Hobbies And Interests
Hand-Painted Items
A kid who has skill with a paintbrush might want to start a business hand-painting wooden items, ranging from items that can be shipped, such as Christmas ornaments and picture frames, to on-site work on dog houses, fences or custom murals. Smaller items can be sold on sites like eBay or Etsy. The child doesn't have to construct the objects; craft stores sell unfinished wooden pieces specifically for people who like to finish them.
Found Item Sculptures
A hands-on child might enjoy found-item sculpture as an interesting entrepreneurial endeavor. The sculptures are made of items scavenged from the world around the child, and cobbled together to create whatever form the child would like. Wire sculptures consisting of different colored wire twisted into the shapes of everyday objects or even animals also fall under this category. The beauty of this commodity is that the kid can produce works of various sizes in various prices ranges, and even accept commissions for custom pieces.
Needlecrafts and Textiles
A more traditional craft idea for kids to parlay into a business venture is needlework or other textile creation. Items that could be produced include tied-rag rugs, quilts, blankets, cross-stitch patterns, plush dolls and animals, gloves, mittens, scarfs, and hats. Items that fall into the textiles category are well represented on Etsy and have a strong following on eBay as well. Most of the products that kids create in this arena have low shipping costs and can be shipped almost anywhere.
Custom Foods
Children can put an artistic touch on such homemade food items as cookies, breads, baked desserts and chocolate candies, which can be sold at local gatherings, including weekly farmers markets and small-town festivals. Teaming up with a local fundraising program and offering custom cooked goods can lead to a lucrative long-term partnership.