Kids learn a lot faster and better when elements of play are incorporated in the learning experience. Elements of play allow kids to make the entire learning experience their own, appropriate to their skill level and interests. Through the process we have designed, kids also increase their capacity of learning new skills and of receiving recognition from others

Recently, one of our students, Margalit Shapiro Katz, a very gifted young painter and photographer, played a simple game we’ve created for her to be able to sell her art. She wanted to raise enough money to study art abroad for a month. At the end of our project (5 weeks) she raised enough money to do that and got the immense satisfaction to know that her talents were appreciated.

In the words of Nechama Katz, Margalit's mother:

"Our daughter, Margalit, had a dream (to travel to her home country, Guatemala) and needed money to make her dream come true.  She had the idea of turning one of her talents and passion, art (she is a gifted photographer and painter), into a source of income.  Her goal was to make enough money through art sales to fund her trip.  We’re so pleased. In the end, our daughter’s little venture was very successful.

She earned enough money to achieve her goal (to fund her trip) and felt so proud of herself.  She was glowing all weekend!  For me as a parent, that was the most rewarding part of all—seeing her so very happy.  The weekend also generated continued business for her, which is very exciting.  She is now leveraging her Open Studios weekend success into a small ongoing art business.

Dr.  Ligia Buzan, the Founder of KidzBusiness, was a Godsend in terms of helping our daughter envision and plan her success, learn key new skills, and make money, all in an playful manner that made it  easier for our daughter to work through the challenges that any new project, venture or journey require.  I definitely recommend her work. "

Drawing on her experience with Margalit's entrepreneurial education, Nechama adds:

"Why might business, entrepreneurship, or creative problem solving be important for your child?  If you child is interested in being an entrepreneur, then I think it can be very valuable for the child.  For our child, it has helped her to develop the following characteristics:

• Courage
• Self-Confidence
• Persistence
• Sticking with tasks
• Goal orientation: Doing things you may not enjoy doing because they will help you get to your goal
• Creativity
• Flexibility
• Focus
• Intellectual skills (pricing, problem-solving, understanding cause and effect)
• Independence
• Thinking strategically
• Pride
• Vision, dreaming big

Our daughter also developed some specific hard skills such as:

• Budgeting
• Tracking expenses
• Tracking sales
• Using Microsoft Excel
• Learning how credit cards work
• Learning about percentages, markups, fees, etc.
• Project management
• Understanding about the “psychology” of sales
• Marketing
• Being organized; keeping lists
• People, hospitality skills
• Delegating"

Nechama Katz, Mother of 17 year entrepreneur, Margalit Ariella Shapiro-Katz

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