Often as parents, when we spend money and time on our children, we, rightly so, ask ourselves what is the value in this? What will they takeaway or learn? Is it worth it?
This summer we are wrapping up the last of our summer camp programs and kids from 7-12 years have walked through as a team, starting their own Lemonade Stand Business.
Lemonade Stands have been around for a very long time and seem fairly basic. Get a table, get some lemonade and see if anyone will buy it that is walking by. What is there to teach that they couldn’t learn on their own?
Well, let’s step back a moment, shall we? In all aspects of life, any action we do can be done with a varying level of depth and effort. Sports, work, exercising, cleaning the house and so on. Likewise, a “business”, or in this case, a lemonade stand, is the same way.
Have you been to Playland this summer or any local fair? Have you ever seen that BIG Lemon shaped stand that sells fresh squeezed lemonade (which is absolutely delicious btw)? Well, people pay their mortgage doing that. The only difference is the level they decided to take their lemonade stand vs what I did with my Kool-Aid stand as a kid.
On our summer camp program, kids learn about what a business is but also the information, brainstorming and action required to really make it a success.
They didn’t just sell lemonade, they came up with different recipes, mixed them and then asked the public to try their concoctions for feedback on sweetness and preference. Information = one step closer to success.
Next, they came up with names, a brand, posters with which to attract attention and promote their business. Brainstorming & Teamwork = taking action that will get them one more step closer to success.
Then, it’s the big day! Pressure is on. Time to communicate a message and convert passersby into sales. They role play, practice, watch videos on customer service and how to offer value. Information + Action = a BIG Success for any first business.
Of course they also understand their costs, profit, and pricing as bonuses.
But let’s go back to the initial question. What will my kids takeaway after the program?
Here is a quick, tangible example. Meet Taiga and Rio. Two brothers who took on our Lemonade Stand Challenge just a couple weeks ago. Once their program was done, it appears that the entrepreneurial bug dug in deep and they decided to use what they learned and run with it! They started a Snow Cone Stand for Charity! How incredible is that!
We couldn’t be more proud of these two and can’t wait to see them this fall in our after school program where they can take what they have already learned and kick it up even more!
So, after your child’s program, maybe they are inspired to sell something else? Perhaps they want to raise money for charity or save up for that new video game. Perhaps they don’t start a business at all. But what they will take away is a new way of looking at the world around them. They will know that they can take on a challenge, step by step, and make something happen. They will know that everything has a cost, money and time, and that if they gather enough information, they can make decisions that can earn a profit or deliver a desired outcome.
True, our students don’t come home with each day with tangible items such as hand made mugs or cards written for mom and dad. Instead, they come home with practical knowledge that can potentially empower them for a lifetime.
For more information on our Summer Camps & Upcoming Fall After School Programs Registering Now, Visit https://buildabizkids.com/as-adwords-%26-fb-landing
