Neighbor Girls Show Entrepreneurial Spirit, Remind Us to Get Out from Behind Our Screens and Live

The kids in my neighborhood rule. When we take a walk around the block, we typically pass elementary-school aged boys and girls riding bikes or scooters, and otherwise having fun outside. These kids stay active. They walk their dogs, sell Girl Scout cookies, shovel snow, jump rope and play hop scotch. They smile, say hello, and make eye contact. If some of them are playing video games or otherwise enjoying screen time, it's definitely kept to a minimum. Bravo to the parents of these great kids!

A few months ago, a girl on our block and her best friend decided to go into business for themselves. Their brothers were the ones to kick off the idea by taping a sign to a telephone pole down the street. On the sign, the boys listed out some small jobs they were interested in doing, such as pulling weeds, raking leaves and basic yard work.

The boys put their yard work business on hold, but their sisters picked up where they left off! One day my bell rang, and there they were with a typed sheet of their own list of jobs they wanted to do. They even named their company - "The Busy Honey Bees." How perfect!

I wasn't really expecting this, so I didn't have it in my head that a couple of third and fourth graders might be able to help me around the house. But then I thought, what the heck! I always have so much on my plate, why not make this a win-win for everyone?

So I gave them a quick lesson in how to mop a kitchen floor. They swept, mopped and Windexed some glass in my house. I paid them for their fine work. Everyone parted happy from this arrangement!

Since then, the girls have been scouting out jobs in the neighborhood, knocking on doors with their sign in hand. My kindergartener has been here when they do this, so he's also catching wind of the entrepreneurial spirit, and has started helping a little more around the house, too!

I hired the kids to walk my dog on several occasions, which was great. Then we worked out an arrangement where they came to let him out, feed and play with him while we were on vacation! Definitely a convenient service to have access to, and much better than a scary dog boarding place.

If you have school-aged kids, have they done anything like this? Because they totally should. There are plenty of seniors who could use the help (not to mention having a friendly visitor). And for a stay-home mom like me who attempts to freelance when I can, having extra hands is a Godsend and worth every penny!

In addition to doing yard and household chores, the girls have also:

• Baked and sold brownies and cookies in the neighborhood

• Run a lemonade stand on a hot summer day

• Offered "mother's helper" services for stay-home moms

If your kids go out and hit the pavement in search of small jobs, just be sure to teach them about safety. Some quick tips, below:

• Try to knock on the doors of people you already know, like friends of your mom and dad, or parents of your friends.
• Stick to the surrounding houses that are near yours. Closer is safer, and it's good to have Mom or Dad nearby.
• The phone number that you put on your sign should be Mom or Dad's cell. That way, you aren't giving your home phone number out to just anyone. Also, parents can screen the call before deciding if it's safe for the children to pursue a particular job.
• If you aren't sure if you can handle how to do a job, ask for a quick training session. If you still aren't comfortable, you can decide not to do it.
• Be careful with, and respectful of, other people's property. If you do break something, you should pay for it or offer not to accept money for the work.
• Any jobs that could result in injury should probably be avoided.
• Finish up all work before dark or dinner time, whichever comes first! 

Happy Job Hunting!

xo,
Mom