Money – the magical word for Adolescents

“What it means to be an Adolescent/Teen?” – This is the question I hold on to when I meet these young wonderful adolescents. The adolescents/teens are frequently described as people who does not respond to parents or adults’ words. For me as an educator, I observe for the words they respond to or get excited to. Money is one such word that excites these young people.

Have you ever wondered why they get excited? Is it because they want more money, is it because they want to earn and spend as they wish. I feel, it is because the relationship between money and their development. Children in each age respond to things which aids their development. Same way the adolescents are more interested in ways to earn money as they seek for the independence in economy.

When children reach adolescence, they are naturally keen to earn money. They want to understand the dynamics of economy in the adult world. This is more similar to the young children who wish to dress up like an adult. Now, the adolescents wish to explore the independence at a new level.

Our journey

Our journey towards money started when the 3 boys began their study together 3 months back. The study was about “Local geography of India” as all three were interested in travel. Even though we studied about currency and also had many discussions about money they were not eager to do their own products in the beginning. Towards the mid of the study cycle came an idea for visiting a place related to their study. They came up with a plan of visiting Pune. We decided a budget for visit. But when they worked on the plan, they realized that the cost was too high than the budget. This is when the idea of selling products came to picture.

As an adult who worked along with them, I was waiting for this moment from the day 1 of our study. When the spark came, all we had to do is to nurture the spark and to guide them towards product making.

Products making and Pricing

Even though they had experience in working with bamboo and coconut shell, they always had huge imagination. The challenge was to keep their focus in the moment or the product that they are doing. We progressed slow and steady. . I aimed for simple products and short working periods where we take up a product and finish it. It took me many iterations to establish this pattern. The 3 boys understood this after few days as this is the same pattern I follow with study as well. We explored making coconut soap box and a bamboo Christmas tree 10 days back.

We came to know about the event date only a week back. Though we had our samples ready, the number of products were less. We had a discussion and the adolescents want to give it a try. The whole week was filled with wonderful memories of working with the products.

The discussion of the cost was the most wonderful one. They had many ways of deciding the costs. One of them calculated the cost of materials and arrived at the cost based on it. But there was another one who said the cost was too high from a customers’ perspective. Then they decided they will keep it in between based on both these perspectives.

Adult’s role

My role as an adult was to guide them to simple ideas which are achievable. The 2nd challenge was their expectations on the products. They wanted to finish their products as the other coconut artists do it. Here, I realized it is because of the lack of machines. I took a call to buy a low cost which can help in bringing the finish. This helped them to increase the number of products.

My reflections

Adolescents are very keen to make themselves self-sustainable economically. But at the same time, we need to help them to stay focused in this journey. My math teacher used to say, “The number of distractions we have now is too huge for a child to overcome.” So, it is our job as adults to provide the right kind of environment and stay along with them in this journey.

Adolescents have huge ideas which actually does not allow them to think for the moment. They are more eager to do the work rather than the planning. As adults we need to help them in the process of planning. When they practice these few times, they can bring beautiful designs.

Adolescents have huge expectations for themselves, so they can easily feel low about their work. As adults we need to be the person who balance between the expectations and the reality.

Adolescents were willing to read, write and do calculations when it was purposeful and related to the event. For example, they created a stock list, the list with cost, the list with range of bargaining amount, Name of the products, Instruction manuals and so on.

“Productive work and a wage that gives economic independence, or rather constitutes a first real attempt to achieve economic independence, could be made with advantage a general principle of social education for adolescents and young people. – Maria Montessori "