At what age would you

[justjulie]

expect your child to have a job? Not a job like chores around the house but a paying job ...

 

[KyDerbyMan]

16 or 17 if they want spending money for going out or saving up for a car.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I'm already counting down the days.

 

[LisaNJ25]

my son is 14 and he works 1 day a week at mt parents diner.

 

[shirleyb]

My DS14 has a job, but he wanted it, I would not expect a 14 yo to typically have a job. He works 1 day a week washing dishes at a restaurant. His best friend works there too, which is obviously part of the allure. My 17 yo DS does not have a job, but probably will this summer.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I think it depends on the kid. My two older ones started working at 14. My son who is 14, he'll turn 15 the end of July, is probably a year away from working. He needs to mature a little more to be able to handle the responsibility of a job.

 

[lulugirl]

As long as my kids are in school I will consider that their job. I think teenagers working over the summer is a good idea.

 

[Becky2005]

It depends.

Normally I would say 16 or 17 but with DD's school schedule like it is already & she just turned 13...I'm more inclined to say only during the summers or something. I would hate for her grades to go down due to work & one thing is if she makes varsity choir they go on trips (i.e. Disneyland is part of it!) -- I do believe I want to chaperone that trip & make sure she doesn't have to worry about getting time off of work to go on these type of trips.

Of course, I was working right when I turned 16 (hired at 15 but had to wait until my birthday to start working) & got fired from that job because I didn't give them enough notice when my sister had her baby & my parents went to go visit her (and they weren't going to leave me at home for a week -- so I was going with them). I did tell them all upfront when I was hired that my sister was expecting a baby in the summer & we were going for a week when she had it -- they fired me the day we left for vacation.

I didn't get a job for several months after that with school starting & everything. I did get one that was willing to work with my sports schedule though after that though.

 

[netMick]

As long as my kids are in school I will consider that their job. I think teenagers working over the summer is a good idea.

Exactly.

 

[NDAMomX2]

My oldest DD had her first "real" job at 16. And has had two summer jobs every summer since. My youngest started babysitting weekly at 11 and had her first summer job at 14. Fourteen seems to be the average around here, or when they are in high school. The high schoolers typically want to have jobs.

 

[mickeyboat]

I guess I would have to say it depends. If my child was involved in many after school activities, and/or spending a lot of time on school work, I would not expect her to have a job during the school year. If she was sitting at home every afternoon doing nothing, darn straight she will be getting to work.

Summers are perfect times for kids to work - and I would say 15 is a good time for that to start.

I also think it would depend on how much spending money the kid needed. If she was asking for money all the time, and/or has very expensive taste in clothing, etc., then I think she should get a job.

Denae

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

If the shopping trips continue to cost me as much as the other day. I expect them to get a job this summer.

Seriously though. My 12 Y.O. already has a babysitting job, next door. Watches a little girl--age 6, after school, and on weekends when I am home. She actually makes about $50/week.

 

[M 'n C]

I had my first job at 16. I had to get one in order to pay for the gas in my car (my parents were nice enough to pay for the car and insurance) and any other things I wanted. I worked "full-time" in the summer and 2 days a week or 15 hours a week during my senior year of high school since school was first in their eyes.

 

[Sandy V.]

It depends on the kid, their age, grades, activities, etc.

When DD was a high school senior who stopped playing soccer and only had her studies, boyfriend, and socializing to do , DH and I were pretty insistent that she get a part-time job right after Christmas break so she could sock some $$$ away for college fun money without worrying about competing with everyone else for a summer job. Worked out well for her and helped her to learn how to manage her time efficiently. She's a great girl but one with a bit of a "princess" mentality, so it was good for her to be part of the working world.

DS is 17 but he is playing lacrosse this spring and has a heavy school schedule, so there is no time for a job now. He'll probably start applying late this spring for something. If he doesn't get one, we're going to hire him for painting and other maintenance jobs around the house this summer.

 

[Mermaid02]

My daughter wanted a job at 15 and we refused. I told her there was the rest of her life to work.... at 16 we said okay and now she knows why I made her wait. She's a good kid, gets excellent grades and handles it well. She also enjoys working.... it's been very good for her. I think it all depends on the kid.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

As soon as they drive. They're going to have to pay for the gas and insurance somehow!

 

[freckles and boo]

Mine are only seven and not-quite-five, so I have plenty of time to think about it. Right now I would say they could take odd jobs like babysitting and yard work as soon as they are responsible enough - maybe 12 or 13. I would say a limited summer job by 14 and a summer job with more or longer hours at 16. Like other parents, I don't think I would want my high-schooler working more than a few hours a week during the school year, but I also don't plan to hand them cash every time they run short. It is a balance that we will find when we get there.

 

[Philadisney]

I would say 15 or 16 (if it didn't interfere with school) - I got my first job at 16, it was in retail and I loved it. I had a few friends that started working at 15, but in CT you could only work at that age if you worked at a restaurant, for retail you had to be 16. I am SO glad I didn't work in dining, I didn't make as much money as my friends who did, but I had a lot more fun and never had to work really late.

 

[Gupsmom]

I do NOT really want my kids to have a job until after their Junior year of Hugh School. Until then, their only job is to get good grades. I am ok with babysitting, or some other low key way to earn money (deliver a weekly paper or even something that was flexible on the weekends). I'm not rigid on this though (it will not be a hard fast rule that they cannot get a job). If they had an interest and/or a good reason, we would think about it...but school comes first. Even their Senior year, I don't want them to work if it rules out extracurricular activites....plus school still is top priority. You only get so many years to enjoy sports/dances/ etc. They'll be working soon enough and for many many years.

Jess

 

[Skatermom23]

As long as they are in school, I consider that their job. I don't see anything wrong with a summer job though. DS will be 16 this summer and I was very prepared to send him off to work until he came up with all kinds of enrichment programs that are offered through his school during the summer. Plus he wants to take an online couse to free up room to take another elective during the year. What can I say, he is an overachiever and I let him! He may have to take care of me one day!