We’re a little more than half way through the summer, but there is still time to consider a summer job for older kids. When should you start encouraging your kids to get a summer job though? What about during the school year? Hopefully this post will help answer these questions.
The United States Fair Labor Standards Act has set the minimum age for a working minor at 14 years and limits the number of hours worked for all minors under the age of 16. Still, you can start teaching your kids even before then what it’s like to work for a wage. This not only teaches them responsibility, it also teaches them about managing money, helps squash boredom and teaches new skills. For example, children as young as 12 can handle dog walking jobs or doing chores for an allowance. The age your child can begin doing work for money may vary depending on their level of maturity, but no matter when you allow them to start working the key is to make sure that you are not letting/forcing them work too much.
If your child is 14 or older and you want to start encouraging them to work for the things they want to buy you could suggest jobs like mowing lawns, babysitting, washing cars, pet sitting, cleaning garages and other simple tasks. At age 16 they will qualify for additional work such as fast food or retail cashier, movie theater usher/ concession worker, being a life guard and many more gigs.
Should you push your kid to get a job? As soon as they hit 16 if they haven’t had some kind of previous work experience, it may be time to heavily suggest it. This will help them prepare for the future work force and promote their independence.
What about during the school year? Working teens should be encouraged to keep their jobs during the school year as long it doesn’t affect their school work, their grades or their extra-curricular activities. As soon as you see it affecting any of those things it might be time to re-evaluate whether or not they continue working or wait until summer time to start working again.