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A group of lego boxes with a man and a woman.

2018’s Hottest Gifts for Young Entrepreneurs

The holidays are upon us! As gift-giving season goes into full swing, we’ve gathered some of our favorite gifts for the aspiring Biz Kids in your life.

Steve Jobs Lego Figure

The world’s most famous entrepreneur now comes in Lego form. Now that’s a stocking stuffer to remember.

ATM for Kids

Piggy banks are great an all, but a working, talking ATM? That makes saving fun again.

How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000

Our book is now less than $8 on Amazon, and the #1 selling kids money book on the site. Grab a copy for every Biz Kid in your life.

Moonjar Savings Bank

Save. Spend. Share. Moonjar is a beautifully designed bank that helps kids divvy up their earnings.

Thomas Edison for Kids

Before there was Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg, there was Thomas Edison. One of the greatest inventors of all time, his story is sure to inspire.

Biz Kid$ Digital Episode Downloads

Amazon now sells individual episodes of our show for just $2.99 each! You can even send them as a gift, digitally.

Lemonade Stand

The lemonade stand has gotten a serious upgrade. This pop-up shop is ready for summer sales, or living room make-believe.

Briefcases in Hot Colors

Who says business has to be serious? These briefcases come in hot pink, purple, and teal, and are scaled down to fit the smallest of tycoons.

A blue pig holding a hammer.

Break the Bank Update!

game-characters-mr-boar Hi Kids, a few of you have defeated me and restored your community bank! You have gotten good and mastered the art of earning interest! Well now, i’ve gained more power over global interest rates! If you wait too long, your interest rate will go down! Keep trying, you’ll never defeat me now.

– Mr. Boar

Mr. Boar is back for a new season of break the bank! We’ve fixed a few bugs and updated a few items too! The fire and gold hammer now have special attacks! We added some helpful hints and guides into the game for those of you that had trouble getting started.

Congratulations to every BizKid who made it to the high score list! Those on the list took real advantage of their savings interest rate and we’re able to earn into the billions! We fixed up the scoring a bit so you can’t go infinite by stalling the game. Who will lead the high score list now?

We’ll be back soon with a how to play video as well! Let us know what you think of the update or any new ideas in the comments or on the game page comments.

PLAY BREAK THE BANK!

A pair of wooden clogs sitting in the snow.

How to Get a Job…In the Future

If today’s “gig economy” seems like a new chapter in American work, it sure is. And at the same time, it’s nothing new. The American job market has had drastic changes over its 241-year life. In fact, the word sabotage (to undermine) is tied to one such change, back during the industrial revolution. Factory workers were so upset at the idea of machines replacing their jobs that they threw their wooden shoes, called sabots, into the gears to kill the machines.

MSN Money came out with an article this week entitled, “17 jobs that are quickly disappearing in the US.” The surprising part? Our surprise. Many of these jobs that the MSN team projected to decline over the next decade include some high tech ones, too. Here are a few:

  • Postmasters
  • Electrical Equipment Assemblers
  • Data Entry Keyers
  • Mine Shuttle Car Operators
  • Telephone Operators
  • Computer Operators
  • Metal Pourers
  • Mold Makers
  • Watch Repairers
  • Typists
  • Parking Enforcement Workers
  • Locomotive Firers

At the other end of the argument is the host of Dirty Jobs who is on a mission to spread the word about trade skills. He’s identified ten blue collar jobs with high salaries. We were so impressed with his findings that we had Mike Rowe himself on our latest season of Biz Kid$! Take a look at some of these, and guess how much they earn per year.

  • Bricklayer
  • Dental Hygienist
  • Firefighter
  • Medical Lab Tech
  • Personal Trainer

So what do you think, Biz Kid? What will the hottest jobs of the future be? What are you planning to do for a living?

For more inspiration on finding a job, check out our YouTube playlist, “It’s a Job to Get a Job.”

A computer screen with a logo on it.

It’s Time to Talk Retirement, Kid

Retirement. For most kids, it’s literally the last thing on their mind. After all, why think of the end of your career when it’s just beginning? The answer comes down to the power of compound interest. A dollar saved today is actually more valuable than a dollar saved tomorrow. How is that possible?

Here’s the gist: a Roth IRA is a retirement account that the government allows to grow over time without taxing the interest. If a 15-year-old were to contribute the maximum amount to their Roth IRA, $5,500 per year, they would have double the amount of a person who started at age 25 and saved until they were 70 years old. That’s crazy! And that’s math, assuming a 7% interest rate.

So what should you do to get started? If you’re under 18, you’ll need to open an account with a grown up. It’s called a custodial account. Next, shop around for a broker that allows low minimum balances. Some offer accounts with as little as $100 in seed money. Next, watch out for fees. Fees could easily eat at your returns if you’re not careful. Our friends at the Wall Street Journal have a great roundup of fees for custodial Roth IRAs.

Then, it’s time to pick some investments. Think picking stocks is best left to adults? Sometimes, kids are more aware than anyone else of the coming trends. Take it from the money-savvy kids behind Kids Toys Inc.:

Kids Toys Inc.

Saving for retirement is all about growing your money. For more tips on growing your money, check out our new book, “How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000.”

A pumpkin with the word bizkids carved into it.

Spooktacular Biz Kid$ Video Roundup

Halloween is just a week away! As all teachers know, grabbing your students’ attention on a holiday is no easy task. Engaging video content? That’s a step. Engaging video content that’s also Emmy-winning and Halloween-themed? Now we’re talking. We’ve created this collection of fall-themed clips to get you through the day. Have a spooktacular Halloween!

Vintage BK: Monster Movie

Pumpkin Farm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOoYhrtVKdo&feature=youtu.be

Haunted House

Zombie Fundraiser

Vampire’s Daughter

A screen showing a variety of videos on the screen.

Your Guide to the Freshest Batch of Biz Kid$

Season 6 has been airing on public television stations across the country for a number of months now. We’ve loved hearing from so many of you as you’ve watched our latest episodes on college, credit, and making a million dollars. As you’ve likely come to expect from Biz Kid$, we’ve supplemented our newest season with online clips and lesson plans, both free of charge. So where can you find it all? We’re about to tell you.

Table of Content

Episodes

First, our bread and butter. Six brand new episodes are airing on public television stations across the country. Find out when Biz Kid$ airs in your market here.

Clips

Select segments from our show—including profiles, sketches, and more—are available to watch on our website today.

Lesson Plans

We’ve worked with some of the country’s best educators to craft lesson plans to accompany each and every episode. They’re even mapped to state and national standards.

A full moon is seen in the dark sky.

Moonlighting…As a Biz Kid

For grownups, “moonlighting” refers to a side business that occupies their time away from their primary day job. In other words, under the moonlight. For Biz Kids, moonlighting tends to be the only option. (School is really, really important, after all!)

With how vital side businesses are to the livelihood of a Biz Kid, it should come as no surprise that a website devoted to the concept recently caught our attention. Its name? Side Hustle Nation. The site is a collection of ideas for side businesses. Things like baking cupcakes, blogging, building websites, or cleaning carpets. Not all of them are realistic if you’re a teen (accounting, anybody?) but it’s a great place to get some ideas. If you have the drive to be a Biz Kid but need a nudge in the form of an idea, check it out.

Lots of the real teen entrepreneurs we’ve profiled over the years were “side hustling.” Here are a few of them:

Moonlighting on Broadway

Moonlighting as an Artist

Moonlighting as a Car Flipper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a93PLg3RRS8&feature=youtu.be

Biz Kid$ Goes Back to School

teacher-graphic

Depending on what part of the country you call home, this week finds you either in the first few days of school, or the waning days of summer break.

For teachers, the new year brings new opportunities for fresh content, new approaches, and revised plans. For educators looking to impart wisdom on the topics of financial literacy and entrepreneurship, there’s no better place for planning than right here. Our Emmy- and Parents’ Choice Award-winning content doesn’t stop with video. From lesson plans to classroom and family activities, our robust collection of engaging and inspiring content was crafted with teachers in mind.

Engaging Video Content

Our six seasons of Emmy-winning video content features real young entrepreneurs teaching kids about financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Clips are available for free on BizKids.com, YouTube, and full episodes of select seasons are free to stream with Amazon Prime.

Lesson Plans Mapped to State and National Standards

Each of our episodes is paired with a lesson plan written by seasoned educators, and mapped to state and national standards.

Online Games

Time for a break from the everyday? Our online games teach kids about running their own businesses, saving, debt, and spending through fun and entertaining premises.

Biz Kid Resources

Want to empower that high achiever in your class with the resources they need to take their idea to the next level? Point them to our resource page where they’ll find business plan guides, marketing plans, and even profit planning worksheets.

A person is pouring chocolate into a pot.

America’s Finest Foodie Biz Kids

Over our six seasons of profiling amazing young entrepreneurs, we’ve interviewed an impressive number of culinary masterminds. Today, we’re rounding up a few of our most mouth-watering young entrepreneur profiles.

Compartes Chocolatier

The Bikery

 

https://youtu.be/Rvtp_v_gTJI

Popsycakes

 

https://youtu.be/Rvtp_v_gTJI

Hillcrest Bakery

 

Frying Dutchmen

 

Ice Cream Boat

 

 

A screen shot of a website with the search show times highlighted.

I Spy…Season 6 Episodes on Public Television!

Let’s play a little game of I-Spy.

Screen Shot 2017-07-27 at 4.06.05 PM

Notice anything?! That number 6 means one thing: the new season of Biz Kid$ has begun airing in markets around the country! We couldn’t be more excited. These fresh episodes are headed your way:

601 – How to Turn $100 Into $1 Million

602 – College Bound?

603 – Give Yourself Some Credit!

604 – Money Grows On Trees

605 – Can Money Buy Happiness

606 – The Road to Financial Freedom

 

To find out when Biz Kid$ airs in your market, use our handy airtime search tool.

 

 

 

Steve jobs in a black and white photo.

The World According to Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs. Arguably the most impactful inventor, designer, and entrepreneur of our time. His fill line the pockets, ears, and hands of people around the world. And his words continue to inspire entrepreneurs six years after his death. Today, we thought we’d take a look at some of his most famous pieces of advice, paired with resources to make them happen in your own entrepreneurial life.

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

Screen Shot 2017-07-09 at 8.27.02 PM

Nike Shoe Designer Profile

“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”

Screen Shot 2017-07-09 at 8.29.08 PM

Secrets to Success Episode

“It’s really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

Screen Shot 2017-07-09 at 8.30.15 PM

You are the Target Lesson Plan

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

Screen Shot 2017-07-09 at 8.31.40 PM

Escape the Box

“Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.”

Learning from Mistakes

 

A group of colorful play dough balls on a white surface.

The World’s 5 Best Mistakes

stuffyoushouldknow-podcasts-wp-content-uploads-sites-16-2014-08-play-doh-600x350

Next time to really mess up, pat yourself on the back. You may have just discovered the world’s next billion-dollar idea. We’re all hard on ourselves when we make a mistake. But history is full of examples of happy accidents. Actually, your home is likely full of them. Check out these little mistakes:

1. Play-Doh

Every toddler’s favorite toy? That was supposed to clean dirty wallpaper. But it didn’t work well. Fortunately for the failing company that invented it, creative kids found another use for the stuff. Chalk one up to childlike imagination.

2. Coca-Cola

The inventor of Coke? He was a pharmacist. And he was trying to cure headaches. Then his assistant accidentally carbonated the beverage, and the rest is history. He never could have imagined his concoction becoming one of the leading beverages in the entire world.

3. Super Glue

Super Glue was, believe it or not, originally intended as a gun sight. If that doesn’t sound like it would be successful, it’s because it wasn’t. And it was sticky. Really sticky. A few epiphanies later, the error was patented.

4. Velcro

History attributes the success of Velcro to a dog. When burs got stuck in a dog’s fur, its owner took them home to his microscope, where he discovered the hooks he would later replicate in the now-familiar product.

5. Slinky

When a naval engineer was trying to find a spring that would keep instruments from rocking around too much, one fell over. And over. And over. His serious quest took a very fun turn.

Don’t you feel better about that mishap now? For more inspiring errors, check out our episode, Learning from Failure.

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