Do most 15/16 year olds have summer jobs?

[luvflorida]

Does your 15/16 year old WANT to work this summer or do you EXPECT your teen to work? Does it matter to you?

This might sound weird, but I don't want my daughter to work this summer. She will turn 16 the end of August, so she would need a work permit, and there are a lot of jobs she couldn't do because of her age. However, it seems as though most of the kids at her high school have summer jobs, and she has mentioned that she might like to work this summer.

She is going to be busy with dance and we have a few small trips planned. I'd rather see her just relax and enjoy the summer. She has her entire life ahead of her to work. Does fifteen seem young to be spending the summer working, or am I just trying to hold on to her longer than I should? Yes, she is our youngest and the only child left at home, and I know I'm having separation issues. Driver's permit, then before I know it, a driver's license, college...I'm not ready for any of it.

Anyway, will your 15/16 year old be working this summer?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dd just turned 15 and if she could work she would. Where are these 15yo kids working?

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Well my oldest DD is 14, but she wanted to work in an ice cream place this summer. DH said no. He doesn't feel she is responsible enough. Plus, she will be gone in Florida for one week and another week on a mission trip.
Sad to say, kids who are involved in extracurriculars have trouble getting jobs. Why hire an active kid in sports, plays, etc. when you are scheduling around the practices and rehearsals? The students I have with good, steady jobs do not do any activities, which I think is sad. DD talks about getting a car, but I don't think she realizes how hard it will be for her to get a job unless she drops dance, cheerleading, acting, etc. Unless she HAS to get a job, I really don't want her to--and I am in the minority that feels kids do not need their own cars.
Robin M.

 

[skuttle]

I never worked during highschool. My summers were pretty busy with band/colorguard stuff. My first job was part-time the summer before I went to college. It was an office job my dad arranged for me. I was pretty lucky and never had to work for spending money during high school. My parents actually never wanted me to work. They wanted me to just focus on school.

 

[amid chaos]

Mine are expected to work summers at 14 when they can get a legal work permit. We pay for a private school education, they need money for clothes and incidentals.

DD has worked for an office supply store, restaurants, the chamber of commerce, a childrens bookstore.

DS worked on a friends boat when he was 12 and 13. this year he will be bussing tables at a restaurant and possibly working at a golf course.

They have plenty of time for friends but not enough time to get in trouble.

 

[luvflorida]

My dd just turned 15 and if she could work she would. Where are these 15yo kids working?

We live in a town that has a lot of summer tourists and there are plenty of jobs for teens, although most of them do require the workers to be at least sixteen.

However, there is a local amusement/theme park that hires teens as young as 14. Many 15 year olds bus tables at the local restaurants or work in small retail shops.

I know part of the problem is that my daughter sees most of her friends working, but most of them have already turned 16. She is at the young end for her grade.

 

[Cindy B]

I started working summers since I turned 11. I was expected to work when I turned 13. Yes, 13.

And i managed to do activities and work two jobs in high school as well as babysit occasionally.

 

[luvflorida]

Unless she HAS to get a job, I really don't want her to-
Robin M.

This is how I feel. I don't want her working at fifteen. Enjoy the summer, relax, have fun.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

Hi!

I always worked summers in high school. I actually started at 14. I didn't need the rmoney. It gave me something to do because I tended to get bored, despite other activities. It helped me to develop a good work ethic at an early age and gave me a feeling of accomplishment. I think, if your daughter feels ready, let her try. If you're concerned about time commitment, help her find a job that will comply with the hours she can reasonably handle.

 

[golfgal]

My DS13 was going to work at the local grocery store after he turned 14 this summer. 14 year olds can work up to 10 hour/week and not past 8:00 pm on school nights in MN. I was fine with that.

 

[azgal81]

The only time I officially had a job as a teenager is the summer before I left for college. I did babysit though and do random chores for money and I did work at the summer school in the elementary school library when I was in middle school for a few weeks.

 

[CEDmom]

I worked during the summer starting at 14. I was a mother's helper and then a junior camp counselor.

I have several years before my DD is 15/16 but I expect her to find something to occupy her time during the summer. There are plenty of volunteer jobs or courses she can take. I'd have a problem with her lounging around the house all day every day.

 

[casey49781]

hi,, i have been working since i was 13 yrs old,,,i bought my own school cloths and goodies,,,when the school yr started i worked at mcdonald on the weekends and holidays,,,,never hurt me a bit, and it taught me how to be responsible,,,i am 36 now and have been at my job now for 17 yrs,,,,in that many yrs i have only had to call in 3 times sick,, and took off 5 weeks for each (2) of my kids births and had c-sections,,so going to work young only teaches them they can be responsible,,,by no means should anyone 14 or 15 work more than 2 or 3 days a week,,,,16 and 17 no more than 4 days per week,,,believe me kids today are lazy and dont want to work because there parent shell it out to them a little work never hurt no one,,,

 

[disykat]

I WANTED to work at 15. It was fun and I enjoyed getting a paycheck. I would have been bored that summer with everyone else working.

As a parent, I expect my children to work after their junior and senior years so they'll have some work experience. I'm hoping that prior to that, they will be making enough money mowing lawns. etc. (My 13 year old already has 3 steady customers) that they won't want another job. I say that selfishly so that I won't have to drive them around and we can still go on family vacations. (We have our family vacations tenatively planned until my oldest is 16 - after that I figure their summers will be too busy and our vacations will be Spring Break college scouting, etc.)

However, if they really want a job, I'll support them.

 

[kellyla]

Both of my boys both work now.Oldest was 16(now 17) and youngest just got a job(just turned 15)They both work at McDonalds.They work 3-4 times a week.The youngest plays rep soccer,high school football and never misses a practice or game for work.I like knowing that they are having to work now for pocket money and dont always have their hands out.In fact they both came home today and asked if they put some of their own money in,could they have a little more expensive shoes(they both need new ones)I think they will be a little more selective buying things when it comes to their own money.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I had a babysitting job the summer after my sophomore year (one day most weeks, then one or two full weeks). That was a few months before I turned 17 (I'm on the older end of things). Several of my friends got jobs after freshman year, but most got them after sophomore or junior years. The summers after junior and senior year I babysat for my regular one or two afternoons a week (I babysat one or two days a week during the school year too), and worked mornings for my dad's company. I was forced to work for dad; I chose to continue babysitting because I enjoyed it. Unfortunately, this summer (I'm wrapping up my first year of college), my dad doesn't have work I can do, so I have to look for a job when I get home next week.
I think my mom would have liked me to work earlier, but I didn't want to go through the hassle of getting work permits, etc. I also didn't have the motivation to get a job. Actually I still don't, considering I feel like I could sleep for a year at this point; I'm so exhausted, but books are expensive

 

[tw1nsmom]

I personally think it's important for kids to have at least part time minimum wage jobs during the summer of their teen years. I'm talking more from my own experience as my kids are only 6 years old.

These little summer jobs give kids experience about workplace politics and helps them develop a work ethic. I had so many friends in college that never worked. When they graduated they had a real hard time finding and keeping a job. They had never had any practice interviewing and they just didn't get what was expected of them as employees.

It can also serve to clarify what they want to do with their lives. Of course, if your kid doesn't want to go to college, they can experiment with jobs they might want to do after High School. For the college bound kids, it can reinforce why they want to go to college and what kinds of jobs they DON'T want to do for a living.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

i got a job the summer after my junior year..before then, i would just babysit now and then

 

[ahutton]

I babysat (was basically a day-nanny) for one of my Mom's coworkers two kids who were in elementary school. I loved it for the most part - had money to do fun stuff, shop, go out with friends and for vacation. She loved it because she and Mom carpooled to work and she got someone to stay with her kids for much less than I'll pay for summer care for my Kinder-aged DD!

 

[SDFgirl]

How about having her work very, very part-time? When I was 15, I had my first job babysitting every week day from 9 to 1. It was nice - I still had most of the day to do fun summer stuff, but I earned some of my own money which I loved.