Being a father of four, I have tried to pass on so many things to my children. One of the top qualities I have instilled is hopefully a good work ethic. The ways I have tried to help them understand this concept is to show them through my own actions and give them opportunities to learn through doing. What I learned as they got older was finding a job for kids isn’t the same as it is for adults.
At What Age Can a Kid Get a Job
The rules on child labor changed based on different exceptions but the general rule is 14 years old. While working at 14 or 15 years old there are maximum hours that can be worked. Once a child is 16 they can work more of a full time role.
Becoming a Lifeguard at the Local Pool
There are many reasons that becoming a lifeguard is a great job for kids. It is not a physically demanding job because they spend most of the time in a chair watching swimmers. While working they get to be outside in nice summer weather instead of wasting away in their rooms.
Beyond all of that, they will gain something that can help them with other jobs. It is required to take a course in CPR before they can be certified as a lifeguard. This CPR training will allow them to market themselves for other jobs such as babysitting.
Be aware that if your kid wants to become a lifeguard they need to start talking to the pool months before the summer. This will allow them time to find and sign up for a lifeguard class which will be required before starting work. The typical pay rate is all over the place but is usually between $10 and $14.
Lawn Care for Family and Beyond
This was my first business as a kid and I was even able to help my son get a lawn care business set up for himself when he was 16. This is a great job for kids. Your kid can make as much money as they want with this type of job and they can do it over the weekends while in school.
For this one, all you will need is to find a yard and either get or borrow their lawnmower. The easy way to find their first yard is to ask grandma or aunt so and so. Once they have a few yards they will soon find themselves turning down any more work.
In my area for each yard, they will make around $40 which can usually be done in an hour. How fast they can make money helps them not spend all their time working and missing out on being a teen having fun.
Every Parent Can Use a Babysitter
I don’t know about you but I always look forward to the little time I have with my wife alone. It does not happen often but when it does it’s great. Lucky for me I have teenagers in my home so unlucky for them I have two live in babysitters.
Same as the rest of this list the best way to get started is with people you know. One reason is that it is easier to get gigs from people who know and trust your teenager. The other reason is for your own peace of mind. You can feel comfortable with your little baby out there taking care of someone else’s kids.
I won’t let my little baby girl go to anyone’s house to watch their kids. The average pay for babysitting is $15 per hour. Sometimes you will find a flat rate for a few hours depending on how long they will need a babysitter.
Dogs Need Sitting and Walking Too
I have never tried this one as a kid because I was too busy cutting grass and having fun. I see so many people walking dogs in my neighborhood and I recognize the dog but not the walker. The great thing about this job for kids is that there are apps now to help find work.
I would pick one and list it as an example, but I found so many and I am not sure which is the most active in your area. An average dog walker will make around $10 per half hour walk. Another thing to remember is you can walk multiple dogs at a time and it will help keep your teen healthy and in shape.
Dog sitting is a little different than walking. It’s more like babysitting except you don’t have to stay with the dog until the owner is there. Most times you will have to go and take the dog out three times a day. This will mean feeding them, playing with them, and of course, letting them outside.
The one issue with this job is getting to the location multiple times per day. So, you will need to try to find clients close to your own house. The average pay for this is around $20 per day.
Online Freelance Work is Not Restricted by Age
Most kids now know more about computers and social media than the rest of us. What they don’t realize is that they can make money for knowing these things. A social media manager will make $250 up to $1,000 per month just for posting on their accounts and replying to comments.
If they spend time learning a programing language or graphics skill, the sky is the limit. In order to find work, you can use a website like Upwork or Freelancer. They will need an adult to sign up for them. They can also just reach out to local companies and offer their services.
They may need to prove their worth by working for a month free but if they try hard enough there will be a lot of work out there for them. As an adult I make around $2,000 per month being a social media manager as a side hustle so this can be a great job for kids.
House Cleaning for Family and Friends
This is a great job for kids who like to clean or just need to make some extra money. They can start by cleaning their own house and then offering to do it for other family members. As they get better they can start asking for pay.
The average person will charge $50 to $100 per week for cleaning a three-bedroom house once a week. If they have their own supplies that will be an extra $10 to $20 per week. They can also offer other services like laundry or grocery shopping for an extra fee.
We All Need Someone to Clean Our Car
This one is great because it can be done on your own schedule and you don’t need any experience. All you need is a bucket, some cleaning supplies, and a sponge. You can start by offering to clean the cars of family and friends.
The average person will charge $25 to $50 per car depending on the size and condition. If they have someone close by to do it you can expect to wash it once a week.
Depending on How Comfortable Your Kid is Teaching, Tutoring can be a great job for kids
Tutoring is a great way to make some extra money. You can do it in person or online. The average pay for tutoring is $15 per hour.
To get started, your kid will need to be good at the subject they want to tutor. They will also need to be patient and able to explain things in a way that someone who doesn’t understand can understand.
Why is it Good for Kids to do work or Chores for Money
There are a few reasons why it is beneficial for kids to do work around the house or even get paid jobs. The first reason is that it will teach them the value of money. They will start to understand that if they want something they will have to save up and pay for it.
The second reason is that it will give them a sense of responsibility. They will learn that they have to show up on time and do a good job in order to get paid. Lastly, it will give them some experience in the workforce.
They will learn how to interact with customers and bosses. Overall, these are all great life lessons that will benefit them in the future.
Conclusion
When your kids are young but wanting to make money, they will feel like there is no great job for kids out there. They need to realize that it’s the real world out there and they need to think outside of the box. People around them are willing to pay for their service, they need to get in touch with them and start being helpful.
Start with people they know and then expand from there. They will be able to make the money they want and will start to gain a great work ethic. This will be something that throughout their entire life helps keep them moving up to bigger and better things.
