Preparing for Grand Opening Set up an individual table for each child next to where you will be collecting money from customers. This way you can monitor and assist each child with customer transactions if need be and protect them from unscrupulous “buyers.”

Have children set up their displays themselves. By completing this step, with your help and suggestions, children learn how to display items in a visually pleasing way that will attract customers.

Day of Grand Opening Provide each child with a change apron (available at most dollar stores) and with a small amount of change such as 2 $1.00 bills, 6 quarters, 10 dimes, and 10 nickels; i.e., $5.00 in change. This way they can collect payment for their items and if necessary, make change for customers. Children are able to reinforce their counting skills and learn how to interact with customers. Most importantly, allow your children to keep proceeds from their sale, having them put half of “profits” into their savings accounts. When children are allowed to keep proceeds from sale of their items, they are eager participants.

For Children 7 and Below:

Younger children who also wish to participate in garage sale can by selling sodas. Set up a small table with a cooler full of various cans of sodas and ice. Place a simple Soda for Sale sign on front of table. Allow your younger children to sell sodas, helping them with change counting or selling as needed. This way, they still get experience and knowledge gained by running their own “small business.”

As a child I truly enjoyed having my “own” garage sale and making money in process. These small business ventures taught me what went into running a small business from selection of goods to be sold to final transaction with customer. These life skills teach children basics of money and customer service: skills that are sure to come in handy throughout their lives.

To sign up to all these things may seem like a negative approach to negative behavior by expecting negative things, but if it were all that negative, results could not be so positive. We are not engaging in negativity, we are simply and consciously saying YES to life. Because life is going to happen; babies poop, toddlers cut hair, school kids avoid homework, and teenagers lie. When we have a high resistance to things that are unavoidable we will respond with resistance (anger, hurt, disappointment, feeling overwhelmed, stress, negativity, impatience etc.) When you accept these things as part of deal, you have won half battle. You will know that what you are experiencing is normal, you will not be surprised or stressed out or overwhelmed easily, you know what to expect and will prepare yourself accordingly, your responses will come from acceptance and understanding. Sign up for your child, know what to expect, Child-proof your house, as if you were getting prepared for a tornado, get ready for experience of a life time that lasts about 2 decades, and Take it with Humor.

You just read first Chapter of e-book Joyful Parenting. To read more go to http://joyfulparenting.truechanges.com/