My daughter takes jobs whenever someone asks, or she'll go out and ask. She's only 11, but she's really good at selling herself for jobs - raking leaves, babysitting, etc. Of course, I make sure she is safe and I know who she's working for, but she pretty much gets her own jobs. She took the babysitting class, and she only babysits with someone older because I still think she's a bit young. My son, on the other hand, wants to help, but he is not good at finishing what he starts. He is 10 years old. I'm sure he would do a great job, but he just can't focus long enough. These are just side jobs, though, for when they want something. This helps teach them the value of a dollar, so I'm glad they want to work for their own things. Maturity is a big factor when it comes to jobs. They still have much to learn, but they can do a good job when aloud.

Are you ready for a success story? My 17 year old grandaughter decided to get a summer job instead of going to summer school. She applied at the local Target Store and got the job. She started this week in their 2 week orientation program. She is proud of the fact that she is going to be paid $7.75 per hour and she plans to use the money to go to concerts and perhaps buy some of her own clothes using the 10% employee discount card they gave her. We haven't made an issue of the valueable lesson in "real life" that she will be getting. But I'm sure that all of you working parents out there get the message.

Some children are more industrious and ready to tackle the responsibility at varying ages, so I think you have to gauge whether your child is handling all of their other responsibilities well enough first.

I usually allow my children to take this on when they are legally able to do so (in GA, it's 15) and play it by ear. If they don't seem to be balancing things well, then the job has to go.

My son is 14, going on 15, he cuts grass for his own pocket money and it gives him a sense of satisfaction at earning his own, something I dare not discourage!

I think it depends on the job and the child. Growing up in the 1970's and 1980's all the boys on my block had paper routes or worked weekends mowing lawns. I starting babysitting at 12 and by the time I was 14 I had quite a list of clients. My summers were booked with nanny jobs that took me to places like Catalina Island and Universal Studios. As the youngest of five children I longed to have little brothers a sisters of my own. I was very mature and took babysitting safety classes and was certified in CPR. I had decent grades so my parents had no problem with me working. I think neighborhood jobs (babysitting, paper routes) are fine for kids who are under 16 can handle the responsibility and are not struggling in school. At 16 I worked at the Grocery Store 3 days a week for that I needed a work permit from school. In order to obtain the permit I had to have a 3.0 GPA and be accessed by the counselor. If my grades dropped or I got in trouble at school my permit would have been pulled and I would have to resign.

I completely agree with Momof25stars. But I would like to add just one comment concerning the question: I just got done reading about "diversity", yet, this particular question identifies female children only and omitted male children. As much as I agree with Momof25stars’ answer, I also believe that we have to consider the gender of the child because, on average, females tend to be more willing and ready to take on responsibilities before male children (not to discredit male children).

I think the transition into Middle School is hard enough. Adding a job along with any of their after -school activities seems like quite a bit to put on a child of ages 11-14. Besides, I thought that you couldn't get working papers till you were 15?

After they graduate, I think they should enjoy High School, they will be working the rest of there life after High School.

I think any child volunteering is a great idea. I think kids can learn responsibility and giving to others. A few hours a day is plenty of work for a school-age child in my opinion. Also I have seen cases where the parents push the high schoolers to work and the children want high pay and then to push as much work as possible off onto the older workers around them. Especially when they are hired by friends' parents or their parents' friends they may not be learning the real work ethic their parents intended.

I think it depends on the child, but most kids starting at age 5 can handle doing daily chores and then expand upon that as they grow up. Babysitting or mother's helpers, and when of legal age a local grocery or drug store are just a couple of simple examples.
I started babysitting when I was 13... I continued to do that as an exclusive sitter to 2 families throughout college, as well as while in HS working 25-30 hours a week at a local drugstore, playing on Varsity sports AND maintaining an A average.
I think parents today allow their kids to get away with doing too much of NOTHING... the busier the child - the more organized they will be and the less trouble they are apt to get in. You learn to prioritize your time and resources, and you learn to make educated decisions... "Ok, I have a paper due Tuesday, and 3 exams next week... do I babysit or stay home and study?" Most kids in that position actually have the right social skills to go to an employer and say, "I have a lot on my plate this week... can I cut back on my hours and work extra next week?"
I believe it also instills in a person a great work ethic... something most 20-35 year olds today DO NOT HAVE... they change jobs like they change their underwear because they never were expected to work. Give a kid responsibility and teach them that a good work ethic is to stick it out - no matter what. Not quit because their boss asked them to do something (that most likely was part of the job requirement to begin with) and they didn't want to. Too many people in this world today believe they are entitled to have EVERYTHING handed to them on a silver platter - why? Because their parents made them believe they were holier than thou and deserve it...
My girls will work hard for what they deserve and be proud of what THEY ACHIEVE - not what was handed to them!

Depends on the child. My first needed to work. My 2nd son was active & doing well in school, sports, scouting - working on his Eagle, his church & youth group & missions activities. He was responsible with all that & responsible with money. As a result, we wanted him to enjoy his life at that time because he'd be an adult alot longer than he'd be "kid." He had had jobs so working wasn't ever the issue. When he made the ball team and had recently been hired for some after-school janitor work at our church (conflicting with ball practice) he didn't know what to do. He talked with his pastor who told him "go & enjoy being on the team, you'll have a lifetime to clean toilets." He was due to be dual-enrolled at the local college in the summer that year. We're happy with the choices we made.

nailpolishx9,

I agree with you. Along with advanced courses, my son volunteers/interns for a nonprofit company and he volunteer/coaches kids in my bowling program.

His job was to get the most out of high school and get into the colleges he wanted and get the most scholarships doing so. It worked, and with a few more scholarships to be decided, he's got less than $6000 out of a $40000 tuition bill for his freshman year this September. A different school did offer him a full ride, but he chose a different one.

You might want to join us in the Planning for College Group located here: community.greatschools.net/groups/11551

My 14-year-old daughter is in pre-calculus and chemistry with the advanced juniors and seniors. Her job is going to school, studying, and learning all she can to prepare for college. She has no time for a job. She will earn more in scholarships than she would at minimum wage. She will be job-shadowing with a professional in her field this summer (no pay for that, of course). I don't think she needs to worry about working a "real" job on top of that. She also has extracurricular activities in which she participates for enjoyment. She has no extra time, and she has only one childhood to enjoy.

Children need to learn to be responsible with money. They are better off learning that at a younger age than when they are ready to move off to go to college. I believe school should be their main job of course, but working a few hours a week to learn how hard it is to make money is somthing that I am all for! My daughter is 12 she babysits one night of week while I am home but my friends still pay her a little for keeping their kids. She takes great pride in having her own money to spend.

Obviously it depends on the child and the type of job. I worked a summertime job, changing tires at a tire dealer's store when I was 16. Made enough money to buy my first car. That gave me a feeling of self-worth and responsibility that I couldn't have gotten if I had spent the summer "hanging out" with my friends. I had a goal and I reached it. It was a priceless experience in my life. These days a kid probably couldn't get a job like that, but there is always a need for volunteers in social service agencies for example. Whatever you do dont let your child just hang out with friends. You are not teaching them anything of value or being kind to them by doing that. Kids need a challenge or a goal during their teen years. Let them choose between a job or summer school. That is my advice. Been there.

I totally agree with you. I believe children should be allowed to work starting between the ages of 14 and 15. But, then allowed to drive a vehicle between the ages of 17 and 18. After which they have had enough time to get together the monies they need for the car, registration, taxes, insurance, inspection, and most of all gas. In Rhode Island the working age and the driving age are both 16, if you were a kid which would you choose?

My son is 14 and he makes money "visiting" dogs in homes where people work all day and there is no one to let the animal out. He also walks dogs for the same kind of customer. He has two clients and earns $110 per month visiting one dog daily and walking one dog daily. That is about the right amount of distraction for him at this point.

I completely agree that children should have the opportunity to grow with chores and helping their parents and grandparents, but having a part time job through another company outside the home should begin after they have focused on high school, their grades, their friends that will be life long friends and life at that age.

I believe a child should be allowed the opportunity to focus on school, friends, recreation, socialization, dreaming and just being a child through high school graduation. The world moves too fast as it is and work will fill the larger portion of lives. If we can allow such a opportunity, I think it should be given the child.

Depends on what you mean by "job". I had a "job" when I was 13 - helping my mother type papers and presentations. I also had perfected a skill in handmade calligraphy, so I had a "job" making certificates, and poems and such for my mother's friends and my friends' mothers. It wasn't much, but it gave me pride and instilled a good work ethic in me.

The lady who cleans my house has her daughters, 12 and 10, come along and help. It's just a way to learn responsibility. And I think the kids enjoy it.

I will probably do something similar for my daughter - something small she can do in junior high/middle school, which will lead to bigger and better in high school/college/the real world.

i think high school is best for one i think they need to focus on there studies the best they can in order get a good paying job my first job was at 16 i waited tables at pizza resturaunt a freshman its was just a weekend job but it gave me a chance to focus on homework and on the weekends it put a couple of bucks in my pocket my son is 15 he is a freshman he is very much involved in his sports and education right now he want to concentrate on right now yes a job would be great for him he can start saving for a car and insurance and and gets him ready to be resoponsible and focus on whats important so yes i think high school is the better time for employment

My daughter is 15 , extremely capable of working a job.She gets good grades and does alot of volunteer work around the area. Our problem is we don't know where to start in finding her a job. She still wants to be a volunteer and she wants to work in the animal care field because, her goal in life is to be a Veternarian.Problem is who will hire a 15 year old? No one that we can find.She loves animals of all kinds and trains or cares for family pets as well as pet sitting for friends. Anybody know where a 15 year old can apply for a job???? She is a Freshman in High School.

I believe in Middle School they need to start Volunteering their time. By high school they need to continue with volunteering until driving age then proceed with working as long as grades are above average. We have to teach kids young to help others without expecting something in return. Kids in this growing generation are very lacking in the area of treating others how you want to be treated. They expect everything their way. And it is horrible.

I really don't want my son to start working until he is about 17 years old. I want him to concentrate on getting good grades and having fun being a kid. There is plenty of time for him to get worn down by work. School should never be put in the back seat when it comes to a burger flipping job. My husband and I plan on giving him an allowance but he will have to perform extra chores for it. When he is old enough for the big purchases; cell phone, car, or a stereo. That is when we feel like he will need to get a job to pay for those things. This is such a wide issue it encompasses when you want your children to start dating (something they'll need money for) when they should drive etc. Our family tilts towards the old fashioned end of the spectrum that for example a ten year old does not need a cell phone. Or that our 15 year old son does not need a girlfriend that is just how we feel about it. It's all about what you think is right for your children and what your families values are.

Depends upon the individual needs/wants/desires, parental activity, family values playing what role in the childs development. That being said, 15 (for weekends) and 17 (after school).

Hi jonsmom,

Another similar question generated great answers at community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/154878/Should-teens-work-while-theyre-in-high-school?cpage=1#comments

15 is a good age for a kid to get his/her first job. I'm 41 now, but back in the day, I was first employed at 14 1/2. I've been working ever since. My son is 15, and he is more than ready for a part time job.

16

i think it depends on the child and the type of job they want to do to make some money... it is something they love to do or is it a chore for a few bucks.
mine's the horse lover, and can't wail till she's 14 to get her working papers, to work at the racetrack across the street from my office..
she'll be happy mucking stalls, and washing and grooming, she doesn't mind getting dirty, and smelling like horse..she is the only one of her friends, that would do that.
the rest want instant careers, with big bucks,( for a kid) like in computer's ,fashion, or a rock star!

It also depends on what jobs/employers are available in your area: my daughter expressed an interest in working in the movie industry but given advice by Paul Peterson (www.aminorconsideration.com), we chose not to pursue this for many years. We waited until she was offered a spot on a show by someone we trusted and respected very, very much and whom we knew would be sure that all of the children working on the set would be treated properly. And now that the show has ended, she won't work again until something similar comes along.

Because children, even teenagers need jobs in which it is recognized that they have different needs than adults. Their employers must recognize that part of their work-experiences must include a learning aspect.

In my opinion, any employer who employs children or teens who fails to respect and understand this important difference should not hire anyone under the age of 18.

I think it depends on the type of job and the reasons you have for the child getting one. If it is the child's idea (for instance she wants to earn some extra money for something special) I would start her off with an easy job without too many hours. For example, baby sitting.

I started helping out my mother in her business when I was quite young, but in would do something light like dusting for half an hour and then go out and play. I didn't start working regular hours until my early teens, and then only in the summer.

In addition to what 2kidss already mentioned, the type of job has to be considered. Some kids start off being a "mother's helper" or "pet sitting" under the watchful eye of an adult, and that's far different from being able to independently function in a "commercial environment."

Common places for kids to get their first commercial job experience are in fast food restaurants or stores, and if handling money is part of the responsibility, those employers may not even hire a student until they are 16. The students should be able to demonstrate integrity and an ability to deal with people of all ages, especially if they are interacting with customers. (For example, they need to understand that talking in "slang," as they might do among peers, is not appropriate in most workplaces.) Students need to demonstrate an ability to listen and take direction from supervisors, without getting angry, and to do a task even if they don't "like" it. I could provide more specifics if I knew what type of "first job" you meant, but in general terms, those are maturity aspects that I would want to see in a student before hiring them.

I dont think you can put an age on it. Every child is unique and matures at different ages. So I say it depends on when you think your child is ready. How are their grades, are they dependable, mature ect....