At what age do you think a child should get her first job?

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.