Teaching Kids to Be Entrepreneurs: How to Inspire the Next Generation of Side Hustlers

As the world of work continues to evolve, the concept of financial independence and entrepreneurship is becoming more important than ever. With the rise of side hustles, freelancing, and small businesses, it’s clear that the future of work is not just about traditional 9-to-5 jobs. Instead, it’s about the ability to create one’s own opportunities.

But where does it all begin? It starts with teaching kids the value of entrepreneurship. By fostering entrepreneurial thinking from a young age, parents can inspire the next generation of side hustlers. Here’s how you can set your child on the path to becoming a future entrepreneur.

Encourage Creativity and Problem Solving

Entrepreneurship is rooted in creativity and the ability to identify and solve problems. For kids, this means encouraging them to think outside the box and explore new ideas. Whether it’s inventing a new game, coming up with a solution to a problem they see at home, or brainstorming ways to make life easier, creativity is key to entrepreneurial thinking.

You can provide your children with opportunities to brainstorm and come up with ideas by turning everyday situations into problem-solving challenges. For example, if they notice a problem in their neighborhood, you could ask them how they would solve it. By doing so, they learn that every problem is an opportunity for innovation, a core principle of entrepreneurship.

Teach Them About Money and Finances

At the heart of every successful entrepreneur is a strong understanding of money and finances. Teaching kids about budgeting, saving, and investing early on helps them make informed financial decisions as they grow. You can start by introducing them to basic financial concepts like allowance management or saving for a particular goal, such as a new toy or a trip.

One great way to teach kids about money is through hands-on experiences. For example, you could set up a small business at home, where they sell homemade crafts or snacks to family members. This gives them a real-world understanding of how money is earned and spent. Additionally, tools like the books offered at tuttletwins.com can help your child gain a better understanding of personal finance concepts in a fun and engaging way.

Promote Entrepreneurial Values

Entrepreneurs are often driven by a strong set of values, such as perseverance, accountability, and self-motivation. These traits don’t come naturally to most people, but they can be nurtured in children from a young age. Teaching your kids the importance of hard work and responsibility will lay the foundation for their entrepreneurial journey.

Help your child understand that success doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it’s the result of consistent effort, learning from mistakes, and adapting to new challenges. Encourage them to try new things and not be afraid of failure. By emphasizing resilience, they’ll learn that every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow—a valuable lesson for any aspiring entrepreneur.

Involve Them in Family Business or Side Hustles

A great way to teach kids about entrepreneurship is by involving them in your own side hustle or family business. This gives them a hands-on look at what it takes to run a business and helps them learn practical skills like time management, communication, and customer service. Whether you’re selling products online, managing rental properties, or running a blog, your kids can observe the work involved and contribute in age-appropriate ways.

For instance, if you have a blog or online business, you can teach your kids about creating content, managing finances, or even helping with the marketing process. They can learn about the behind-the-scenes operations and see how their parents create income outside of a traditional job. By observing this, they’ll understand that entrepreneurship is an attainable goal, not just for adults, but for anyone who has the right mindset and skills.

Encourage Side Hustles From an Early Age

While side hustles are often associated with adults, kids can start small hustles of their own. Whether it’s offering pet sitting services, tutoring younger kids, or even selling handmade crafts, side hustles provide a great opportunity for children to practice entrepreneurial skills in a low-risk environment.

These hustles also teach children about customer service, value exchange, and time management. They learn how to create a product or service, price it, and market it to others—all valuable skills that will serve them well later in life. Side hustles also teach kids the importance of hard work and dedication, as they see that the success of their business is directly related to the effort they put in.

Provide the Right Resources and Tools

In the digital age, kids have access to a wealth of resources that can help them learn about entrepreneurship. From online courses to interactive games and apps, there are countless tools available to foster entrepreneurial skills. Providing access to educational books and resources is a great way to supplement your child’s learning.

For example, Tuttle Twins offers educational books that introduce children to important concepts in economics, entrepreneurship, and personal responsibility. These books are designed to make complex ideas accessible and enjoyable for kids, helping them understand the world of business from an early age.

Encourage Risk Taking and Independence

Entrepreneurs are known for their willingness to take risks and step outside of their comfort zones. To cultivate this mindset in your child, encourage them to take on challenges that require them to push past their fears. This could mean trying a new activity, entering a competition, or even starting a small project on their own.

While it’s important to provide support, allow them the space to take risks and make decisions on their own. This sense of independence will not only build confidence but also teach them the importance of decision-making in the entrepreneurial process. As they grow, these experiences will help them become more comfortable with uncertainty and change, key elements of the entrepreneurial journey.

Foster a Growth Mindset

One of the most powerful tools for success in entrepreneurship is a growth mindset—the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work and dedication. Kids who adopt this mindset are more likely to embrace challenges and persist through obstacles, qualities that are essential for entrepreneurs.

To encourage a growth mindset, praise effort rather than innate ability. For example, instead of saying, “You’re so smart,” say, “I’m impressed by how hard you worked on that project.” By focusing on the process rather than just the outcome, you’ll help your child develop a love of learning and an understanding that success is earned through effort and persistence.

Conclusion

Inspiring the next generation of side hustlers and entrepreneurs starts with planting the seed of curiosity and independence at an early age. By encouraging creativity, teaching financial literacy, promoting values like perseverance and accountability, and involving your child in real-world business experiences, you can help them develop the skills they need to succeed.

Providing resources like those found at Tuttle Twins can further support their entrepreneurial journey, giving them the tools to think critically and take initiative. With your guidance, the next generation of entrepreneurs will be ready to create their own opportunities and thrive in an ever-changing world.

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More Recommended Ebike/Scooters

Check out these other ebikes and scooters I've reviewed:

Urban Arrow Ebike – Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I’ve ever made – I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.
Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike – The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I’ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you’re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review.
Hovsco HovBeta Ebike – The HovBeta is a folding ebike with great specs and a lot of interesting features, and importantly, it’s sold at a good price point. I’ve had a blast commuting with it and using it to do deliveries with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Check out my Hovsco HovBeta Ebike Review.
Vanpowers Manidae Ebike – The Vanpowers Manidae is a fat tire ebike that I’ve been riding as my primary winter commuting bike and have also been using it to do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. After clocking in a decent number of miles with this ebike, I wanted to write a post sharing what my experience with the Vanpowers Manidae ebike has been like. Check out my Vanpowers Manidae Review.
Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding EBike Review – A Great Value Folding Ebike – The Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding Ebike is an entry-level folding ebike that offers a lot of value for the price point. I’ve been riding the Sohamo S3 for a while now, putting the bike through its paces, and I have to say, this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Check out my Sohamo Review.
KBO Flip Ebike – The KBO Flip is an excellent bike. I’ve had a great time riding it and think it’s a versatile bike that can be used for a lot of purposes and can fit a variety of lifestyles. It’s worked out great for me as a general commuter bike and as a food delivery bike. Check out my KBO Flip Review.
Hiboy P7 Commuter Ebike – The Hiboy P7 is an excellent electric commuter bike that’s offered at an affordable price point. The range and speed of this bike are both very good, so you won’t have any trouble getting anywhere you need to go with it. As a food delivery vehicle, this is also good – with how much range it offers, you’ll be able to work all day on a single charge. Check out my Hiboy P7 Commuter Electric Bike Review.
Himiway Escape Ebike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
Espin Sport Ebike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
Varla Falcon Scooter – The Varla Falcon is an excellent scooter that offers a good amount of power at a lower price point compared to more powerful scooters. It’s not exactly an entry-level scooter, nor is it a high-powered scooter. I think it fits somewhere in-between those two categories – an intermediate scooter if I had to give it a category. Check out my Varla Falcon Review.
Hiboy S2 Scooter – The Hiboy S2 is an excellent entry-level commuter scooter that's perfect for someone looking to save some money in transportation costs and improve their commute. Check out my Hiboy S2 Review.
Hiboy S2R Scooter – The Hiboy S2R is one of the more interesting electric scooters I’ve been able to test out. It’s not a high-powered scooter, but for an everyday transport option, it’s very useful, especially given some of the unique features that it has. Indeed, for the price, the Hiboy S2R might be the best value scooter I’ve used. Check out my Hiboy S2R Review.
Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.

More Recommended Investing App Bonuses

For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:

M1 Finance ($75) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $75 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with just $10 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.

More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses

If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.

Ally Bank ($100) – Of all the banks out there, Ally is, without a doubt, my favorite. At the moment, Ally is offering $100 to customers who open an eligible Ally account and meet the requirements. Here are the step-by-step directions to earn your Ally Bank referral bonus.
Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
US Bank Business ($400/$1200) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link. Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
Varo ($25) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $25 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.

Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.

Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.

Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:

SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $300 if you complete a direct deposit.
5% Savings Accounts. I'm currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it's free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I'm now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review.
US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $400/$1200 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $75 for opening an account.
Empower. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.

Feel free to send Kevin a message here.