Job for 11 yr old? Help

[JobsForKid]

Posting for traffic :)

My 11 year old has wanted a proper job since he was 8 or 9 and this is getting intolerable now. He gets pocket money from me for odd jobs, but he wants "consistent work" apparantly! And wants a "proper job".

I tried registering myself for a paper round/delivering leaflets (he's too young, but I thought he could come with me and I'd give him the pay), but was told I was too qualified and they give this work to either unemployed or teens not someone who already has a full time professional job (fair enough)

I've suggested selling his old stuff at a car boot etc.. which he is going to do, but apparantly that's not 'consistent work' or a "proper job" and he wants something more long term.

He's becoming intolerable and talks about it every day. He now wants to do paid surveys online, but I've said no as I don't think this sounds like a good idea and is not safe (plus there is the small matter that you have to be 13).

Any ideas??? What can he do? (We don't know anyone he could dog sit or babysit for and I wouldn't allow him to do this for a stranger. Also don't think he's old enough to babysit. He wants to do something like deliver papers, stuff envelopes, or something manual and for an employer not friends I can muster up to humour him)??

Could he start his own business? Doing what???

https://idea.org.uk/

Your oldest could be DS!!

And your youngest sounds fab! That's such a great idea :) we might look at Etsy for inspiration tonight and see if there's anything he could do and sell. I've not heard of the iDEA awards, but thanks, it sounds up his street! I'll.look into it.

Thank you!!!!

Thank you! We will.look at this together :) thank you!

My 13-year-old has a weekend job mucking out stables at a local livery yard. I think you can do it from 11 if you join the Pony Club. It's physically hard work though.

He could look at setting up a freelance "boyFriday" type business (obviously only for friends and neighbours) where he offers to turn up and do random tasks so washing cars/watering gardens or houseplants when owners are away/mowing lawns/feeding pets/playing a game with a five year old whilst their parent mows the lawn/listing stuff on ebay for other people etc etc. He could be encouraged to do a bit of research into potential (parent approved) clients and what they might find helpful, design a flier he could print at home and draft an email to send out etc.

Thank you - he'd like something physical like that. I will see if there is a yard near us

Look, when he gets to secondary school he can buy packs of fags and sell them singularly! <entrepreneurial>

No suggestions but have an 11 year old and 13 year old who are the same..it does seem a shame to discourage....mine are very capable. By the time they are old enough they will be juggling GCSEs.

!!!! (Well he's already had a prime business going!! I'm trying to steer him away!.....)

🩷👍

Sounds good 👍

You really want him giving away his personal data so young? And probably yours? Are you going to supervise these?

I'd get him involved in a sport and maybe he can help coach it in future and earn money that way.

Swimming lessons to get to lifeguard status sounds like a good approach.

Making and selling things? Cards or any form of arts and crafts?

Teach him how to bake - then he could run periodic bake sales?

Be sounds great and it's to be encouraged. I agree with trying to make something to sell online. Also could he maybe grow seeds or take cuttings and sell plants. A bit seasonal maybe .

Just tell him no. Doesn't matter what he wants or what his opinion is or if he feels he's old enough, the answer is no.

Surely that doesn't need someone else to tell you that

Well, I'd be happy to say no to lots of things (sweets, sleepovers on school nights or whatever it might be), but can't bring myself to say no to a kid that wants to work hard and earn his own money, seems a bit counter intuitive. I'd like to help him if I can (I just haven't got the skill sadly, hence why I'm asking on Mumsnet! And there's been some great suggestions, so thanks all for those!)

Another suggestion to file away for the moment is sign up to the Smallpeice Trust emails - they run STEM courses for children attending state schools including an RAF partnered one about humanitarian engineering and an aerospace one. He’ll be too young at the moment but something for the future. https://smallpeicetrust.org.uk/

Neighborhoods might be too different but I’ve tried to get my DD to start a composting business. She could collect once/twice a week from neighbors and bring to our community garden. She won’t do it but your son might?

It would start out free and once links worked out could start charging?

What a ridiculous answer .

What a way to inspire and build entrepreneurial spirit 😠😠😠