School is out and all those young fertile minds will be unleashed and out of the classroom for more than two months. The dilemma for many small business owners and working parents is how to keep your children engaged and inspired during the summer.

I used to feel guilty about occasionally bringing my children to the office during the summer. Then, I realized the opportunity and exposure they were gaining to the “real world.”

Many local business owners include their children and teenagers in their business, especially during the summer months. For kids ages 10-15 it can be a valuable learning experience.

Exposing children to the business environment on most worksites provides them an opportunity to communicate more effectively, understand time and organizational management, and even lean how to start and complete a project. It can inspire creativity and instill a sense of entrepreneurship.

Today a growing number of young people, ages 9-16, starting their own small, micro-enterprise businesses.

Randall Hansen Ph.D., career activist, wrote about the opportunities and the ‘do’s and don’ts” in, “Beyond Babysitting and Lemonade Stands.”

Children between 13 and 16 (when they can start entering the workforce) are disposed to start a small business.

Some of the more popular youth businesses popping up include PC tutoring, yard maintenance, errand runner, car-detailing, online business, and pet-sitting.

My 9-year-old daughter launched her pet-sitting business more than two years ago and has managed to retain several customers.

Through her pet-sitting enterprise she has gained more than a few hundred dollars. She has learned accountability, reliability, communication, customer service skills and the fine art of delegation.

There are a growing number of resources young people can use to learn about starting and running a business. The Small Business Administration provides resources through an updated teen link at www.mindyourownbiz.org. Through SBA, SCORE and our local Small Business Development Center Office young entrepreneurs can learn how to start, promote and manage their businesses. They can even learn how to develop a business plan. The Internal Revenue Service also has resources for young people starting their own business.

One of the most noted organizations dedicated to inspiring young people to succeed in a growing economy is Junior Achievement. It is a national nonprofit started in 1919.

Angela Higdon, director of Junior Achievement in the Bay Area said that the Napa JA has been serving students in the Napa Valley for 25 years.

The local JA started its first elementary school relationship with Browns Valley Elementary School in the fall of 1999. During the 2006-07 school year, JA Napa Valley trained about 200 volunteers to serve 4,200 students.

“Ask kids what they want to be when they grow up and they’ll reply immediately because kids dream big about their future. At Junior Achievement we provide the skills, knowledge and hands-on experience to turn those dreams into reality,” Higdon said.

For details about Napa Junior Achievement contact www.jaba.org. For information on the steps to starting and running a business go to www.napasbdc.org.