing exercises to going for a walk—should be regular part of your family’s routine.
How to deal with failure. Much as we might like them to, things don’t always go our way. How do we handle those situations? Do we give up or keep fighting? What are some ways we can turn an initial failure into an eventual success? Good or bad, our children will learn from our answers.
Decision making. Do you allow your children to make their own decisions? If not, you can't expect them to have any practical knowledge once they are adults. Offer choices and discuss options as well as showing them how to acquire the information to make good decisions.
Ethics. Do your kids know what you feel is most important in life? Do you stand up for what you believe in? Do you stand up for others? Remember the Baldwin quote at the beginning of this article and ask yourself: are you walking your talk? Make sure your children see you practice what you preach—wearing your seat belt, going the speed limit, telling the truth, keeping promises, etc.
Your children will be learning skills throughout their lifetime. Make sure you are laying the proper foundation now to teach your children how to succeed in the future.