English World
Children at Work
Kids Earning Money
Did you know that thousands of kids all around the world may have a job, if they want to? Teenagers can work during Summer holidays in farms and camps. And smaller children can make their own money as well!
What Adults Say
One day, your child will need to earn a living. Kids can get an edge on the work world by starting early and in doing so they will gain valuable experience working with different people, learning about managing money, have some money to spend once they get older, or save for college.
A lemonade stand, mowing lawns, baby sitting, and doing odd jobs are popular ways that kids can earn money while learning some important life skills.
But first parents have to ask, are their children ready to work? Do they have the time, and it won't interfere with their school work? If they are ready, then let them go for it!
They say it is a myth that sheep are well suited to Australian conditions. In fact, large numbers of sheep and lambs die, and many more suffer.
Jobs for Kids
1. Baby Sitter - If the child likes younger kids, then a baby sitter is a popular choice. Parents often need a good and reliable baby sitter to watch their kids. This position can be even expanded into a baby sitting service, by joining together a group of people who can offer baby sitting services to all the parents in the neighborhood.
2. House Cleaning - The child could simply do house cleaning. There are many chores that would be suitable such as vacuuming, dusting, etc. (In countries like the US, UK and Canada, there are no maids! The families have to do the laundry, clean the bathroom and all those things by themselves. Therefore cleaning someone else's house sounds not as peculiar as it would, in Brazil).
3. Lemonade Stand - Everyone is familiar with the old fashioned lemonade stand. Of course, this is a seasonal business, depending on your location. Also try selling coffee, donuts, or other food items. In addition to food, there is the possibility of selling other types of items. Is the child good at crafts Children can make their own artwork to sell. Sometimes, a combination of food and items makes a good business.
4. Car Washing - Car washing is a needed service in many communities. Two children (school mates, for example) may get together to offer to wash local cars. As an addition to this business, they can sell items mentioned in the lemonade stand section above while people wait for their car to be washed.
5. Animal Caretaker - Everyone is familiar with the old fashioned lemonade stand. Of course, this is a seasonal business, depending on your location. Also try selling coffee, donuts, or other food items. In addition to food, there is the possibility of selling other types of items. Is the child good at crafts Children can make their own artwork to sell. Sometimes, a combination of food and items makes a good business.
6. House and Pet Sitting - Everyone is familiar with the old fashioned lemonade stand. Of course, this is a seasonal business, depending on your location. Also try selling coffee, donuts, or other food items. In addition to food, there is the possibility of selling other types of items. Is the child good at crafts Children can make their own artwork to sell. Sometimes, a combination of food and items makes a good business.
7. Landscaping - Cutting grass, weeding, trimming, planting flowers, and other landscaping jobs are abundant. The child can scan the neighborhood for homes that need landscaping services. In the spring, they may offer to plant flowers, or do winter clean-up.
8. Snow Removal - In the winder time, many people need to have their driveways or sidewalks shoveled. This job works best when a group of kids can work together shoveling several houses. Create a business, and make arrangements to shovel peoples houses before the snow storm
Safety and Other Points
Most important for any of these jobs, is making sure the child is safe, so parensts have to make sure they are old enough to follow important safety guidelines including:
Parents must:
Make sure they always know where the children are.
Avoid that their children go door to door by themselves.
Recommend that the children do jobs that they like to do.
Be sure they are mentally prepared and committed to do the work they need to do and promise to do.
If there is a cost in setting up the business, make sure they have enough money and know where the money is going to come from.
Help them set fair prices for the work they are doing.
Tell them to come to you for advice if they need it.
Of course, all these jobs should not interfere with normal school work or completing homework for school.
Testimonials
"My 15 yr. old worked in a lumber mill this summer, he also worked in a garden nursery in the spring and through the summer. Also worked as a gopher for a local chimney sweep. Fall is an especially busy time of year for Chimney sweeps. Later in the summer he worked in a fish plant (cutting herring row). My daugher has worked kitchen help in a local restaurant for three years, now she waitresses. Hope this helps..."
"I work at 3 daycares and I'm 17, I'm going to work at a big restaurant this summer...I always wanted to work and have money when I was young so when I was 9-11 I put a lot of my stuff on a table at the end of my driveway (mini garage sale). I was happy...I bought a lot of candy(smile)."
"Check out local farmers (if any around) and ask if they have any jobs needed to be done. I have done this and it is easy! You may have to do things from picking corn, fixing things, or odd jobs around the farm. If you are going to work for a long period of time be paid by the hour. Some farmers pay minimum wage or more! If you know nothing about farming that's okay, I could pick it up in a very short time. If that doesn't work stick to simple things."
Fonts:
http://www.moneyinstructor.com
http://www.qff.org.au
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