This 6-Year-Old Girl Is Now Earning From Her Drawing Hobby, Thanks To Supportive Mama

Kids have interesting, funny, and uncanny hobbies. Uncanny in a way that they will talk about it 24/7, ask for everything related to their interest, and so on.

Some are drawn to dinosaurs and can identify all the species. Some collect sticks and stones from everywhere. Some love drawing and painting.

But, what if this hobby turns into a small business?

Mom supports 6-year-old's hobby, now a biz

Steph Alberto, mom-of-one, shared over in Smart Parenting Village, an online community of over 104,000 parents, how she guided her daughter for her love for arts and drawing.

“Just want to share my LO's hobby. Heheh. Ginagawa niya eto through her phone, minsan sa tablet. Pero may mga ginagawa din siya sa sketch pad, drawing book, and canvass [sic]. Noon palang mahilig na siya sa art. And she told me na she wanted to have her own "merch" daw."

^{6-year-old Niña and her arts}

“As a supportive Mama, ngayon ay nagsisimula na kami paunti-unti mag-sell ng mga gawa niya. We printed it out sa coin purse and t-shirt. Kahit papaano ay may mga customers na siya. By the way, she's just 6 years old po,” Steph proudly shared.

She also uploaded photos of her daughter’s artwork and garnered comments from other parents, saying, “Wow, she’s gifted!”

In an interview with Smart Parenting, Mommy Steph shared that Niña, her only daughter, started to love drawing even at a young age, “Nag-start siya magpakita ng interest sa arts around 2 to 3 years old.” 

Start ‘em young

Steph shared with Smart Parenting that when Niña was younger, all she asks for pasalubong are drawing materials. “Always yun. May budget talaga ako para sa mga drawing materials niya. Kahit bond paper lang minsan, happy na happy na talaga siya.”

Steph made sure that she has her own 'drawing space' in their house and always fills her drawing materials. She also brings Niña to art exhibits, which she really enjoys. “Pangarap niya din makasali sa art exhibit in the future,” she shares.

Around two years ago, they decided to switch Niña’s drawings to a tablet, “Hindi naman niya specific request ang tablet. Pero naisip namin, baka mas makakapag-drawing siya doon dahil mas malaki.”

At first, Steph had hesitations about giving Niña a tablet. She’s afraid she might have too much screen time. To her surprise, although Niña watches YouTube videos and Netflix shows from time to time, she always ends up drawing.

“Naba-balance niya din kasi. Pagkatapos niya sa tablet o phone, sa pad naman siya mag-du-drawing. Tapos mag-aaral din, tapos matutulog na,” she recounts her daughter’s routine.

Since she was young, Niña has her father’s old tablet. Since it got outdated, Steph decided to buy her a new one so she can install drawing applications. “Normal na tablet lang ang gamit niya, hindi yung pang-professional drawing. May app lang na gamit,” Steph added.

Arts by Niña

When we asked Steph where did Niña get her entrepreneurial mindset, she jokingly answered, “Sa YouTube! May napanood siya na nagbebenta ng “merch,” tapos sinabi niya sakin na gusto din niyang gawin yun.”

It was just less than a month since they first printed Niña’s drawings on coin purses and shirts, “Sabi ko, why not umpisahan namin sa shirt at coin purse kasi yun ang madaling mabenta sa tao.”

^{Niña's artworks on shirts}

The first drawings they used were Niña’s old drawings. When they sold the first batch, she made new designs.

“Encourage lang nila mga anak nila, motivate them, 'wag masyado i-pressure 'yung bata. Let them enjoy their hobby." —Steph Alberto

Steph shared that Niña is naturally business-minded, “Nagbebenta na siya ng mga bracelet noon sa classroom. Nung isang beses, andito ang pinsan ko. Sabi ng lola namin, ‘Mag-thank you ka kay Niña,’ (after receiving something from Niña), sumagot si Niña, ‘Uy hindi ko bigay yan, sine-sell ko yan.’”

She also shared that Niña is really happy doing their small business, and would often react when she sees Steph preparing her merch, “Wow, sino nag-buy niyan, Ma? Ka-dami naman! Ubos na?”

^{Niña's arts on coin purses}

Niña can do an art work in less than 20 seconds, as shown in Steph’s photos. She still manages to excel in her studies and maintain to be an honor student.

With regards to her income, Niña saves all of it, and says, “For Christmas.”

Favorite drawing

Of all the beautiful drawings of Niña, Steph shares her favorite, along with a heart-tugging story.

"Meron siyang drawing nung almost 4 years old siya, pina-tattoo ko. May sinabi siya nung pinakita niya ang drawing, ‘Mommy this is you, I want you to be happy always.’"

“Si Niña, hindi na niya nakita yung father niya. Buntis pa lang ako sa kanya, namatay ang father niya. Kaya siguro nakapag-draw siya ng ganun, kasi alam niya ang sitwasyon namin,” Steph shared.

Niña’s father died in his sleep, seven years ago. He was 27.

In a way, Niña’s love for arts and drawing is also her way of expressing her emotions.

Message to parents

Steph has an encouragement for parents, “Encourage lang nila mga anak nila, motivate them, 'wag masyado i-pressure 'yung bata. Let them enjoy their hobby, importante din yung involvement and participation, show them na andyan ka to support what they do, kung gaya sa akin na mahilig sa art and painting, punta kayo sa mga exhibit as your date. Expose them sa mga activities na related sa hobby nila.”

Way to go, Mommy Steph and Niña!

Steph Alberto is an online seller and an event organizer. Her daughter Niña dreams of becoming a fashion designer someday.