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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

child selling sweets - begging or enterprising?

20 replies

80schild · 23/02/2016 18:37

DS decided this afternoon that he wanted to make cookies and sell them in our street and keep the money.

Initially, I didn't like this idea. Not so much the whole idea but keeping the money seems wrong to me and I thought it should go to charity. However, when I asked a couple of friends they told me I should let him keep the money on the grounds it is enterprising. Just so you know Ds is 7.

Wondering what the Aibu people think?

OP posts:

Katenka · 23/02/2016 18:42

It's not begging. Is the local shop begging?

TempusEedjit · 23/02/2016 18:43

Depends - I remember some kids on our street who set up a "sweet shop" on a trestle table in their front drive and they were delighted when I bought a bag of crisps off them. I'd say that was enterprising. If however they'd gone door knocking I'd consider that akin to begging and I wouldn't allow it.

eastwest · 23/02/2016 18:45

I think you have a future leader of industry on your hands there! :) Encourage him. People don't have to buy them if they don't want to. I think it's a positive thing to do, shows initiative.

redhat · 23/02/2016 18:46

I agree with tempus, setting up a stall on the front lawn is a bit different from knocking on doors.

TheWitTank · 23/02/2016 18:47

I wouldn't be keen on him knocking on doors, but a little table outside with his cookies on which neighbours can voluntarily visit is fine in my opinion.

NotnowNigel · 23/02/2016 18:47

wouldn't be keen on door to door sales.

Also if a neighbour's child came selling food i would buy out of neighbourliness but i'd throw the food away

Ameliablue · 23/02/2016 18:48

Well it is enterprising but not something I would allow my child to do as it isn't teaching them how business works in practice as if an adult did this they would have to register with HMRC and local environmental health and have hygiene certificate, kitchen checks, insurance etc.
Also how would your neighbours feel, would they feel pressurised into buying, would they be annoyed at someone knocking on their door or would they be quite happy to indulge your child?

SpotOn · 23/02/2016 18:49

Sounds a good idea to me. But I also think he should give you some off the profits back to you to cover the cost of ingredients. I doubt it would cover the whole cost, but would teach him about having to to pay for the raw goods.

IHaveBrilloHair · 23/02/2016 18:51

I feel uncomfortable with it, I don't see it as begging, but I do think people will feel obliged to buy.
I know it's only a small amount of money but it just doesn't sit well with me.

Stanky · 23/02/2016 18:53

As long as the children are supervised by parents outside the front of your house, and people can come to them, it's ok I think.

I remember being on holiday in Cornwall, making little jars of apple juice with another little girl, and selling them by the side of the road. We were thrilled when someone bought a jar. It probably tasted disgusting, and the novelty wore off after 1 day. It gets pretty boring waiting for a customer. But we did have a fun day picking the apples, making the juice, making the stall, the sign and setting it all up. I'd say that it's harmless, so long as he isn't knocking on doors.

ollieplimsoles · 23/02/2016 18:55

What the Hell is your problem op?

He wants to make something and sell it, why would you give that money to charity. I would be supporting this 100% and helping him every step of the way.
Its good for kids to have a bit of independence and responsibility.

He could set up a little stall or something

Original poster

80schild · 23/02/2016 18:58

I think I have a way forward in mind now - even if I only have 11 responses. Stall seems a good idea.

OP posts:

GoringBit · 23/02/2016 19:02

In our village, the farmers' daughters gather up, box and sell their hens' eggs. I think it's fine, they get some extra pocket money, but nobody has to buy them if they don't want to.

You could use this as an opportunity to teach your DS about saving, and get him a savings account, if he doesn't have one already. And you could ask him for a little contribution for ingredients, so there's also an element of learning to budget.

But... if he's going to do this door to door, he (or you) should keep a list of neighbours that don't want to be bothered, for want of a better word.

scarlets · 23/02/2016 19:20

Enterprising.

Lots of successful entrepreneurs have stories about selling this 'n' that when they were kids.

If there's no market, he'll make no money and a lesson will be learnt.

LittleBearPad · 23/02/2016 19:29

at Amelia and her HMRC comment.

oldlaundbooth · 23/02/2016 19:33

Next thing you know he'll be this guy

SanityClause · 23/02/2016 19:34

He could make flyers to post through the neighbours' letter boxes to advertise the stall. Easy to do on a computer, if you have a printer.

oldlaundbooth · 23/02/2016 19:35

Me too LittleBear

Momamum · 23/02/2016 19:46

If he lived round here, I'd be buying from him! Great initiative that needs fostering.

In my early 20s (I'm 50 now) I worked as p/a to an Italian millionaire. He started his business empire at 11, by selling his mums homemade jam decanted into little jars,in Naples. Saved the money, invested it in buying scrap bicycle parts, made bicycles from them, and that was the start of his multi million empire.

Makes you think, eh?

CooPie10 · 23/02/2016 19:47

Wow at 7yo I think he has great initiative and you should encourage it. What a lovely boy.
If people don't want to buy they don't have to but I think it's a good effort he's making.

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