It’s becoming more talked about recently, and a more accepted concept regarding school curriculum throughout Minnesota and across the country, that lessons of “Entrepreneurship Starts Early” in a child’s education.
In a charter school like Odyssey Academy in Brooklyn Center, MN, this recommendation in recent news comes as no surprise. This recommendation, however, also comes as “old news” to Odyssey because teachers there have been introducing the lessons of becoming a entrepreneur or small business owner to their third classes for more than 6 years or better. Some in the field are now even encouraging schools to consider a curriculum that includes entrepreneurship as early as first grade. The reason? Students as young 6 and 7 years of age are shown to have been able to not only absorb the concept early on, but come up with amazing and unbound imaginative solutions in today’s society.
Children's minds are more open to creative ideas at an earlier stage which is what strong entrepreneurial businesses…
Posted by Back2Basics on Friday, January 8, 2016
Lessons in the “Entrepreneurship Starts Early” concept are reinforced at school and home!
Lillian Troska, the youngest of three children to Back2Basics owner, Tanya Troska, just completed one of her school projects related to entrepreneurs and business planning with the prototypes of her custom designed “Pop Doll”. We won’t give the whole concept away here, as she actually has plans underway to expand on this concept over the coming weeks and months, but we were so inspired by the creativity that was influenced to take shape because of the implementation of the program at her school we just had to share it.
There is more to the lesson plan, but in a nutshell, Lilly and her classmates needed to, each, come up with a business plan (a downsized version, of course), that included budgets and product descriptions that they intended to market to other classmates in a school-room sponsored mall. Each student would visit the other stores in the mall and would have an opportunity to “purchase” their classmates’ products (using play money). They, as individual business owners, would then review the success of their opening day of business in comparison to the business plan they created. We applaud schools like Odyssey, and their teachers, along with so many others like them, who see the value in introducing such a visionary but important life concept to their students at an early age.
The concept of starting lessons on becoming an entrepreneur should begin at home, at least, be reinforced by parents and community.
Lilly and her siblings often refer to the aspirations they have of owning their own businesses when they grow up. And, for the founder of Back2Basics, nothing is more energizing then listening to the hopes, dreams and creative ideas that pour from the mouths of these babes. It’s truly music to the ears of this entrepreneur in her own right.
This spirit of individuality, creativity and the drive for tomorrow’s next small business men and women is what Back2Basics lives to support. And, it’s why Back2Basics gladly supports new startup non-profits like Skills 4 Life, Inc. who’s main mission is to empower homeless youth in the Twin Cities to follow their dreams and aspirations, and provide them a platform for success in doing just that. The development of a strong entrepreneur starts early in life; in a subconscious level, when we as community leaders, teachers and parents lead by example.
Whether you’re a brick’n’mortar business selling unique wares not typically offered by big box companies or an online vendor offering equally unique products or services, if you have something to benefit communities locally or globally, it’s not only a benefit to you to share it, but your duty to society and the next generation. Because with each passing generation of entrepreneurs comes something better and better. From artists to engineers, designers to educators, producers to production resources and manufacturers and beyond… they all started with a vision. Yes… entrepreneurship starts early in any process and is the cornerstone of small business. And, small business drives community, which in turn drives larger business, and then inspires more creativity, and more need for creative; inventive, and intuitive minds in business.
Let us know what you think about the “Entrepreneurship Starts Early” initiative by leaving your comments below. And, if you want to learn more about programs Skills 4 Life, or how to become a sponsor, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/skills4lifemn.
Tanya T
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