Activity: Start a Kid-Led Mini Business (Pop-Up Shop Challenge)

Perfect for: Indoors or outdoors (driveways, living rooms, parks)

Best for: Kids aged 8+ (amazing for creativity, communication, money sense, and confidence)

Activity Description:

Let your child run their very own pop-up shop for a day—from naming it to decorating it, making products, setting prices, and welcoming “customers.” Whether it’s selling handmade bookmarks, baked treats, lemonade, art, or offering a fun service (like joke-telling or magic tricks), this challenge gives them a real taste of entrepreneurship in a playful and empowering way.

It’s a fun way to explore skills like creativity, responsibility, budgeting, and public speaking.

1. Choose the Product or Service

Help them decide what to sell or offer. Ideas include:

• Homemade snacks or smoothies
• Crafty things: cards, clay animals, bracelets
• Bookmarks with quotes
• Toy cleaning or repair
• Art portraits for 50p each
• Telling original jokes or poems

Encourage them to choose something they enjoy making or doing.

2. Come Up with a Name and Logo

Let them design a shop sign and logo—something fun like:

• “The Happy Hedgehog Stand”
• “Brilliant Bookmarks & Beyond”
• “Kindness Cakes Co.”
• “The Silly Joke Shack”

Make signs, menus, or flyers to decorate the space.

3. Set Prices and Make Change

Teach them to set fair, simple prices (10p, 50p, £1) and practice adding up and giving change. You can even create fun tokens to use instead of real money.

Optional: Add a little price bonus for creative deals like “Buy 1, Get a Compliment Free.”

4. Run the Shop and Invite Family or Neighbours

Let them open the shop for 30 minutes to an hour. Siblings, parents, or friends can visit, “buy” items, and chat with the business owner.

Encourage polite greetings, storytelling about the products, and even upselling:

• “Would you like a matching bracelet?”
• “This one comes with a free riddle!”

5. Reflect and Celebrate

Afterward, talk through what went well and what could be improved. Ask:

• “What did you love doing most?”
• “If you ran this again, what would you change?”
• “What new idea do you want to try next time?”

Maybe they’ll want to launch a new idea every month!

This activity builds confidence and sparks early entrepreneurial thinking in the most fun and hands-on way.

Type n when you’re ready to invent the next unforgettable experience!