Children in Logan are learning vital business and financial skills through the Creative Kids Market.
The program, run by 5Fold, aims to help children understand the basics of saving, budgeting, and running a business, giving them a head start in managing their finances before they reach adulthood.
Founder of 5Fold Melinda Hartley said the initiative was driven by a gap in financial education.
“Schools don’t teach it, so we want to make sure that we’re partnering with kids and getting them on the financial foot forward,” she said.
“A lot of the emergency relief we provide comes back to financial literacy and education. We want to ensure these kids don’t start their adult lives in debt.”
The Creative Kids Market is open to children of all ages, with participants ranging from four to 17 years old.
The program encourages them to set up their own market stalls, sell products, and develop saving habits.
“Nearly 90% of our kids have a savings goal for their first car,” Mrs Hartley said.
“It’s about encouraging them to sell into savings, helping them work, and getting them into the mindset of financial responsibility.”
To support these young entrepreneurs, the initiative has partnered with Bendigo Bank at Logan Village.
“We encourage the kids to set up a savings account if they don’t have one already,” Mrs Hartley said.
“We also provide them with a float box so they can handle cash on the day, which is another skill that is becoming less common in today’s digital world.”
Beyond financial education, the markets aim to create community connections.
The program features ‘business buddies,’ local entrepreneurs who interact with the children to share their experiences and advice.
“We invite two business buddies per market to talk to the kids,” Mrs Hartley said.
“They discuss what it’s like to be their own boss, the challenges, and the rewards.”
The initiative has seen rapid growth, with the most recent market featuring 53 young stallholders, nearly double the number from the first event.
“We hold three markets a year to create consistency, but we also encourage kids to take these skills and apply them outside of market days,” Mrs Hartley said.
One of the unexpected benefits of the program has been its impact on families.
“Parents and carers are spending more time with their kids, helping them get market-ready,” Mrs Hartley said.
“We’re also seeing a huge boost in the children’s confidence, particularly in pitching their products and interacting with customers.”
Each child is treated as a legitimate business owner, even receiving an invoice for their $10 table fee.
“I had a mum call me up after the last market saying she couldn’t believe how excited her seven-year-old was about receiving an invoice,” Mrs Hartley said.
“It makes it feel real for them.”
5Fold is also developing other initiatives aimed at financial literacy, including a program called Road Ready, which will help young people save for and purchase their first cars.
“We’re looking at working with car dealerships to help kids who’ve saved money get a great deal on their first vehicle,” Mrs Hartley said.
Ultimately, the goal is to give children a strong financial foundation.
“With the way the world is going, with buy-now-pay-later schemes and rising debt, we want to equip the next generation with the tools to manage their money wisely,” Mrs Hartley said.
“It’s about giving them confidence, independence, and control over their own financial future.”
