On Saturday, May 17, Delafield hosted their first ever Children’s Entrepreneurship Market as a part of their ‘Delaspring’ event. The event was held in Liberty Park, where there were dozens of activities available for children and families to enjoy. The market serves as a way to get young kids involved in business, and is intended to help them learn about the skills required for entrepreneurship. Creative kids are able to sell whichever goods they choose, but are encouraged to sell objects that are creative and unique, which they are passionate about. Several similar upcoming markets will be held in Waukesha and Oconomowoc, but this event was a milestone for the Delafield community.
The market saw over a thousand attendees. Despite the cooler temperatures and high winds, the children worked tirelessly to put on a memorable market. The event organizers encourage parents to give children space to work the booth while supervising their work. This helps kids build their confidence and work on their social skills.
The variety of objects available for purchase was broad, colorful, and unforgettable. Several booths sold handmade jewelry. A few booths sold homemade goods, like rice krispy treats and popcorn. One booth was selling stuffed animals that were up for adoption. And of course, what would the market be without the classic lemonade stand? In addition to the craft market portion of the event, there were also lots of activities available for families to enjoy. There was a climbing rock wall, a coloring station, and food trucks waiting to serve anyone who was hungry.
The children’s entrepreneur markets have been hosted in 225 different cities across the United States. In total, over 44,000 different children have participated in the event. The impact that these markets have on kids cannot be understated. It’s a way to help teach kids how to innovate and think creatively in a safe, supportive context. The Delafield market ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and although there are no further Delafield children’s markets scheduled for this year, there will be several nearby. There is scheduled to be one in Waukesha on June 16, two in Oconomowoc on June 28 and August 24, and one in Pewaukee on November 22.
