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Congratulations! You have survived another school year!!! Your precious children are so happy to be out of school with no getting up early in the mornings, homework or schedules. I remember those days. I don’t believe this but my mother reminded me that when I was out on summer vacation I used the words, “I’m bored. Can we go somewhere?” Could that be true? Have things changed that much in the last 50 years? Would your children actually say they are bored??!! YES! It doesn’t matter which decade you are from, all children have made this declaration.
So how do we solve this problem? Well, let’s think about looking for something for our sweet little ones to do. Instead of driving them all over town, entertaining them at your expense, why not get ahead of this problem by introducing your children to the wonder of a summer job!!! With honest work on their daily schedules, they’ll keep boredom at bay and pocket some spending money. It seems like a win, win situation for the whole family.
According to the website, www.everydollar.com, here are some age-appropriate job ideas to try:
Ages 5 to 11
- Lemonade Stand – Make it fun by letting them run the show, from picking out a name for their business to serving customers. If lemonade isn’t interesting, try selling shaved ice or brownies
- Assigned Chores – They might vacuum, wash dishes, fold laundry or feed the pets. Anything they do to help around the house, frees up time for you.
- Yard Sale – Encourage your kids to gather toys they no longer play with and clothes that no longer fit and let them have their very own yard sale. With your guidance, this could be fun. Let them know that every dollar earned is theirs to keep!
Ages 12 to 14
- Cleaning Service – Raise your children to help around your house while they’re young and they’ll be ready to make money cleaning up for someone else. As a kid growing up, I would rather have cleaned someone else’s house than my room or my house. This one really works!
- Babysitting – Educate your kids on best practices for taking care of younger children and how to treat a home when the adults are away. Let them take a first aid or CPR class. Eight out of 10 parents would pay more for a babysitter with Red Cross certifications.
- Farmers Markets & Fairs – If your children love to bake or do crafts, encourage them to set up a table at a farmers market or fair and sell their products. Freshly baked treats or crafts will draw a crowd.
- Neighborhood Dog Walker – This could be fun and very profitable if your child loves animals. They can learn to provide great customer service and earn more clients which equates to more money.
Ages 15 & Up
- Computer Support – If your teen knows his/her way around your technology gadgets and smart phone, then they are the perfect fit for helping other adults (much like me) take care of necessary electronic tasks.
- Cutting Grass and Lawn Care – People love for their yards to be beautifully manicured but don’t always like the idea of doing it themselves. Teach your children how to market their services to the neighbors.
- Tutoring – If your teen excels in a particular subject, he might enjoy helping a younger kid get caught up over the summer.
- Errand & Delivery Service – If your teen is driving, he/she might enjoy buying and delivering groceries for elderly neighbors or running errands for busy, working parents.
- Lifeguard – The American Red Cross certifies lifeguards as young as 15. Teens can learn about safety and responsibility while soaking in the sun and water. It’s really not a bad gig for a summer job! (And you look so cool sitting up there under that umbrella!!)
- Restaurant Host – This would be great for teens that are outgoing and enjoy working with people. Teens will learn how to make a great first impression, which will be a great asset for future job interviews.
- Grocery Store & Retail – There are multiple options for jobs in these fields. Stocking shelves, ringing up orders, bagging groceries correctly, presentation, customer service and attention to detail are just a few ways to develop people skills and to serve others.
Each of these jobs is a good opportunity to get your children out of the house to earn extra money this summer and as an extra bonus, they’ll learn some valuable skills. It is never too early to learn a good work ethic and build character. Earning money along the way just makes it even better.
Your job as the parent is to motivate your children to want to work at some kind of job and then once they are earning their own money, to teach them how to give, save and spend their cash by using a budget. Good luck and have a great summer with your children!
