TODAY'S TOPIC: If you could create a business at home, what would you do or sell and why?

If I were to start my own home business it would be teaching guitar because I play guitar and that would be the easiest thing for me to do for a good price. I could charge 25 dollars a lesson and teach every weekend. It would be fun, too. I love to play guitar. I'd teach them how to read music before I taught them any songs because once you can read music, you can play anything.
Jack Graddis, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

I'm a little short on money and I decided to start a home business. The business would be a dog walking business. I would feed them and give them water and I would walk them. One hour would be $5, two hours would be $10 and three hours would be $15. They would also get to run around in the grass and play and swim around in the pool. They could be all kinds of dogs like a poodle, beagle, golden retriever or a yellow or black lab and tons and tons of more kinds of dogs. That's my home business. Do you think it will be a success?
Ryan Graham, 8
Lupin Hill Elementary
Calabasas

If I could create a business at home I would wash cars. I would wash cars because almost every car is dirty. I would charge twenty dollars and vans and SUVs would be extra. I would name my business "David's Car Wash, Inc." I would use the money to buy stuff I need. I think my business would make a lot of money.
David Gonzalez, 10
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

If I could own a business it would probably be a gardening service. I would go around and cut people's yards, trees and bushes. It would not be that expensive, probably five dollars a day and I would come four times a month. I have always liked working outdoors and this would be kind of fun, being able to be outdoors and get to be with all your friends. I think being a gardener would be a fun job for me.
Ben Griswold, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

I want money so I decided to make a home business. First, I'll sell paintings that I made. I will sell paintings from Matisse, Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh. I'll also teach lessons on how to paint. Third, I'll sell painting materials like an apron so you don't get paint on you. I'll also sell professional paint brushes that the artists used.
Danielle Terranova, 8
Lupin Hill Elementary
Calabasas

My home business would be an acting class. I could teach people how to act and have fun (for $20 an hour). I would do this because I love acting and because I would like to teach people and be the boss for once. We would do acting games and act out pieces of the musical "Wicked." Another reason I would be doing this is that then, I could act freely without people thinking I'm weird.
Nicholas Sparks, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

If I could create a business it would be a lemonade stand. I chose a lemonade stand because it is easier to handle. They say you can make a lot of money. I want to do a lemonade stand because it's usually really hot.
Kassandra Rodriguez, 10
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

I need money so I started a business. I am doing a cookie business because I ran out of money. I love making cookies all day long. It is very easy once you get the hang of it. Once I even got $5,000. I like the smell of hot cookies all day long. That's my home business. I hope it goes well.
Taryn Fuhrman, 8
Lupin Hill Elementary
Calabasas

If I were to make a home business, I would teach little children how to play chess for a low monthly fee of $10 per kid. I would be good at this because I have won exactly 16 chess trophies. I also happen to have a brother who won a state tournament (in fourh grade). He could help me. I think my business would be booming and I could share the profits with my brother.
Ben Wang, 11
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

If I could start a business, I would give cooking lessons to kids. Most kids don't know how to cook real food, food that doesn't come from a Pillsbury package or a Nestle's mix. Food can be fabulous and it can explain so many different cultures and customs. Almost everyone loves chocolate chip cookies but maybe they'll love them even more if we added a twist. People have so much fun preparing things and even if your souffle doesn't turn out perfect or you put a little too much spice in your soup, everybody learns from their mistakes. Cooking is something that is actually useful that can be carried forever. It can be so much more than just adding milk and eggs to an artificial mix. It can be a science experiment or an art project. When that wonderful first bite is taken, feeling proud is only natural.
Zoe Kurland, 12
Oakwood Elementary
North Hollywood

If I could have a business I would sell portraits of people because I love to draw. Each portrait would be $4.99. The drawing would be in black and white. I would make a lot of portraits. I would love to have a business.
Krystal Alvarado, 9
Oxnard Street Elementary
North Hollywood

If I were to create a business in my house today it would be a jewelry business. I've always liked making things with my hands. I also like designing things and since I don't know how to sew, I thought that this would be a perfect idea. I would make necklaces, earrings and bracelets. You could customize your item or pick a pre-made one. Being an 11 year old, I don't have many choices of what I could do, but I think jewelry making is the best choice for me.
Maddie Schiff, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

If I could create a home business, I would have an information hotline. People would be able to contact me and ask for advice. If they wanted to find out where they could take a class, I would find out where would be best and let them know. If they wanted to know where to have a meal, I could recommend a restaurant that would suit their needs. I would do this to make their life slightly easier and help them out.
Allison Winnick, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

If I could have a business at home, I would probably start a comic book company called monkey brain inc. I'd make comics all day and sell them at news stores across the nation. However, I would need a little help from my friends. We'd make comics, combine comics, edit comics, make actual cartoons and even political comics. Twenty-five percent would go to help Africa. We'd make comics with ideas on how to save energy in your home and comics about peace on earth.
Zalman Band, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

If I could create my own business, it would involve helping older people that are not capable of doing household and outdoor things. Or I would help people who have a disability making them unable to work. For example, I would mow the lawn, house sit or clean for people who cannot do those things themselves. Taking care of animals is one of my hobbies, so I would very much enjoy working at a job where I can do that. I would charge eight dollars an hour and make it free if I have to perform something for 15 minutes or less. My business would be called Clayton's Household Service.
Clayton Sewelson, 11
Oakwood School
North Hollywood

COMING UP: Election Day is Nov. 6. If you could tell the candidates what your concerns are, what would you say? Create a campaign slogan and draw a banner that displays it.

Parents and teachers should make sure that the student's name, address, age and school are CLEARLY PRINTED on the letters and the backs of drawings.

Pictures should be drawn using BLACK or DARK BLUE INK on white, unlined paper. Drawings must be no larger than a standard, 8 1/2-by-11-inch sheet of paper.

The deadline is Oct. 30 and letters will be posted Nov. 6. Letters received after the deadline cannot be considered.