Supporting your child to start their own business is one of the most rewarding things you can do as a parent. Not only are you helping them develop real-world skills like problem-solving, budgeting, and communication — you’re also encouraging them to dream big and believe in themselves.
But let’s be honest: life gets busy. Between work, school commitments, family routines, and everything in between, staying on top of planning, marketing, and business tasks isn’t always easy. The good news? It doesn’t have to be perfect. What matters most is consistency and support — not speed or perfection.
Here’s how you can support your tamaiti on their business journey while giving yourself grace along the way.
1. Start by Talking About Their Interests
The best business ideas come from passions. Sit down with your child and chat about what they enjoy — baking, art, animals, tech, sports — and explore how these interests could turn into a small business. When the idea comes from them, they’ll be more excited and motivated to keep going.
2. Break It Down Into Small, Simple Steps
Setting up a business can feel overwhelming, even for adults. Help your child break it down into manageable chunks:
What will they sell or offer?
Who will they sell it to?
What do they need to get started?
Use a notebook or our DREAM Workbook to guide them through the steps at their own pace. There’s no need to rush.
3. Make Time When You Can — and Don’t Stress When You Can’t
Some weeks you might have loads of time to help plan a logo, take product photos, or brainstorm marketing ideas. Other weeks, life gets in the way — and that’s completely normal.
It’s okay to pause. The key is not to give up — just pick up where you left off when time allows. Teaching your child persistence is just as important as teaching business strategy.
4. Celebrate Progress, Not Just Results
Whether your child makes their first $10 or simply finishes writing down their business name, celebrate it. Small wins lead to big achievements. Praise their effort and creativity, not just outcomes.
This encouragement builds confidence and reminds them (and you!) that you’re in this together.
5. Use Everyday Moments as Teaching Opportunities
You don’t need a full day of planning to support your child’s business learning. Use everyday moments:
Grocery shopping to discuss pricing and budgeting
Reading packaging to learn about branding
Visiting a local business to talk about customer service
Business education is everywhere — we just need to spot the opportunities.
6. Offer Practical Help, But Let Them Lead
It can be tempting to take over the “hard stuff,” but let your child lead the way. Offer help where needed — maybe with transport, tech support, or money handling — but encourage them to make decisions, come up with ideas, and problem-solve.
They’ll learn more when they’re in the driver’s seat.
7. Remind Them (and Yourself) That It’s a Journey
Building a business takes time. There will be moments of excitement, and times of doubt or boredom. That’s part of the process. Remind your child that every business faces ups and downs — what matters is sticking with it.
Even if progress is slow, they're still learning, growing, and gaining confidence every step of the way.
Final Thoughts
Supporting your child in setting up a business doesn’t require perfection or constant momentum. It just requires presence, patience, and belief — in your child, and in the process.
So if things get busy and you fall behind, that’s okay. Just come back to it when the time is right. Because every step forward — no matter how small — is helping build something amazing.
Keep going. You’ve got this. And so do they.
