Do you involve your kids in biz?

[Burgo]

The old keyboard trick does work. When the four ferrels are here out comes the old key board then a fight would break out so we found another one on a ckleanup pile Yippee they share.
If Im working on the computer the second eldest will alway climb up on my knee and wat to help. I just flick into photos and talk about rellies or places of interest two minutes she gone again so flick back to what I was doing, keeps them happy. Little kids have a very short concentration span.

[@HeatherSmithAU]

what great insights - love the key board trick.

Yes I agree it is the mechanic of the biz not the making of the hamburger that is important to pass down.

Maybe we should get a FLYINGSOLO Live for kids!

[FS Administrator]

Originally Posted by MYOB

Maybe we should get a FLYINGSOLO Live for kids!

Ha! Great idea. Perhaps your son could be a keynote presenter on money matters! Like monther like son

Cheers
Peter

[tildavirtual]

I wrote an article on how running a business changes as they grow up. You can read it here. I've paid my children in the past to do basic tasks including shredding but as they grow I'll teach them more about business. I already have my 10 year old asking about starting a business and what he could possibly do. The life skills and business ethics my children are learning will definitely set them up for life even if they choose to become an employee rather than an entrepreneur.

[wordmistress]

My father is a builder on the threshold of retirement. My earliest memories include helping him in the office. Back then it used to be fun. There was hardly a minimum age limit. Even if we couldn't read, we could still lick stamps, empty the bin, sharpen pencils and open mail. Me, I was an early reader at age 3, so Dad used to have me read out the letters to him (even though he probably wasn't listening, so it was just to keep me busy). As we grew older, we would help with other tasks and eventually I had to do the PPS (Prescribed Payments System), complete the cash book, write Dad's business letters and help pay bills. I STILL hate doing Dad's bookwork, but even I can't deny the business ethics it instilled in me. My father can cost a block of units to within a couple of thousand dollars. Ask him for any document from the last 10 or more years, and he'll be able to put his hands on it.

We've only introduced computer usage in the last 4 or 5 years, and even that's just to do the cash book in Excel. MYOB has no place as far as Dad's concerned. He's still a faxing advocate, doesn't have an email address and is mortified when companies he's dealt with for 40 years ask him to start paying by direct deposit, or trying to tell him that they'll email his invoices.

I try to involve my teenage sons but they each have jobs that keep them busy. Still, they do take an interest in what I do and always ask every days if I've taken on any new clients.

Within weeks, Dad's retirement will mean no more bookwork of his for me. Can't say I'm sad about that but for a man who emigrated to Australia from Italy at age 16, didn't speak the language, had minimal education, he's sure done well for himself and left his mark all over Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast with countless houses, units, shops and other structures.

[Melinda B]

Originally Posted by tildavirtual

I already have my 10 year old asking about starting a business and what he could possibly do. The life skills and business ethics my children are learning will definitely set them up for life even if they choose to become an employee rather than an entrepreneur.

My 12yo is asking the same thing and we're talking about options for her. She's come along to several talks I've given and other workshops, helps me out or sits quietly up the back. On occasion she's helped out by looking after younger kids. The information she gets from being able to listen is great, and she asks really good questions about it.

I love the idea of getting her to do my data entry, that's one I'll be looking at soon!

[AnaLucia]

I don't have kids yet... my business sells lots of things for little kiddies and I am really looking forward to have some aussie-mexican looking kids to be able to use them as models for my pictures!
I will definitely bring them on board into the business as I am not thinking about taking time off when I have them... its too busy at the moment to take time off, so I will try to find a balance with it all.... i might be dreaming, but thats the plan!

[Felicity_Sapphire]

My kids are almost 3 years old and 8 months old. I try not to involve them in the business, mainly because I don't think its all that professional to have tax returns or financial statements go out with pretty 3 year old drawings on them! LOL!

As a kid, I always loved going to work with mum because I felt important. I hope my kids will be like this in the future!

[youronlineadmin]

My daughter is 3 and is in charge of stamping the "Entered" stamps on all of my bookkeeping once I've added them to MYOB.

We share an office and she has her desk set up with her Dora laptop and lots of paper and pens. She even has clients. Most of them are the exact same names as my own clients which is cute.

[Felicity_Sapphire]

Originally Posted by youronlineadmin

My daughter is 3 and is in charge of stamping the "Entered" stamps on all of my bookkeeping once I've added them to MYOB.

We share an office and she has her desk set up with her Dora laptop and lots of paper and pens. She even has clients. Most of them are the exact same names as my own clients which is cute.

Laura, that is gorgeous! How do you manage to get her to do her "work" while you are doing yours? My daughter always wants to do what I'm doing.