My middle child starts his first job today – congratulations Nick! As we get closer to summer more and more kids will be looking for work. In addition, more companies will have temporary openings as their own permanent staff enjoys vacations with their families so the opportunity is there for summer help. This post will take a look at several work ideas for kids and discuss the practical life lessons that parents can teach through a child’s work activities.
Here is my list of twenty-six possible jobs, in no particular order:
- Lifeguard
- Fast food worker
- Busboy
- Server or host
- Grocery store clerk
- Mowing yards and general yard work
- Babysitting
- Dog walking
- Retail clothing stores
- Tutoring
- Musical lessons
- Social media work
- Bookkeeping
- Working on construction crew
- Camp counselor
- Cleaning houses
- Photography work
- Movie theater attendant
- Vet clinic assistant
- Delivery person
- Personal assistant
- Computer repair and home network setup
- Car washing and detailing
- Amusement park worker
- House sitting
- Office attendant
Of course, not all children can do these jobs. Some require certain skills, while others require a driver’s license and access to a vehicle. Some of these jobs are seasonal and summer only, while others could be part-time jobs year round. For the budding entrepreneur, there are jobs in this list that could be done on a freelance basis for multiple customers so several of these could be the start of a small business.
Parents need to encourage this activity as there are so many good lessons that kids can learn from the demands of a job. Besides the obvious lessons on responsibility and working as part of a team, parents have the opportunity to teach some sound financial principles from a recurring stream of income. Issues such as taxes, saving, budgeting, and so forth are best taught when the child has their own income to work from. With a steady paycheck, it also gives the parents an opportunity to open a checking account with their child and teach them basic checkbook management.
If your child wants to work, I strongly encourage you to let them explore the possibilities. In this economy I understand that there are people struggling to find work. However, most of the jobs that I mentioned above are generally pretty dynamic and companies are always in need of people to fill these roles.
Your child’s grades and overall responsibility and accountability are important considerations, but if at all possible it would be good idea to get your teen in the workforce. The experience gained from working a job will follow them into college and possibly give them an advantage when seeking on-campus employment. The lessons that they learn from work can be valuable content for the scholarship essay or interview. You, and society as a whole, will appreciate that your child has learned about work and how to handle money before they move into adulthood.
What other ideas do you have for summer jobs? Are there jobs that you think teens should avoid? At what age do you think it is appropriate for a teen to work? Readers please comment with your thoughts!
