Brevard Children's Business Fair: The Power of the Prototype

The Power of the Prototype: Why One is Better Than 100

When kids think about the Brevard Children’s Business Fair, they often start worrying about the "big numbers." They think, "I need to make 100 of these by fair day!" But before you buy a single bulk bin of supplies or spend hours at the workbench, there is one step you can’t skip: The Prototype.

2025 Brevard Children's Business Fair

What is a Prototype, Anyway?

In the professional business world, a prototype is just a "first draft." It is a preliminary model of an idea. For a young entrepreneur, a prototype is the version of the product where it is okay—and even encouraged—to be a little messy.

The goal of a prototype isn't to be perfect. The goal is to determine whether the idea works in practice. If your child wants to sell a new kind of desk organizer, they don't need to build it out of high-end wood yet. They just need to see if a pencil actually fits in the hole!

Why "Messy" is Good

Building a prototype saves two of your most valuable resources: time and money. * Spotting Mistakes Early: It’s much better to realize a design flaw on one cardboard version than on 50 finished products.

Testing the Size: Does it fit in a hand? Is it too heavy to carry around the Brevard Children’s Business Fair?

Low Pressure: When it’s just cardboard and tape, kids feel free to take risks and "fail fast" until they get it right.

Action Step: The "Junk Drawer" Challenge

This weekend, challenge your child to build a "Version 0.1" of their product using only things you already have around the house.

Gather these supplies:

• Cardboard boxes

• Duct tape or masking tape

• Pipe cleaners or rubber bands

• Empty plastic bottles

Have them build the shape and size of their product. Don't worry about colors or decorations yet. Just focus on how it feels to hold it and how it functions. Once they have a prototype they love, they’ll have the confidence to start the real production!

Stay Updated on Registration

The journey from prototype to professional business is exciting, and we want to see your child's hard work pay off!

Sign up as a subscriber at www.brevardcbf.org to receive an email alert the moment registration opens for the next Brevard Children’s Business Fair.