How to deal with DDs disappointments

[TickledOnion]

My DDs (8 and 10) like coming up with ideas for little businesses. Usually this stays as make believe and it’s really very sweet. I visits their little shop or cafe and pretend to be the customer.

However what they really want is a proper business. They have decided to sell friendship bracelets on Etsy. They are quite new to making the bracelets so they aren’t the neatest or particularly complicated. I don’t think anyone will buy them and I know that DD1 will be particularly upset by this. I have suggested they sell them at school for charity.

How do I lower DD1s expectations without squashing her dreams? She’s so enthusiastic about it.

In the past she has been very upset when things like a stall at the end of the street or trying to sell little origami things at a car boot sale have failed.

Tell her they're too young for Etsy? It's for grownups only?

Do you have a local Facebook page she can sell them on?

A local lad near me used to make dog treats and sell them for charity. He raised quite a lot for the rspca

Your DDs could make a bunch of them, you could put them outside your house on a table, with an honesty box (depending on where you live of course), and you could post up a weekly summary of how much they have raised and for which charity.

Yes just say they can sell on Etsy when they’re over 16, plenty of time to hone her craft

Tell her that she’s too young to be self-employed and cannot register with HMRC and that it’s ok to “pretend” or play you have a business but in reality she will have to work and hone her craft then launch her business when she’s legally old enough?!

Just tell her they are not the age to sell things online, you have to be 16/18. Shes 10, she will never know.

You have to be 13 to use etsy.

Obviously tell them they’re too young. It’s not a child’s site.
Re the disappointment, try and point out the good side. The things that she did achieve and sell. Tell her no shops are empty at the end of the day, they always have things left over for the next day..

Could you get a few mates to be ringers and buy a couple of bracelets if it would make them happy and wouldn't cost too much? Send them the Etsy link?

I bought one of my friends kids crafts, one of those necklaces with your name on beaded letters. I don't wear the naff old thing, but I sent a photo of me wearing it and it made the kid happy!