Kidpreneurs: Should We Put the Kids to Work?
April 10th 2008 by Dr.MOZ in Dear Dr.MOZ, Parenting 
Do you remember your first “kid job” at the lemonade stand, or perhaps you took an occasional lawn mowing gig from your neighbor? Looking back, it was a great way to learn the value of money and anything that pulled us away from the TV for a few hours during the summer was probably a good thing. That being the said, something didn’t sit quite right when reading about a new Florida-based company that markets to 5 to 15 year-olds on Springwise yesterday.
In a nutshell, kids join a franchise with a one-time $25 set-up fee which qualifies the new franchisee (your kid) to participate in company forums and gives access to their products (soap, beeswax candles, clothing, etc) at wholesale prices. The start-up kit for
this particular franchise includes a certificate, printable business cards, and “how to sell” instructions. Some of the advertised benefits include (a) teach your kids the value of money (b) how to make it in business (c) help your kids get a jump on life.
So, what’s my beef with the kid-biz trend? As with most kid-related businesses that rub me the wrong way…the target market. In this case, it’s recruiting kids five to fifteen-years-old, and the product doesn’t seem to match the “under ten” demographic. Sales tips on the website stress the importance of a firm handshake, good eye contact, asking for the sale, and other skills that don’t exactly mesh with the prospective franchisee. Sure…these are all undeniable “must have” skills for an adult salesperson, but do you really want your five-year-old working on a firm handshake?
The real question is, what aren’t your kids doing when they are practicing their pitch in order to close the big beeswax candle sale to you neighbor? Whatever happened to riding bikes, practicing the perfect armpit fart noise, or dressing up the family pet in dad’s clothing? What do you think folks, am I just a little old-fashioned or are our kids being pushed out of childhood a little too early these days? Click on the comments button to let me know what you think!
Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ
April 10th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Really, 5? Anything like this for kids under 14 or 15 is nuts! Why not let your kid make their own products and sell them on Etsy?
April 10th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Yeah, this might be better for kids between 10 and 13. They would make more money doing yard work than selling candles around here.
April 11th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
sounds like somebody is just trying to make money for themselves. Like the “make millionaires with tiny ads” pitch to adults. There’s really only one person making money– the person selling the kits.
April 15th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
This is crazy… didn’t pass child labor laws? I can just see some parent somewhere loading their 5 year old up with a backpack of goods to pedal on the side of the freeway. If you wrote this on April 1st, I would have thought it was a joke. Thanks for the smile
April 17th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Nowadays, kids have money concept in their minds in a very early age. My sister bought her daughter a brandly new laptop and a beautiful desk as a gift for the beginning of her primary school study. Of course my niece was very happy. Do you know what she said then? What a good thing it will be if a person has lots of money! The words were from the mouth of a 6 years old girl. I was so surprised. So I think we need to guide kids to have a correct money concept and educate them in a good way to be economically independent.
April 21st, 2008 at 5:24 am
This sounds like a scam and what is worse, it is directed at children. I dread the thought of overzealous parents that will force their children into this to “help” with their future. What they will be doing is ruining the best and so important part of life – childhood.
This is so sad…
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
yep a scam to kids who want to earn money.
it reminds me of the ads in comic books when i was a kid.
you sold seeds i think + you could win prizes from the company.
i considered it, hahaha
i also considered the “draw this picture to see if you’re a good enough artist for our mail away art school,” kids are so gullible,
there should be a law against these kinds of exploitive scam companies.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Whatever happened to lemonade stands?
May 9th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I’ve always commented to my wife that we should get our 5-yr old daughter out into the work force nice and early, earning her keep. Of course I’ve just been kidding but I see by your post that perhaps I’ve approached this topic too lightly.