Entrepreneur

Activity Details

Time needed: 35–45 minutes

Materials needed:

• Crayons, markers, or pens
• Paper
  

Setup: 

Have you ever really thought about your toys? I know that they’re fun. But who makes them? Where do those brilliant ideas come from? 

You are going to start to learn what a toy entrepreneur does and come up with an idea for a brand new toy!

Activity: 

An entrepreneur is someone who comes up with new ways to solve problems, and many entrepreneurs create businesses with their ideas. They might improve something that already exists or make something new. Being an entrepreneur also means trying, making mistakes, and trying again. All of your favorite businesses were originally started by entrepreneurs.

For your activity, go to a place that inspires creative thinking. It could be a comfy chair next to a window with a great view, inside a blanket fort, or under a tree in your yard. Take a piece of paper and your drawing supplies with you.

When you’re comfortable, ask yourself: 

• What activities make you happy? 
• What are some different kinds of toys? There are board games, sports games, imagination-based toys like action figures or playsets, video games, and building toys—can you think of some more?
• Is there something you do that’s unique to you or your family that you could turn into a toy?
• Could you make your favorite or least-favorite toy even better?

Do any of these questions inspire an idea for a new toy? Sketch out some ideas for a variety of toys. Once you have a few ideas, choose your favorite. Then, take a fresh sheet of paper and make a more detailed drawing that shows your toy from a few different angles. Try to show how it works and what makes it fun. 

Reflection

Think about what you just did:

1. Did anything in this activity surprise you?

2. Do you know anyone who owns a business? Ask an adult or older sibling if you’re not sure.

3. How can you share what you learned with other friends?

Troop Leaders:  The instructions for all badge steps are available free of charge in your  Girl Scout Volunteer Toolkit.

Girl Scouts at Home activities have been adapted from existing Girl Scout programming and optimized for use at home during a period of social distancing.

Adapted from Step 1 of the Toy Business Designer badge. Purchase the badge booklet to complete all requirements and earn the badge. 

Made possible by a generous gift from Susan Bulkeley Butler, author of Become the CEO of You, Inc.