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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Summer jobs

14 replies

MammaG3 · 19/07/2021 11:36

My 12 year old wants to start making her own cash. Can she get a job as a pot wash or cleaner or is she too young?! Or is there anything available online??

OP posts:
BunnyRuddington · 19/07/2021 22:45

I've not heard of children so young getting jobs. Why is she so keen to work?

EduCated · 19/07/2021 23:02

She’s too young - 13 is the minimum age for paid employment - government website

Realistically she could probably be ‘paid’ for chores by friends and family.

MotionActivatedDog · 19/07/2021 23:04

Could she wash neighbours cars? Cut their grass? Feed their cats/guinea pigs when they go on holiday?

BackforGood · 19/07/2021 23:11

Too young

In truth, the rules in place to protect children mean that most employers won't employ children under 16.

As pp said, getting some friends / neighbours / family to pay her for something might work. Or she could try offering to wash neighbours cars perhaps?

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 19/07/2021 23:21

I worked at a local fruit farm with a few friends at that age. Parents dropped us off in the morning, we picked strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries... for a couple of hours, had a packed lunch there then left with our little brown envelope with about £10-15 in it and a punnet of strawberries and cream. Would usually go 2-3 times a week depending on what work they had available.

This was back in about 1995/6

Cowbells · 19/07/2021 23:26

She could offer a local pet and plant sitting service for people going on holiday. Cat feeding and grooming, looking after caged animals etc. Advertise on local FB page, noticeboards and in local newsagent/post office if they still do small ads on cards in the window.

Benjispruce5 · 24/07/2021 19:37

Too young. DD struggled to get work until 17! At 13 I think paper rounds are available.

Imapotato · 24/07/2021 20:58

@Cowbells

She could offer a local pet and plant sitting service for people going on holiday. Cat feeding and grooming, looking after caged animals etc. Advertise on local FB page, noticeboards and in local newsagent/post office if they still do small ads on cards in the window.
That’s a nice idea, but would you trust a 12 year old to lock your house up properly after they’ve fed your pets? Because I wouldn’t, especially one I didn’t know.

I think she’s a bit young tbh OP. Most places don’t employ under about 14 and even 16 year olds are struggling to find part time jobs at present.

BackforGood · 24/07/2021 21:40

In our road WhatsApp Group, someone has just asked if anyone's teens wanted to water their garden whilst they were away for a week to earn a few £££
It reminded me of when my dc first started doing jobs like that, the responsibility is on you as their adult, to go with them and make sure the house is locked up / the animal's cage is properly secure if feeding / cleaning out pets etc.
I even remember when my dd2 was about 13, she wanted to babysit so I agreed to take her to my SiLs and to take something to occupy me, and she was responsible for getting her little cousins ready for bed, juggling the fact there were two of them, and so on. Obviously I was still there and actually responsible for making sure all was well, she gained experience, so by 15, she was doing more babysitting for more people, very confidently, having been "practice babysitting" for a couple of years beforehand.
Same as when my dc1 got a job delivering the free paper when he was 13. If you factored in my time as well, stuffing the leaflets into the papers with him and me driving him over to where his route was and then me fetching him, the company owed us a lot more than he was paid, but I felt it was valuable use of my time in helping him learn about commitment and earning and still going out when it was raining or cold or if he had a better offer etc., and, enabling him to earn some money and begin to understand the "value" of money in terms of how many weeks he'd have to lug this heavy pile of papers around in the rain in order to buy X, etc.

It is for you to know if you have the time and commitment and will to support your dc into sort of apprenticeship roles, so they are confident, capable and experienced when they get to an age where they can work without you, or, if you don't think that is good use of your time.

robotcollision · 25/07/2021 12:22

@Imapotato - yes I would. But then. I was babysitting every night after school aged twelve, so I know some twelve year olds are capable. I also know when my DC did these 'jobs' I accompanied them and over saw the care of guinea pigs etc. They really enjoyed looking after other people's pets.

But I agree, I'd want to meet the child first and check they were competent. As I would with an adult.

Imapotato · 25/07/2021 14:19

[quote robotcollision]@Imapotato - yes I would. But then. I was babysitting every night after school aged twelve, so I know some twelve year olds are capable. I also know when my DC did these 'jobs' I accompanied them and over saw the care of guinea pigs etc. They really enjoyed looking after other people's pets.

But I agree, I'd want to meet the child first and check they were competent. As I would with an adult.[/quote]
I agree there will be some 12 year olds who are mature enough, by by no means all, or even most. Unless I knew them well and knew them to be exceptionally sensible and trust worthy, it would be a no from me. Unless of course their parents would be there, but then it doesn’t really seem like their job 🤷‍♀️

Sleepinghyena · 25/07/2021 14:21

I think 13 is the minimum. Plenty of work round here for 14/15/16 yr olds - possibly because it's a tourist area and large amounts of summer staff are needed.

Wordsmith · 30/07/2021 00:12

I don't think she can really get a 'job' at 12. Even if there are any paper rounds available, I think you have to be 13. What about offering a car washing service? You could get her a bucket and sponge etc and she could ask neighbours if they need their cars washing. Perhaps teach her how to do it properly first. I'd pay around £3 for a 12 year old to wash my car..

GeorgiosK · 12/09/2021 11:29

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