Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Homeschool: Teaching Older Children About Business


One of the mental challenges of homeschooling is the process of taking complete and total ownership of your child's education. It can be quite a burden to break out of the molds that society would label "education". The beauty of homeschooling is that you as the parent/educator is that you can weave your child's passions, interests, and abilities into the subjects you bring to the table.
Why wouldn't I take the time to teach my children something they want to learn, something they see value in, and sneak in a few "educational lessons" along the way.
I currently am teaching 3 of my children how to build an online business. I have their complete and total attention because they are very motivated by the fact that they believe they have something to offer people online. The bonus is that because they believe they can make a few dollars, I have their undivided attention.
The same way that we might puree carrots and squash to add to a sauce and sneak in nutrition, I sneak my core goals into everything I teach my kids as we research and pursue their passions.
As I teach the process of brainstorming and running toward an online business, I am able to teach many "academic" subjects, masquerading in the interests of my kids.
Math is easy to sneak in. For business, they need to know and practice statistics, math, and accounting.
Language is covered in every part of these projects in the form of content, marketing, and research.
I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about how to better prepare my young men for this new and crazy world. My oldest son is a sophomore in college and we are constantly discussing his future, his career choices and the fact that what he does today profoundly impacts his tomorrow. He is well on his way to earning his degree and reaching his lifelong dream of being a history professor, but he has dreams or being a business owner.
So why build an online business with him?
Because I can.
Because I am learning the processes myself and am very excited about my own progress.
My enthusiasm is contagious.
I believe this is the perfect time in history to teach our children more than their ABC's and 1,2,3's. Technology was basically birthed into these young sponges. They are bored with traditional educational processes, because everything they need to know is at the tips of their fingers or on their smart devices.
Find what your children are passionate about and wrap their education like a learning burrito.