A week ago, during a routine call with my son who lives in the USA, I enquired about my first-grader grandson. He excitedly shared that he and his friends had been busy making slime after watching a video tutorial. Inspired, my grandson decided to create and sell the slime to make some pocket money. My son, recognizing this as his first tryst with entrepreneurship, encouraged him to give it a try.
The young team of four eventually succeeded in making slime and sold it door-to-door in their neighbourhood. After a week of hard work, each child made about 3-4 dollars. However, my grandson seemed grumpy due to this meagre earning and was not in the mood to talk to anyone.
As a family, we emphasize the importance of not getting engrossed in materialistic tendencies too early. My son tried to explain to his son that marketing a product often requires more effort and time than its creation, and that large companies have well-educated teams for this purpose. But the young entrepreneur wasn’t ready to give up easily and insisted on making money.
Instead of discouraging him or using strict methods as our parents might have done, my son continued with patience. He explained that earning money requires skills that take years to develop. He shared his own journey of hard work, which led him to IIT and a successful career in software development. He also explained the importance of demand for skills, using his wife’s handmade jewellery as an example of excellent skill with limited market demand in the USA.
The youngster asked his father how he could make money with his current skills. My son asked him to contemplate and come back with an idea. Soon, he returned with the idea of working in the yard to earn money. Amused, my son let him try it, but the boy gave up after an hour, exhausted. My son then explained that it’s okay to accept parental support for now and focus on acquiring skills that would interest him.
Experimenting, trying out different things, and learning from them is normal behavior for children. This was confirmed when my grandson started creating a comic book about his grandmother and him, inspired by stories of Krishna as a child. He might also be inspired by the idea of being the protagonist and young editor of my upcoming book, “Aadit’s Travel Tales,” which documents his travels and learnings for children aged 8-12.
Juxtaposing Ancient Wisdom with Modern Learning
I see positives and challenges in my grandson’s behaviour. The positive aspect is his inclination to acquire skills and develop an enterprise. The challenge is his focus on making money over developing knowledge, skills, family values, and character.
In one of my earlier posts, “Evolution of Parenting: Navigating Disciplinary Frontiers Across Generations,” I suggested navigating this complex landscape by making children responsible from an early age. This includes instilling good values, participation in household activities, family time, and open discussions. Communication is paramount, with encouragement for children to express themselves and participate in finding solutions collaboratively.
Many parents today engage actively with their children, but it’s crucial to ensure the child grasps the deeper values. For example, stories of Krishna often highlight his heroic feats but may miss the underlying values.
Lessons from Krishna’s Life
Here are some timeless lessons from Krishna’s childhood that can shape a child’s personality:
- Community Building and Unity: Krishna’s presence in Gokul brought the community together. His playful interactions fostered social cohesion and harmony.
- Respect for Nature: The story of subduing Kalia emphasizes the importance of protecting natural resources by preserving the water quality of the Yamuna. Krishna’s actions redirected reverence towards environmental conservation, as noted from his contribution to sustaining the vegetation of Govardhan Parbat.
- Equality and Social Justice: Krishna mingled freely with people of all backgrounds, breaking social barriers and emphasizing equality and social justice.
- Protecting the Innocent and Vulnerable: Krishna’s actions, like lifting Govardhan Hill, showcased his role as a protector and nurturer of his community.
- Moral Education through Stories: Krishna’s playful mischiefs taught values such as humility, forgiveness, and the importance of joy and laughter in life.
- Encouraging Simple Living and High Thinking: Krishna’s simple pastoral upbringing highlighted the virtues of a life close to nature, characterized by simplicity and contentment.
Encouraging Skill Development
While emphasizing ancient values, it is also important to encourage skill development systematically:
- Encourage Reflection and Discussion:
- Create a Journal: Suggest your grandson keep a journal of his projects to reflect on his learning and progress.
- Family Discussions: Have regular discussions about different types of work and the skills they require.
- Provide Resources and Guidance:
- Educational Videos and Books: Provide age-appropriate resources about entrepreneurship, money management, and creative projects.
- Workshops and Clubs: Look for local workshops or clubs for young entrepreneurs.
- Celebrate Efforts and Small Wins:
- Acknowledge Achievements: Celebrate his efforts and achievements, no matter how small.
- Create Mini Projects: Help him set up small, manageable projects with clear goals.
- Teach Financial Literacy:
- Simple Budgeting: Introduce basic budgeting concepts to help him manage his earnings.
- Understanding Costs and Profits: Teach him about the costs involved in creating and selling a product.
- Foster Creative Outlets:
- Creative Projects: Encourage pursuits like making comic books to develop storytelling and art skills.
- Collaborative Activities: Engage in teamwork-based activities to develop collaboration skills.
- Introduce Realistic Expectations:
- Role Models and Stories: Share stories of entrepreneurs who faced challenges before succeeding.
- Long-Term Goals: Help him set long-term goals and understand that success is a gradual process.
- Encourage Play and Exploration:
- Playful Learning: Ensure plenty of time for free play and exploration.
- Diverse Activities: Encourage participation in various activities to discover his interests.
- Provide Emotional Support:
- Empathy and Understanding: Validate his feelings and encourage expression.
- Patience and Support: Support him with patience and guidance.
By blending ancient stories and modern strategies, we can help children develop a deep appreciation for knowledge and skills while connecting them with their rich cultural heritage. This balanced approach nurtures their entrepreneurial spirit and creativity, guiding them towards becoming well-rounded individuals with a healthy attitude towards work and success.
Inspire Positivity 