Money Mindset for Kids: Moving Beyond Earn, Spend and Borrow

money mindset for kids and financial freedom

In the last blog we spoke about who it is that teaches our kids about money. In this post we’d like to delve a little deeper into that topic, because understanding our money mindset is such an important part of changing it.

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Our intention is to build an understanding of why most of us have settled into the role of being a “worker” rather than following a more entrepreneurial path. You will also learn a little more about what we are endeavouring to achieve as a family, and why developing a healthier money mindset for kids matters so much to us.

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Kaitlin learning about money mindset for kids — Kaitlin represents the challenge many teenagers face as they learn about money, work and independence.

Money Mindset for Kids: Moving Beyond Earn, Spend and Borrow

Our kids, like all kids, want to have their own money so that they can have a little independence and buy the things that they want. In our family, our children sometimes receive money when it is their birthday and they also get a little pocket money.

Kaitlin, our eldest, has a part-time job working at a local brewery serving lunches and helping in the kitchen. She works hard and it pays pretty well. However, to take on a job, she loses some of her weekends and time to do school work and have a social life. She also commits time to regular babysitting work for some of the families in the area.

What Is a Money Mindset?

At present, the money mindset of our children is much the same as ours, which is likely to be the same as most other people, and that is to earn money, spend money and borrow money.

Generally, most of us either have a job where we give time for a salary, or we have a business where we still give our time for a monetary return. Whatever the case, we are often tied down and limited by what money we earn, and we sacrifice our time for it. Sound familiar?

The funny thing is that right from an early age we are conditioned to accept this as normal. Often our minds become closed off to entrepreneurial ideas and opportunities. Schools train us and prepare us for the workforce. Parents often do the same by pointing us towards a vocation.

Adding to this, media advertising, TV, politicians, universities and our peers all guide us towards getting a job. It is all around us — well-intentioned people and institutions keeping us on the “straight and narrow” path of getting a job (earn), then spending our money on things (spend), and then borrowing money to spend on even more things (borrow).

The Earn, Spend and Borrow Pattern

Finance companies advertising loans and debt as part of a money mindset — Advertising constantly reinforces an earn, spend and borrow money mindset.

Look at the people around you and you will see this pattern repeated everywhere. People with expensive things like houses, TVs, holidays, cars, boats and caravans. Most are servicing mortgages or loans to pay for it all.

The more things they acquire during their lives, the harder and longer they often have to work to pay for those things. Most people can see no obvious way out of their situation and simply accept that this is what is supposed to happen.

That is one reason why understanding money mindset for kids is so important. If children grow up believing that the only option is to work, spend and borrow, then they are likely to repeat that cycle without ever stopping to question it.

How the Rat Race Shapes Our Thinking

The rat race showing the worker mindset and earn spend borrow cycle — Many families become locked into the Rat Race without ever questioning the pattern.

In fact, many of us have been conditioned to accept a financial mindset that locks us into what many people call the Rat Race.

Now you may challenge us by saying, what’s wrong with our kids entering the workforce? What’s wrong with spending what they earn and borrowing some more? Honestly, there is nothing right or wrong about it at all. It simply is what it is.

For us though, we are looking for a new direction — one where we have the time to follow our passions and the freedom to give to our family, community and world without constantly worrying about how to pay for it. Our goal is to move beyond a narrow “worker mindset”.

We seek to know how the relatively few financially and time-free people managed to rise above the Rat Race. We want to know what they do that is different. How do they think? What is their conditioning around money? What kind of money mindset have they built?

Why Money Mindset for Kids Matters

What’s more, we wish for our kids to grow up with the mindset of an entrepreneur. It is important to us that they receive a real financial education for kids, not just an education that prepares them to earn a wage.

Financial education for kids does not usually come from school — A financial education for kids often begins at home, not in the classroom.

From what we’ve discovered so far, kids need to start very early if they are to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and the skills needed to manage money and build enterprise. They need role models who can foster different thinking, and parents who encourage and look for opportunities that develop enterprise.

Open discussions about money, business, debt, freedom and opportunity all help to build a better money mindset for kids.

We want our seven children to grow up having choices. We want their pathways to be wide with opportunity. We encourage them to follow their passions and not simply be conditioned into the “earn, spend and borrow” mindset. We hope they will think differently, believe in themselves and develop the habits of people who achieve both personal and financial freedom.

Our Family Is Learning Too

We know we have a challenge ahead of us, because our kids have already been conditioned from an early age — just as we were.

Using Kaitlin as an example, she earns money, spends freely and already has a debt. She is studying hard to go to university with all her friends and then, ultimately, to get a good-paying job. Once again, I’ll point out that there is no right or wrong about this, only that we would like her to see that there are other ways.

It is always going to be a challenge while we still carry some of that same conditioning and mindset ourselves. Although we are striving to change our thinking, we recognise that it will take time and persistence to learn new habits and shift old belief systems.

However, we are very confident that this year is the year that we will have a breakthrough. We have enlisted the help of a Money Mindset personal mentor who is helping us develop a new way of thinking. He is there to help us transform our thinking through our actions — and as we do so, so will our children.

In upcoming blogs we will continue to share this journey with you, including the lessons we are learning about building a stronger money mindset, creating more opportunity, and helping our children develop an entrepreneurial way of thinking.

Key Takeaway: A Money Mindset Can Shape a Family’s Future

Key takeaway: A family’s money mindset shapes how children see work, spending, debt, business and opportunity. Building a stronger money mindset for kids can help children grow up with more choices, wider pathways and a better understanding of enterprise and financial freedom.

We believe that changing a family’s money mindset can change a family’s future.

Where to Next?

What money mindset are your children learning from the world around them?

Money Lessons for Kids: Who Is Teaching Them About Money?

Enterprise For KidsTeam Money Lessons for Kids, Raising Entrepreneurial Kids June 20, 2012July 10, 2026advertising to children, earn spend borrow, financial education for kids, Flynn Howitt, honey enterprise, kids and money, media influence on kids, money lessons, money lessons for kids, money mindset for kids, new from old enterprise, teach kids about debt, teaching kids about money 6 Comments

Kids watching a TV advert showing how advertising shapes money lessons for kids

Money lessons are happening all around our children, whether we notice them or not. If you don’t teach your kids about money, then there are plenty of people out there who will. And not all of them will teach your children what they really need to know.

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Media, celebrities, advertising, peers, schools, banks and family choices all help shape what children believe about earning, spending, borrowing and wanting more. That is why money lessons for kids need to begin at home, in the everyday moments where children ask for things, make choices and learn how money really works.

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Teen magazine showing how media can shape money lessons for kids — Kids are constantly receiving money lessons from media, celebrities, advertising and peers.

Money Lessons for Kids: Who Is Teaching Them About Money?

Our kids are educated financially from many sources, whether we like it or not. Everywhere they go and everything they look at is conditioning them around money.

For example, teenage kids are very influenced by their peers, TV, advertising and social media. They are pressured to want to have all the latest and greatest of everything. AND… they have to have it now!

If you have a teenager in your house, or even a preteen, you will understand this very well. They will tell you that they are the “only” ones in the “whole world” who don’t have one. And if you try to compromise with a cheaper version from Target… well, forget it! Brand name or nothing!

The Money Lessons Children Learn From Wanting More

Many parents fall into the trap of giving in to their kids’ persistent demands. We have… more times than we should have! And the older a child gets, the better they are at arguing their point.

Sometimes parents lend their child the money with the view of having them pay it back when they can afford it. Other times, parents simply pay for the item fully and do not expect their child to pay anything back.

But what is this teaching children?

That is the question we had to ask ourselves when Flynn wanted an iPod for school camp.

Flynn’s iPod Money Lesson

Our son Flynn was preparing to go on a camp with his school. He claimed that ALL the kids would have iPods, and that he wanted to buy one to take on camp.

Flynn Howitt learning money lessons for kids through his iPod goal — Flynn’s iPod goal became a real-life money lesson about earning, choices and avoiding debt.

He counted up his money and found that he was short about $100. He was very persistent in his request, so we decided to sit down and have a conversation with him around the value of money.

Our dilemma was this: if we were to say an outright, “No, we can’t afford it,” then we would be conditioning him with a mindset around lack of money.

On the other hand, if we said, “Yes,” and simply paid for it, then we would be conditioning him with the mindset to borrow, then spend… and he would probably not appreciate it too much.

So…………… we came up with another solution.

Turning a Want Into a Money Lesson

We said, “Yes.” He could buy an iPod. However, we were not able to pay for it.

Instead, we brainstormed ideas with Flynn on how he could raise the $100 himself. Time was of the essence, as he was going on camp in three days.

Together, we came up with several ideas. He could increase the marketing of the honey he was selling through his Honey Enterprise. He could sell some of his unwanted things, such as his surfboard. He could also do a deal with his sister and buy the items she had lined up to sell as part of her New From Old enterprise, then resell them with a mark-up.

The discussion gave him motivation, and we took the punt that if he was really keen for the iPod, then he would make it happen.

The point of all this is that we didn’t automatically say, “No, we can’t afford it,” and we didn’t say, “Yes, and we will pay for it.”

Rather, we put the onus on Flynn to work out a way to achieve his goal without getting himself into debt. We used this opportunity to teach Flynn about money.

Who Is Teaching Your Kids About Money?

In our society, kids are conditioned to earn, spend and borrow from a very early age. This conditioning can carry through to adulthood and tie people to a job, especially when they need that job to pay for the interest payments on their “things”.

That is why money lessons for kids matter so much. If we do not consciously teach children how to think about money, they may simply absorb the messages around them.

Sporting heroes and advertising shaping money lessons for kids — Sporting heroes are often used to influence what children want to buy.

It is hard for our kids to avoid this type of conditioning. Their sporting idols appear on TV advertisements telling them what a great investment they are making if they buy x, y or z… and finish with a trusting wink!

In the same way, celebrities promote all sorts of things, from insurance and jewellery to holidays. Retailers offer low-cost, easy monthly payments for expensive items that people may not really be able to afford.

There goes the “earn, spend and borrow” cycle again.

Advertising Teaches Money Lessons Too

Advertising does not just sell products. It also teaches children what to value, what to want and how quickly they should expect to have things.

For this reason, parents need to be part of the conversation.

When a child says, “Everyone has one,” or “I need it now,” there is an opportunity to slow the conversation down and ask some better questions:

Do you really want this, or do you feel pressured to want it?
How much does it cost?
How could you earn the money?
What would you need to give up to buy it?
Could you buy it second-hand?
Could you create money rather than borrow money?

These simple questions can turn everyday wants into powerful money lessons.

Schools, Debt and Financial Choices

The education system may teach many important things, but practical money education can still be limited. Many young people move towards adulthood without having deeply discussed debt, credit, consumer pressure, business, enterprise, financial freedom or how to make money work for them.

Student debt showing why money lessons for kids matter before adulthood — Young people can face financial pressure before they have learnt how money really works.

As a result, many young people begin adult life already carrying financial pressure. This might come through study costs, consumer debt, car loans, lifestyle spending or the general cost of getting started.

That is why a financial education for your kids before they leave home matters.

The Australian Government’s MoneySmart guide to teaching kids about money is a helpful reminder that parents can start early and make money part of everyday conversation.

Can These Money Lessons Change?

Enterprise for Kids image about changing money lessons for kids — Money lessons can help children see new possibilities.

We can look at life as being a game full of experiences. We are here on earth to play the game.

Yet from an early age, the odds can feel stacked against us achieving personal and financial freedom when we are conditioned to earn, spend and borrow for unproductive things.

Can this change?

Absolutely.

And who is the best person to teach this change to your children?

Well, if you have already achieved financial and personal freedom, then the best teacher is YOU!

And if you haven’t, then find someone who has achieved the type of financial or personal success you would like for your kids. You may even learn something in the process. 🙂

Money Lessons for Kids Begin at Home

The most powerful money lessons for kids often begin in ordinary family moments.

A child wants something.

A parent has a choice.

We can shut the conversation down, pay for everything, lend the money, or turn the moment into a learning opportunity.

Flynn’s iPod story reminded us that teaching kids about money does not always require a formal lesson. Sometimes it simply requires a different conversation.

Instead of saying, “We can’t afford it,” or “Yes, we’ll buy it,” we can ask, “How could you create the money?”

That question changes everything.

Key Takeaway: Money Lessons Are Happening Every Day

Key takeaway: money lessons are happening around children every day. Media, peers, celebrities, advertising and family choices all shape how kids think about money. Parents can use everyday wants, like Flynn’s iPod goal, to teach children how to earn, choose, create value and avoid unnecessary debt.

Where to Next?

Who is teaching your children their money lessons — and what are they learning?

How to Avoid Distractions for Students: Kaitlin’s Enterprise Lesson

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Enterprise Stories, Kaitlin's (Kat) Stories, Mindset, Confidence & Leadership June 17, 2012June 18, 2026creative enterprise, how to avoid distractions for students, kaitlin howitt, kids business ideas, mindset for success, raising entrepreneurial kids, student focus, student goals, teenage distractions, time management for students 1 Comment

How to avoid distractions for students shown through Kaitlin balancing friends, camps and enterprise

How to avoid distractions for students is one of the biggest lessons that came out of Kaitlin’s portrait drawing enterprise.

Kaitlin had a strong creative idea, real customers and the talent to make it work. But like many students, she also had school, friends, sport, camps, work, family and plenty of other distractions pulling her focus away.

How to avoid distractions for students with Kaitlin revisiting her portrait drawing enterprise — Kait with that winning smile!

How to Avoid Distractions for Students: Kaitlin’s Enterprise Lesson

How to avoid distractions for students is the practical lesson behind this follow-up to Kaitlin’s portrait artist enterprise. Before we revisit her progress, it is worth looking at the idea of focusing on what you truly want to bring into reality.

At the time, we had been learning a lot about goals, values, mindset and the importance of making what you want a genuine priority. Whatever language people use — goals, vision, manifestation, values or focus — there is a practical lesson underneath it.

If something matters to you, it needs time, attention and action.

That sounds pretty easy, but I will be frank: it is easier said than done.

If you are anything like us, you will have very busy, complicated lives and are overrun with distractions. Work, family, social life, worries, school, sport, friends and commitments can all pull your focus away from what you say you want.

This is exactly what happened with Kaitlin’s portrait drawing enterprise.

Kaitlin procrastinating while learning how to avoid distractions for students — Kaitlin procrastinating!

Of course, not all distractions are bad. Some are part of life, family, travel, friendships and growing up. The problem is when those distractions quietly take over and push important goals further and further into the background.

For Kaitlin, learning how to avoid distractions for students was not about removing every fun or social activity. It was about recognising when her enterprise idea needed protected time, focus and follow-through.

How to Avoid Distractions for Students with a Real Goal

Kaitlin’s enterprise plan that she shared in her home video was a very good one, but it required time management, focus and diligence.

Once the article about her enterprise was posted on Enterprise for Kids, Kaitlin received two customers requesting her to do portrait drawings of their families.

Kaitlin was delighted that people had actually appreciated her talents and were willing to pay for her service. This was a real opportunity for Kaitlin to follow a passion of hers and she was motivated to get started.

Sliding into Action

She had bought half a dozen quality timber and glass frames from a garage sale, which would beautifully show the portraits if her customers wanted them framed.

She also had the $100 loan from me to buy the art materials required for her to run her enterprise.

So what has happened so far?

Distractions, distractions and more distractions!

Why Distractions Can Stop a Good Student Business Idea

Kaitlin, being a popular teenager, had many demands put upon her and she certainly didn’t have her focus set on attending to portrait drawings yet.

It had not become her highest value to develop an enterprise, despite the fact that she really did want to have her own enterprise doing something that she had passion for.

The list of distractions could almost fill a blog on their own!

Kaitlin at Bali Green SuperCamp while balancing distractions and enterprise goals — Kaitlin on the Bali Green SuperCamp.

Kaitlin had been on the Country Week camp, had sleepovers, caught up with friends, and was currently on the Bali Supercamp.

She had work commitments, babysitting, sporting commitments, school, boyfriends, homework, modelling classes and family commitments that had all stolen her focus away.

How to Avoid Distractions for Students with Big Goals

To do portrait drawings, Kaitlin needed a lot of concentration, patience and most importantly, a distraction-free amount of time where she could get her head around it.

Kaitlin understood that she needed to establish a time management plan where she could devote her focus to what she wanted to achieve.

Admittedly, Kaitlin didn’t need to complete the drawings straight away. She had a few months. But you could see how easily those few months could whittle away to nothing without a plan of attack, followed by action to bring that plan to fruition.

This is a useful lesson in how to avoid distractions for students. It is not enough to simply want something. Students need a simple structure that helps protect time and attention.

A few practical steps could include:

choosing one clear goal to focus on;
setting aside a specific time each week to work on it;
breaking the goal into smaller tasks;
creating a quiet, distraction-free space;
removing easy distractions during work time;
using short blocks of focused time rather than waiting for a perfect long stretch;
asking someone to help keep them accountable.

For families, how to avoid distractions for students becomes a practical conversation about priorities, routines and gentle accountability. The goal is not to remove every distraction, but to help children notice when distractions are stopping them from doing something they genuinely want to achieve.

ReachOut has some useful advice for parents helping teenagers manage distractions, including encouraging teens to work in short chunks of focused time and then take regular short breaks. You can read more here: How to help your teenager avoid distractions while studying.

How to Avoid Distractions for Students with a Simple Plan

That being said, we all must do the same with our dreams and desires in life.

Without making what we want a high value, writing down a plan, and then focusing our energy on it, those dreams are unlikely to come about very easily.

This is why children’s enterprise projects are so valuable. They teach more than business. They teach responsibility, time management, problem-solving and follow-through.

Kaitlin’s portrait drawing idea was still a good one. The challenge was not the idea. The challenge was protecting enough time and focus to bring the idea to life.

That is a powerful lesson for mindset, confidence and leadership.

What Kaitlin’s Distractions Teach Us

Kaitlin’s story reminds us that students can have talent, opportunity and encouragement, and still struggle to follow through if distractions take over.

For parents, the lesson is not to criticise the child for being distracted. The better lesson is to help them notice what is happening and gently guide them back to structure.

Questions like these can help:

What do you really want to achieve?
Why does it matter to you?
What is distracting you most?
When could you set aside time for this?
What is the next small step?
Who could help keep you on track?

This is how raising entrepreneurial kids can become part of everyday family life. It is not always about big wins. Sometimes it is about helping children learn what stops them from moving forward.

Key Takeaway: How to Avoid Distractions for Students

Key takeaway: Learning how to avoid distractions for students is an important part of helping children and teens follow through on their goals. Kaitlin had talent, customers and a strong enterprise idea, but she also needed time, focus and a plan to protect her attention.

Where to Next?

If you enjoyed this follow-up on Kaitlin’s enterprise journey, you may also like:

Kaitlin’s Portrait Drawing Enterprise
Read the original post where Kaitlin planned her creative student business idea.

Mindset, Confidence & Leadership
Explore more stories about focus, confidence and learning through real-world challenges.

Kids Business Ideas
Find more practical enterprise ideas for children and teens.

We will keep you in the loop with Kaitlin in coming Enterprise for Kids blog articles.

For my next post or two, we will have a break from following our kids’ journeys and discuss understandings about developing a mindset for success. We’ll be looking at how we, and many other people, are conditioned to think in a certain way about money and how this conditioning may prevent us and our children from achieving success — and we are not just talking about the financial kind either.

Until then, we would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment.

Business Ideas for Teens: Jai’s App Developer Enterprise

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Enterprise Stories, Jai's Stories, Kids Business Ideas June 13, 2012June 18, 2026app developer idea, business ideas for teens, entrepreneurial kids, Jai Howitt, kids business ideas, mentors, problem solving, student enterprise, technology business idea, teen entrepreneur 2 Comments

Business ideas for teens shown through Jai planning his app developer enterprise

Business ideas for teens often grow from the things they are already interested in. For Jai, that interest was technology, gaming and the idea of designing, making and selling an app.

At 13 years old, Jai was full of energy for his new enterprise idea. But as he quickly discovered, turning a tech idea into a real business can come with plenty of roadblocks.

Business ideas for teens with Jai thinking through his app development enterprise — What will Jai’s next move be?

Business Ideas for Teens: Jai’s App Developer Enterprise

Jai was super motivated and was like a bull at a gate with his new enterprising idea, which was to design, make and sell an app.

For those of you who are not geeks and are unfamiliar with the terminology, an app basically means application software for a device such as an iPhone, iPad or computer.

Jai’s idea was exciting because it connected directly with something he already loved — technology and gaming. At 13 years old, he could see that apps were becoming a huge part of the world, and he wanted to learn how to create one himself.

Turning a Tech Interest into a Teen Business Idea

Jai bought an Apple App developer licence under his Mum’s name and downloaded all the software onto his school’s Apple computer. This was a computer he was able to loan on a permanent basis until he left school. Lucky boy!

He then poured through the various emails and instructions and did whatever was required to get himself underway.

This is one of the exciting things about business ideas for teens. As children get older, their ideas often become more complex. Instead of selling a simple product or offering a basic service, they may begin exploring technology, design, online tools, digital products and more advanced enterprise ideas.

Apple’s own Developer Program gives developers access to tools and resources for creating and distributing apps and games, so Jai was stepping into a very real-world learning space.

There Are Ups and Downs

Jai experiencing ups and downs while developing his app business idea — There are ups… and downs!

The process proved to be very challenging and it wasn’t long before Jai was faced with a huge roadblock.

He was stumped!

The information and requirements were very complicated and technical, and Jai really needed professional help to get him through it.

I could see his spirits dropping fast, so we sat down for a chat about roadblocks.

Business Ideas for Teens Need Roadblock Thinking

Jai learning about apps and games for his teen business idea — To know about apps, you have to play the games!!

When you are building up an enterprise idea, it is important not to get bogged down by all the “what ifs”. If we all did that, we wouldn’t get past first base.

Whatever enterprise you choose to do will have roadblocks, and you will need to troubleshoot a way to get around them.

Firstly, it is important to come up with an idea and build it up. Then the next step is to work out a general plan for developing the idea into an enterprise. This means identifying each of the development stages.

From there, you can think about the detail and consider the roadblocks for Stage One.

Jai’s Stage One App Developer Plan

So Jai and I considered his Stage One plan.

The plan was to become registered as an app developer, download the software, then become familiar with the software.

Jai’s roadblocks were:

the software was not loading correctly onto his computer;
the software was difficult to understand;
he didn’t know how to get started with using it.

So we planned a simple strategy to deal with these roadblocks.

We were going to be in Geraldton for a holiday in a few days. Jai’s strategy was to pay a visit to our successful app developer friend and ask him to help him get started.

Finding a Mentor

Jai climbing to new heights while learning from a mentor for his app idea — It’s exciting to climb to new heights…

That he did, and when I saw Jai next I could see the spring back in his step.

He now had new understanding and some direction. He had also opened a line of communication with an expert, who could possibly become a mentor down the track.

Having a mentor is one of the proven best ways to a successful business.

This is an important lesson for raising entrepreneurial kids. Children and teens do not need to know everything before they begin. But they do need to learn how to ask for help, find people who know more than they do, and keep going when the first roadblock appears.

When One Problem Creates Another Problem

What Jai learnt was that, for the software to work properly, he needed to download another program onto his Apple computer.

So when he arrived back to Burekup, he downloaded the program, which seemed to sort the software issues. It looked like he was now finally ready to get going with it all.

He headed off to school that Monday, only to arrive home later that day without his computer and looking very frustrated.

Apparently, when he went about his online school work, he found that all the school programs he used were no longer compatible with his computer.

He paid a visit to the school’s computer tech, who identified what had caused the problem: Jai downloading this new program!

He wasn’t very happy with Jai.

He said that the computer would need to be wiped clean and completely reconfigured, then reloaded with all the school’s programs again. To top it off, Jai was told that it might take a few days to get it sorted.

Not good news at all!

More roadblocks!

What Jai’s App Idea Teaches About Teen Enterprise

Jai’s app developer idea is a great example of how business ideas for teens can stretch them into real-world problem-solving.

He had to deal with:

technical language;
software requirements;
computer compatibility problems;
needing expert help;
frustration and disappointment;
the reality that a good idea is only the beginning.

That is the real value of these experiences. Teen enterprise is not just about the end product. It is about the thinking, troubleshooting, persistence and maturity that develop along the way.

Those are powerful mindset, confidence and leadership lessons.

Key Takeaway: Business Ideas for Teens Need Persistence

Key takeaway: Business ideas for teens can be more complex than simple childhood enterprises, but they also teach deeper lessons. Jai’s app developer journey shows that roadblocks, mentors, technical problems and persistence are all part of turning an idea into something real.

Where to Next?

If you enjoyed Jai’s app developer enterprise story, you may also like:

Kaitlin’s Portrait Drawing Enterprise
See how a creative skill became a student business idea.

Kids Business Ideas
Explore more practical enterprise ideas for children and teens.

Mindset, Confidence & Leadership
Read more stories about children learning confidence through real-world challenges.

What will Jai do next with his enterprising idea? We will revisit his journey as an app developer in a later blog. It will make interesting reading with some hard lessons learnt!

Next up, we will touch base with Kaitlin and see how she is progressing with her enterprising idea.

We would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment.

Pocket Money Ideas: Kit Starts His Dog Walking Business

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Enterprise Stories, Kids Business Ideas, Kit's Stories June 9, 2012June 18, 2026business ideas for kids, confidence for kids, dog walking business for kids, dog walking for kids, dog walking service, Dog Whisperer, enterprising children, Geraldton, goal setting for kids, kids business ideas, kids enterprise, kit howitt, money lessons for kids, negotiation skills for kids, pocket money ideas, pocket money ideas for kids, service business for kids 2 Comments

Kit’s dog walking business showing pocket money ideas for kids

Pocket money ideas can become much more than a way for children to earn a few dollars. When a child has to plan, speak to a customer, negotiate a price and deliver a service, they are learning real enterprise skills.

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In this post, we revisit Kit and his enterprising dog walking business. This is part of our Dog Whisperer series, where Kit moved from having an idea to actually getting started.

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Kit with Pam's dog Elly starting his pocket money idea — Kit with Pam’s dog, Elly, before his first paid dog walking job.

Pocket Money Ideas: Kit Starts His Dog Walking Business

Our kids are becoming enterprising children!

In this post, we revisit Kit and his enterprising dog walking business. He was now ready to implement his carefully thought out dog walking enterprise plan.

It was the school holidays and we were all staying with Kit’s Gran and Grandad in Geraldton.

His first client was a family friend, Pam, who owned a small scruffy dog called Elly. Pam had been prepped with a phone call that Kit would be arriving with his Grandad to ask if she would be interested in hiring his services.

She was delighted to support Kit with his new enterprise and awaited their arrival.

Kit’s First Customer

Kit explained to Pam what his business entailed and the benefits that she and her dog would get if she hired his services.

Pam agreed that his service looked to be very good, and then she asked what his rate was.

Kit said five dollars.

Pam negotiated with him, and they agreed on four dollars for the half-hour walk.

Kit preparing to walk Elly as part of his pocket money idea — Kit preparing for his walk with Elly.

Kit walking Elly in Geraldton as part of his pocket money idea — A beautiful afternoon for a walk.

What Kit Learnt from Negotiating

This simple conversation with Pam became a very real business lesson.

Kit had to explain his service, talk about the benefits, name his price and then handle a small negotiation. For a young child, that is a big step.

This is why practical pocket money ideas are so useful. Children are not only earning money. They are learning how to communicate, listen, solve problems and build confidence.

Kit was pleased, but he was not completely sure how he was going to handle Pam’s little energetic dog.

Grandad was an excellent coach. He helped Kit attach the lead, offer Elly a treat and practise giving commands to the dog.

We also believe that children need adult support and supervision when working with animals. The RSPCA WA safety around dogs information is a useful reminder that children should be supervised around dogs and should learn how to behave calmly and safely.

A Pocket Money Idea That Became Real

Kit walking Elly and learning responsibility during a dog walking service — All dogs need a pit stop.

Kit finishing his dog walking job with Elly — Ending the walk.

The walk went very well with no dramas.

Kit returned Pam’s dog and then arrived back at his Gran and Grandad’s house very keen to tell his family all about his business.

That excitement matters.

It is one thing for a child to talk about a business idea. It is another thing entirely for that child to walk up to a real customer, offer a real service, do the job and come back with a story to tell.

Kit Gets Paid for a Job Well Done

Kit being paid for his dog walking pocket money idea — Kit being paid for a job well done.

Kit continued his dog walking enterprise for the next two days while we were on holidays in Geraldton.

He managed to make twelve dollars!

Kit was now on his way to attaining his goal.

As parents, we felt that more important than attaining his goal was the fact that Kit got started on his idea.

The Biggest Lesson: Getting Started

What holds many people back from achieving their dreams is the inability to actually start.

And of course, there will always be a myriad of reasons why not to start.

The time isn’t right.

There isn’t enough money.

There isn’t enough time.

My family won’t approve.

Not all conditions are right yet.

The list goes on.

These are the “buts” that stop people attaining their goals all the time, so it was refreshing to see one so young as Kit just do it.

That is why this story belongs in more than just a cute family memory. Kit’s dog walking job became one of those practical pocket money ideas that taught him about service, action, confidence, negotiation and follow-through.

Dog Whisperer Series: From Planning to Action

This article is part of Kit’s Dog Whisperer series.

Part 1: Kit Plans His Dog Walking Enterprise — Kit thinks through the idea, roadblocks, safety and value of his dog walking service.
Part 2: Kit Starts His Dog Walking Business — Kit gets his first client, negotiates a price, completes the job and earns his first money.

Small enterprises like this can teach children lessons that are difficult to learn from theory alone. Kit learnt by doing.

What Pocket Money Ideas Can Teach Children

When children are given the chance to explore safe and realistic pocket money ideas, they can learn much more than how to make a few dollars.

They can learn:

how to spot a need,
how to offer a service,
how to speak with a customer,
how to negotiate a price,
how to follow through,
how to handle responsibility,
and how good it feels to earn money from their own effort.

Our enterprising children are now all busy with their individual kid’s enterprises.

It will be time to check in with Jai and see whether his enterprise plan eventuated.

Until then……….

Key Takeaway: Pocket Money Ideas Build Confidence

Key takeaway: pocket money ideas can become powerful real-world learning experiences. Kit’s dog walking business taught him to speak to a customer, negotiate a price, work safely with support, complete the job and get started on his goal.

Where to Next?

What simple pocket money idea could help your child build confidence and get started?

Youth Leadership Programs: Green SuperCamp Bali

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Adventure & Real-World Learning, Mindset, Confidence & Leadership June 6, 2012June 14, 2026alternative education, Bali education, confidence building for teens, entrepreneurial mindset for kids, global citizens, Green Camp Bali, green innovators, green school bali, Green SuperCamp Bali, leadership camp for kids, life skills for teenagers, real-world learning, sustainable education, teen leadership camp, youth leadership programs, youth programs 2 Comments

Youth leadership programs at Green SuperCamp Bali helping children build confidence and real-world learning

Youth leadership programs can open children’s eyes to a completely different way of learning. Sometimes one idea, one email, one video or one story can land in your life and make you rethink what is possible for your kids.

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That is what happened when we first discovered Green SuperCamp Bali. As teachers, parents and lifelong learners, we were immediately excited by the idea of a camp that combined leadership, confidence, learning skills, sustainability and real-world experiences.

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Youth leadership programs at Green SuperCamp Bali helping children leap with confidence and joy — Green SuperCamp Bali showed us how youth leadership programs can help children grow in confidence, courage and joy.

Youth Leadership Programs: Green SuperCamp Bali

It’s amazing how life works sometimes.

As you know, we had been sharing our kids’ experiences and journey as they followed their enterprise ideas through to fruition. Certainly, as our learning and that of our children accelerated over the previous six months, other opportunities landed in our laps.

One such opportunity came in the form of a friend and a simple email.

She had attended one of the workshops we had been doing with our mentor, Paul Counsel. She sent us an email with a link to something, in her words, “pretty special”.

Being school teachers, and always being open to hearing about things that inspire children to think outside the square and follow enterprising ideas, the link our friend sent us truly was special.

Below is a snapshot of a concept that had us super excited and super motivated.

Discovering Green SuperCamp Bali

Green School Bali campus connected to youth leadership programs and sustainable education — The Green School setting immediately captured our imagination.

Bamboo structure at Green School Bali inspiring youth leadership programs — The bamboo architecture helped make the learning environment feel inspiring and completely different.

Green SuperCamp Bali was indeed a very unique and inspiring concept.

At the time, what captured us most was the combination of an extraordinary natural setting, forward-thinking education, leadership activities, learning skills and the clear intention to help children grow in confidence over a short period of time.

We had seen many schools and camps, but this felt different. It seemed to combine personal development, learning, sustainability and real-world experiences in a way that aligned strongly with what we were trying to foster through Enterprise for Kids.

Youth Leadership Programs That Build Confidence

The camp was held in the tropical paradise of Bali and connected with the world-renowned Green School campus.

From the materials we saw at the time, Green SuperCamp used a learning approach that aimed to develop life skills, learning skills, confidence, teamwork and leadership.

It was not just about children sitting and listening. It was about children participating, moving, trying, reflecting, building relationships and stepping outside their comfort zones.

Trust activities at Green SuperCamp Bali as part of youth leadership programs — Trust activities helped children build confidence and connection.

Children working in groups at Green SuperCamp Bali youth leadership programs — Working in groups helped children learn through connection, cooperation and shared experience.

That is why youth leadership programs can be so powerful. Children and teenagers often need experiences that help them discover what they are capable of outside their normal routines.

They need safe environments where they can practise confidence, communication, teamwork, responsibility and self-expression.

Learning Skills, Life Skills and Real-World Learning

One of the things that impressed us was the focus on learning skills as well as life skills.

We were especially interested because, as teachers, we had long believed that learning should feel meaningful, active and engaging. Children learn so much when they are physically involved, emotionally connected and given opportunities to participate.

Children learning at Green SuperCamp Bali as part of youth leadership programs — Green SuperCamp Bali presented learning as active, engaging and memorable.

Children enjoying learning at Green SuperCamp Bali youth leadership programs — The children appeared deeply engaged in the learning experiences.

Listening to some of the videos and stories at the time, we viewed teenagers describing large improvements in confidence, learning and self-belief.

Of course, every child’s experience is different. But what excited us was the possibility that a well-designed camp could help young people have breakthroughs in how they see themselves and what they believe they can do.

The current Green Camp Bali kids and youth camps continue to offer nature-based programs for children and teenagers, with a focus on adventure, sustainability and immersive learning.

A Learning Environment That Inspired Us

The SuperCamps were held at the Green School campus, a place that immediately fascinated us.

The founders of Green School, John and Cynthia Hardy, built a school that was intentionally close to nature and strongly connected to environmental education.

The school was never intended to feel like a standard city school. It was designed to be in the heart of nature itself.

Bird's eye view of Green School Bali connected to youth leadership programs — A bird’s eye view of the Green School Bali environment.

Bamboo ceiling at Green School Bali showing a nature-based learning environment — Looking up into the bamboo ceiling.

We were inspired by the bamboo structures, the natural setting and the sense that education could look and feel completely different.

Green School Bali’s current description of its approach includes sustainability, community-integrated learning, entrepreneurial learning and a wall-less natural environment. That philosophy strongly connects with the kinds of real-world learning experiences we value for children.

You can learn more about the school through the official Green School Bali about page.

Sustainability, Nature and Leadership

Another thing that captured our attention was the way sustainability seemed to be built into the physical environment.

The original materials we viewed spoke about bamboo buildings, natural light, compost toilets, solar energy, gardens, animals, rivers and children learning in direct connection with the natural world.

Solar panels in a natural environment at Green School Bali — Solar panels in a natural environment.

Hut accommodation at Green SuperCamp Bali youth leadership camp — Hut accommodation for the camp.

For us, this mattered because leadership is not only about confidence and public speaking.

Leadership is also about taking responsibility for yourself, for others and for the world around you.

A youth leadership program that connects children with nature, sustainability, teamwork and personal growth can help young people see themselves as part of something bigger.

Social Learning and Self-Discovery

As we viewed the short movies of teens sharing their experiences after attending Green SuperCamp, we were struck by their personal insights.

They seemed to go through a journey of self-discovery where they built strong relationships with future leaders from around the world.

Many described Green SuperCamp as a life-changing experience.

Children building social connections at Green SuperCamp Bali youth leadership programs — Social interactions were a big part of the Green SuperCamp experience.

Kite building skills at Green SuperCamp Bali youth leadership programs — Kite building skills.

They learnt to live in the moment and become more fully self-expressed.

They developed responsibility for themselves and each other. They also took part in activities outside their comfort zone.

Activities such as rope climbing, Balinese dancing, mud activities, flying fox, group challenges and practical projects all seemed to contribute to building self-confidence and leadership.

Confidence Building Through Challenge

Children having fun in the mud at Green SuperCamp Bali leadership activities — Fun in the mud.

Children having fun as a group at Green SuperCamp Bali youth leadership programs — Fun as a group.

We were completely amazed that Green SuperCamp seemed to have such a positive impact on kids in only a matter of days.

As teachers and parents, we wondered what schools could learn from this kind of model.

What if more children experienced education that developed confidence, leadership, sustainability, self-expression, practical skills and entrepreneurial thinking?

What if more children saw themselves as capable of leading, creating, contributing and thinking differently?

Why Green SuperCamp Bali Inspired Our Family

We were so inspired by Green SuperCamp that our three oldest kids were booked to attend the camp that year.

For us, the decision connected strongly to Enterprise for Kids.

We wanted our children to grow up with confidence, initiative, creativity, courage, responsibility and an entrepreneurial mindset. Green SuperCamp Bali seemed to offer experiences that supported those qualities.

This article became the beginning of a much bigger family story.

Green SuperCamp Bali Series

This post is part of our Green SuperCamp Bali series.

Part 1: Youth Leadership Programs: Green SuperCamp Bali — why the camp first inspired us.
Why Our Kids Wanted to Attend Green SuperCamp
Flynn’s Green SuperCamp Bali Reflection
Amber’s Green SuperCamp Reflection
Jai’s Green SuperCamp Bali Experience
Green School Bali: Leading the Way

We will let you know in future blogs how they go… although we think we already know the answer to that one! 🙂

Key Takeaway: Youth Leadership Programs Can Shape Confidence

Key takeaway: youth leadership programs can help children build confidence, self-expression, teamwork, responsibility and real-world learning. Green SuperCamp Bali inspired us because it seemed to offer children a powerful combination of leadership, sustainability, learning skills and personal growth.

Where to Next?

What kind of youth leadership program could help your child build confidence, courage and a bigger view of what is possible?