Paid jobs for teenagers.

[winnie1]

Dd is 15 and really wants to earn some regular money preferably at the weekend. I have come up with a few ideas but am sure MN could come up with lots I haven't thought about. Any suggestions?
TIA

Most people in our area - either work at the local bakery or the chip shop at week ends

fairydust thanks... any other suggestions anyone?

fruit and veg shop or retailers that sell cards, sweets etc...if she asked at all the local shops bet one would be looking for an extra set of hands.

Can I ask what people generally think about the idea of teenagers earning their own money?

Dd is determined to get a part time job and I am proud of her for this but I have tried to emphasise that studying comes first (she's doing her gcses at the moment) and I am very aware that she needs time to chill too. Some of her friends have jobs that stretch over several evenings & the weekend and dd is impressed with the amount of money they earn but personally I feel this is too much for a 15 year old.

Any experience or suggestions?

I always did a Saturday job from the age of 14, but we didn't have as much homework in those days and I was a highly motivated pupil.

I think as long as you could establish that she would still have time to do her homework and go out and do other non-school stuff, it would be fine.

Do you live in a little or big place? (just wondering what options she has got)

Oh, and I never got pocket money. It will save you a fortune if she does get a job!

I think it is good for teens to have a job. yes, studying is important, but it can be fitted in and it teaches them time management as well, if they know they have to get the homework done in order to get to their job on time. Also teaches the importance of looking after your money - I always found I was much more careful with the money I had worked to earn. In my teens I had a paper round, worked Sats in a chemist, stacked shelves and worked as a checkout girl (not all at the same time!). All the jobs helped me learn about work and also realise that going to Uni was a very good idea so that I didn't have to stack shelves forever! I also was good with my grant at Uni and waitressed to supplement it as I was so used to working by then. I rarely felt cheated out of chill time as I still had a lot of time to spare.

My 15 year old daughter has a job working at a local pub. It's five minutes from our house, and we know the owner quite well. He runs an outside bar in a local pavilion for private functions. She helps with these and with any big events at the pub. She helps with setting up and clearing up, collecting glasses and washing-up. She also makes posters for him and helps him with his computer as he is a bit of a novice. He treats her very well and always drives her home to the door.

I think it's good for teens to work for some extra money. Dd1 has a CV as long as your arm and she hasn't even left school yet! But do watch out that employers don't take advantage of their youth and naivety. There are quite strict rules and regs in Scotland and I'd assume elsewhere, about how many hours a week they can work and what sort of jobs they can do (eg not dealing with alcohol, potentially dangerous equipment etc). For 16+yrs there is now also a minimum wage. Hth!

Oh - and another thing it teaches them is about the real world, as it were. Home is where they are loved unconditionally and although they are punished for wrong-doing, they're always safe in the knowledge of your love, school is a peculiar institution which appears to have different practices from the rest of the world, but a job where they work with all different sorts and ages of people, where they can be sacked if they don't pull their weight, really teaches them about real life. And sometimes, it can give an extra motivation to do well at school - stacking shelves on Saturdays is fine, but knowing that if you don't work at school you'll be doing it forever, is a real motivator for some children. (Could backfire if they really enjoy it though )

i do believe in that " teach ' em about the real world" stuff, so ds1 (14) has had a paper round for well over a year now - regular as clockwork - takes him around 20 mins - he is also the standby person for other rounds - for which he gets extra money for doing nothing 9 times out of ten , he gets not a bag wage - has got his own account with cashcard and suddenly my little boy became eveyones best friend - who had money for cheap beer - my lad - who had money to buy fags - my lad - who thought that by buying all the teenagers in the area anything they wanted becuase it made him life and soul of party - my lad.

just a word of caution ( sorry to piss on your daughters parade.) however my son still does paper round but dad keeps his cashcard - so he still has to do the work but doesnt get the money unless he comes to town with us!

Thanks everyone.

Suedonim, I agree with the point about employers taking advantage and intend to keep a close eye on what dd ends up doing re conditions etc. Am quite gobsmacked at the appalling wages a few of her friends get but work in a setting where I frequently meet adults who are paid appallingly too

I worked from the age of 12 as a very regular babysitter, in a plant nursery and then on the tills in Prestos...OMG do you remember Prestos? Yuk.

It certainly does give one experience of the real world. Agree with you Caligula about the motivation to do well in school too. Dd is a very balanced, together individual but I think working all day (in a shop for instance) will be a big shock to her.

Custardo, thanks for the word of warning. Dd earned quite a lot of money over the summer holidays babysitting and I did think she frittered the money away on friends, food and cr*p frankly. Am thinking that we may set up a rule that she has to save a certain amount of what she earns.

Dd spent much of yesterday approaching employers and I am impressed with her determination. I am certain she will have a job with in a few days.