In Los Angeles County, a recent event called “Children’s Stall” held at a commercial building in a Chinese community area revealed the surprising potential of children when given the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship and financial management from a young age, much like Jewish families who start teaching their children from the age of 5 or 6. On the afternoon of September 27th, from 3 to 6 pm, the central area of the Oriental Pearl Commercial Plaza in Rowland Heights turned into a bustling scene of children running their own stalls. There were over twenty stalls run by elementary school students, offering a variety of products and services. Additionally, there were children’s dances, lion dances, martial arts performances, and choir performances, attracting a large and enthusiastic crowd.
At first glance, the stalls may not seem extraordinary, but upon closer inspection, it became apparent that the stall owners were young children, some appearing as if they were still in kindergarten. This was no mere playtime – they were genuinely selling products, from introducing their merchandise to handling payments and making change with efficiency. Meanwhile, the parents stood by, observing their children’s every move with joy.
One stall stood out from the rest, where three children had turned their sales into a fun “fishing” activity. Customers purchased a ticket that allowed them to use a “fishing rod” with a clip to catch a cute toy from a tent through a hole. This interactive approach not only promoted sales but also provided a sense of wonder and enjoyment for the buyers. The lively and cheerful demeanor of these children attracted many challengers to participate in the activity.
Chloe, the mother of two girls at one of the stalls, was delighted to see her children’s performance. She shared that her two daughters, one in fifth grade and the other in second grade, had participated in the event. Chloe found these activities enjoyable and believed they were beneficial for her children to gain experience and learn valuable skills.
“They can explore their creativity, select products, consider budgeting, selling, and interacting with customers,” she said. “They learn about costs, how to sell items, and what a reasonable markup should be.”
Chloe noticed that her older daughter was a bit shy, while her younger one was more active, indicating that such events also help in understanding the personalities of children.
At the “Nail Art Station,” two young girls were earnestly busy. The younger girl was meticulously painting nails for customers, while the older one, Alison, mentioned to reporters that it was their third time participating in such events.
“We saw nail art on YouTube and liked it, so we learned how to do it ourselves,” Alison said. A month prior, they had started preparing for the event and purchased nail polish and accessories from Amazon.
That day, they painted customers’ nails for free, and satisfied customers would give tips as a reward. As more customers bought nail accessories and experienced their service, their stall gained increasing popularity, eventually earning them the “Best Popularity Award.”
Hostess Miss Summer mentioned that the Oriental Pearl Plaza had organized six children’s stall events, each time receiving enthusiastic feedback from the children and noting that parents felt their children had become more mature or courageous. “Because children learn how to earn money, they understand the hardships involved and learn to think of solutions when facing financial constraints,” she explained.
To encourage the children’s enthusiasm, the event awarded multiple prizes, including Best Popularity Award, Best Stall Award, Best Effort Award, Best Operations Award, and Best Styling Award.
The organizers also arranged for children’s group dances, martial arts performances by Walnut Shaolin Kung Fu Center, children’s lion dances, and choir performances. The youngest child participating in the singing was only three years old, emitting an innocent charm that kept the audience in continuous laughter.
In conclusion, the Children’s Stall event not only showcased the entrepreneurial spirit and talents of young children but also provided a platform for them to learn valuable life skills, creativity, and teamwork, all while enjoying the experience of running their own businesses and entertaining the community.