Would you make your high schooler get a summer job??

[Tiggeroo]

I have three children. One is an 18yo college student, the other two are 15yo twin sons. Last summer the 18yo worked part to full time in a tourist shop, the one 15yo worked a boardwalk fry shop and the other 15yo did not work at all. My boys are very active at school and both have fall sports practice which starts the 2nd week of August.
The 18yo needs to work in the summer to earn money to help with her car expenses and for spending money during the school year. Yet, she doesn't really care whether she takes a well paying summer job. She waits til the last minute to put in apps. and doesn't really complain if she doesn't get in alot of hours. This year I have told her she needs to look for the best paying summer job she can get. If something expensive were to happen on her car, she just assumes her dad and I will help her out. On the plus side, she is a good kid. She saves every dime of her summer earnings, and unless it is something big, never asks us for anything. She is in college on a full academic scholarship. But she is heading for med school in two years and this will be big $$$$. I am trying to teach her to plan for the future.

The other 15yo still has no interest in working. He gets a small allowance from us, and generally seems content with this. He is quiet and shy, and I think a part time summer job would be good for him. His grades are not like his sister's and he will not be getting this type of scholarship. Plus in two years he will be driving, and I have told him he will need to pay the insurance and part of the cost of a car. He has no saving and only 2 summers to save for this. I hate to force a hs'er to work but I am seriously considering it. Both of my sons have expensive sports/hobbies such as skateboarding, surfing, football, running, snowboarding. There are times when I can't give them the money to take a trip or to replace a broken piece of equiptment. I would like to see them have some money set aside to cover these things when they come up.
The other 15yo worked hard last summer. Saved all summer and then spent most of it on an expensive surf board, and some school clothes. I am glad he worked but no money set aside for car insurance, college. He is giving me the opposite problem. He wants to work two jobs this summer. One that is just a fun job, and then bussing tables part time, because he can make a bit more money. I am trying to decide whether to let him do this. And I am going to be mean and insist that at least 30% of his summer earnings go in an account not to be touched until driving/college age. I will tell him to put another 10% aside to do things with in the winter.
Both working kids also give 10% to the charity of their choice.
Parents of teens, how did you handle this? How involved were you in your kids lives at this point.

 

[Disney Doll]

As a teenager, I had to work and was required to save a certain portion of it. Once I was of an employable age, I no longer received an allowance from my parents.

They paid for "parent" stuff (ie-school related items etc). Any "fun" stuff, I paid for. Bigger ticket items, such as prom dresses etc, they paid for, but accesories, shoes, make-up I paid for.

 

[cruisnfamily]

I have rather strong feelings on this but I hesitate to share because I know full well my feelings may change by the time my kids are teens. They're currently 10 & 7.

Here is my present opinion:
I was one of those kids who as a teen worked after school and all day on the weekends. I had no time for anything but work but I thought it was cool to work and make money. Don't ask me what I spent the money on because I couldn't tell you. I can tell you it wasn't for "expenses", it was all mine to spend as I chose. Anyway, I wish somebody would have told me at that point that I would be working every day for the rest of my life and I should enjoy the time I had. I wish now that I worked less and enjoyed my friends and activities when I had the chance. Knowing that my kids are looking at a life time of work in the future I am inclined to tell them not to work at all. Or work very limited hours so they still have time for fun.

Well, there it is for now....subject to change as my kids become teenagers.

 

[Mishetta]

I do not have teens yet but we have a 7 y/o & we make him work for his toys (game boy light, games, computer games). We can't just hand everything over to him. So we pay him a small allowance ONLY if he does his chores. If he misses a day, we deduct $$. We may be a little tough on him (don't know if you saw my thread on "Am I expecting too much?" when I expect him to make his bed & make it neatly each morning?) but it's a tough world out there.

We have a nice college fund saved up for him BUT we're only going to dish out money as Corporations do....if he gets a "C" or better, we'll pay for the class, if not, then he's on his own. That's how my DH got his degree! So what's good enough for DH is good enough for DS! Our hard earned $$ & sacrifices we're making now to put away for our DS's education is not going to be wasted "partying away!"

My DH & I have talked about this before (although I don't know if things will change by the time our DS is a teen) but we do expect him to work as soon as he's able. Not a whole lot of hours because he still needs time to be a kid, but enough so that he can save up for auto insurance. He has almost enough $$ in his own savings, to buy a good used car already. He knows nothing about this account, which we opened when he was born & all his Christmas money, birthday money, his Christening money (from when he was 2 months old) & any other gifts of money he's received, we've deposited in his account. We hope to add his Communion money to this account too. As he gets older, he won't be so ready to hand over his money but maybe then we'll make a deal that he'll get to keep half of it or something. When he does start working, he will have to surrender half of it to us as well, (for his savings account).

Anyway, being that our parents never handed us anything (but we're in a little better financial condition than they were) we still want to teach him the value of a dollar & that nothing in life will be handed to him, he has to work for it. I think someday he will be pleased with how we've saved his money since he was a baby. Some of my friends let their kids spend all their birthday money on toys but I don't think that's wise...what will they have to show for all their gifts of money when they get older?? When asked, I still suggest giving my kids Savings Bonds (this way they have no choice but to put it away.) I then take it, cash it & put it in a higher paying interest account (which is difficult to find these days) for DS.

So there is my 2 cents worth (without being a mother of a teen). I find it offensive when children have everything handed to them. What type of adults will they become? For example, we have an 8 y/o little neighbor that already has his own CELL PHONE!!! For heaven's sake, what does an 8 y/o need a cell phone for? My guess is that this little kid will be shocked when real life hits him in the face!

Good luck!!!

 

[Disney Dee]

I wish my 15 yr old had time to work in the summer. He is a baseball player and its his life from Jan till Nov, he is exceptionally good, and plays on 3 teams the rest of the yr he plays football. He does work alittle around christmas, but he has champagne taste on a beer budget, so thats not nearly enough. i would love to see him work part time with me during the summer, he would only have to test and video games and systems (every childs idea of a great job) But he lives with my ex and my ex feels like ball is his ticket to scholorships to college, so he does't encourage my ds to work. I think alittle less ball and alittle part time job afew hrs a week would be good for him and i wouldn't have to hear him complain about being broke all the time.

 

[lisajl]

Holy Mackerel! An 8 yo with a cell phone!
What is the world coming to?

My DD, 17, has worked some part time jobs. I tell her the first job she has is school. She must get through high school.

She does not have her license yet, but I suspect she will get it by the summer.

I think a job is a good thing for kids. I also think that if they work too much, it will cause burn out. So, my opinion is, have the best of both. Part time job, part time play.

LIsajl

 

[Tiggeroo]

Some good thoughts here. Thanks. I don't let any of my kids work during the school year. The college dd has a fairly light schedule, and she won't be able to work during med school so I have suggested that she work part time during the school year while her schedule is so easy. I want the high school kids to have time to do activities, and hang with friends, plus I think that the 7-900. $ they might earn during the school year isn't really going to do them much good in the long run. But, I am inclined to have the boy get a part-time job during the summer, at least until football practice starts. His coach also makes him spend 45 minutes a day 3 days a week in the weight room all summer.

It just seems like sometimes I am getting $5.'d to death by these kids. It's not the big things like a trip (although sometimes I can't send them). It's the, mom my group is stopping for pizza on the way home, Mom I need surfboard wax, Mom I need guitar strings that kills me. I also think a part-time job would teach my son some social skills and help him think about the value of an education (work hard in school, go to college, or flip burgers forever). LOL although he may be like my one son who loved his fry job a bit too much.
It is difficult. Their sports take so much time. One wrestles and one runs. Also football, and track. Practice is every day after school til 5:30-6ish, plus either meets or practice on Saturday.

 

[Lynn CC]

Our DS15 worked 1-2 days a week last summer. He made $10 and hour, which gave him enough spending money and he didn't really want to work any more days. I think he will do the same this summer........I go along with this because he is an honors student and works hard during the school year at his studies. He's also on the golf team and likes the free time to golf, boat, swim etc.
I would let your son make the decision, one of these days he will want or need money and take responsibility.

 

[Regina]

I take a different viewpoint.

My DS is a college senior. For the past 6 summers, he's worked for the town recreation maintenance dept. It was very hard work. He also has Work Study at his campus. He's in a situation now where he's doing a non-paying internship.

My DD is a college junior. She also works in the summer, as well as getting Work Study.

My youngest is a HS senior. She has a regular shift at health club on Sundays. During the summer, she goes on a different schedule.

You're very fortunate that your DD has a full scholarship. Our's gets about half, and DS doesn't have one. Both are in private colleges, which are never cheap.

My feeling is that they are entitled to whatever money they're able to earn. They each purchased their own cars. Nothing great, but affordable. While we ask that they pay their own car insurance, we understand that there are times that this is not possible. We also will help them with repairs.

We pay for cell phones for the three of them. For us, it's a safety issue moreso than a luxury.

They have never asked for money for supplies or books. We're very proud of their ability to be as self-sufficient as possible and still maintain good grades. To be honest, I'm amazed that they're able to take such good care of themselves. I guess I did something right.

Personally, I don't know what kind of motivation any of them would have if I told them that I expected them to set aside half of what they earned.

Considering how little kids earn, you may want to take another look as to what they would be left to live with if you were to follow through with your demands. For my HSer, she'd have $5.00 a week!

 

[jsmith]

Ok, parent of teens here (two boys 17 and 14) Mine work in the summer-no questions asked. My older son kept his job on weekends until outdoor track started. We pay for car insurance, registration fee's at school and sports related expenses-but we do not pay for CD's, video games, tickets to pro games, dates, prom ect so they pretty much have no choice. They are both very good students and manage to play football, baseball, basketball and run both cross and track. The older one has a girlfriend. The resposibility is important.
Disney Dee-I hope your ex is not being too unrealistic about baseball being your sons ticket-there are not many full rides for baseball as it has suffered from Title nine and all schools use mens scholarships first for football, and basketball. baseball, track and swimming suffer. I know a number of young people who have taken Division 1 atheletic scholarships and I don't know if I would want my kids to do that or not

 

[Disney Dee]

jsmith, i didn't realize about the scholorship thing, I for one do not count my chickens about scholorships anyway, none are guranteed, and my son may be a "star" now, but he is only 15, so who knows? All i do know, is that my ex spoils our son way to much to keep him from wanting to be with me, and I know some day, my boy will get his dads "number". Until then, though we have joint custody, he resides with dad. I really have no say in whether he works or not, and as long as daddy continues to spend the full child support I give him on phones, video games, sport camps and abercrombie outfits on my ds, why would ds want to work? He is a good kid honor roll and very well behaved and mannered, but I do think he needs to work alittle now because i don't think college will be a free ride for him, daddy needs to take off the rose colored glasses I think .

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

West Chester PA, that's the home town of UVa. star QB Matt Schaub.

 

[crazelion]

I think need let a kid be a kid. Because it's hard world out there. Just because you send kids off to college. Does not mean your kid will get a good job.

I know that for a fact. I have a college degree and I don't have a good job at all.


Do not fill kids heads up about going to college to good job. It might not happen.

Take it from me I found out the hard way. It was a complete other shock to me. I beleive all what people tell me.

If kids do not work do not let them work in fast food. It's dangerous there.

Decide to be real.

Because some of us had to work I way through college and is not see the benfits from our college education. Stuck working a minium wage at 5:15 hr. No matter how hard we try to get something better.

 

[Disney Dee]

crazelion, I should try to get this thread back on topic here, but I do want to say that no one here stated that we send our kids to college to make lots of money, I know I for one sent my 2 oldest to college so they could get jobs in fields they enoy, not make alot of money at. My oldest ds happened to be one of the lucky ones who loves what he is doing (business major) He started out in engineering because my dad was one, and he made a very good salery. But my ds wasn't happy doing his first co-op in engeneering, so he switched to buisness. He has done very well, but not as well as my dad did. But he is HAPPY , his education gave him that. My dd, went to college to help children who are learning disabled, she now teaches children with learning disabilities. We all know not much money in that field, but she is HAPPY, her education gave her that! To me, thats what college does. I have no idea what your field is, or why you can't seem to use your education to get a good job, but I hope you find something soon. Maybe you are looking in the wrong geographical area?

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

I've been working every summer since I was 14 (I turn 18 in May). Most people think I got off easy because I work for my dad's company but what most people don't know is when I was 14, I typed up resumes and gave them to different places in town I would like to work. As a joke, I gave one to my dad's boss and actually got hired. Along with that job, I also worked at an office supply store my first summer.
After that summer, I got moved over to another of my dad's company's restaurants and I have been there ever since. It was a mutual agreement between me and my parents that I would not work during the school year and we never really questioned whether I would work that summer but I just kept working. I've put a lot of the money away this year for college and a lot of my money went to buying my school wardrobe since I pay for that myself.

 

[nativetxn]

My son couldn't wait to get a job we didn't have to insist. But he could only work during the summer he had too many football and hockey practices during the school year and spent a lot of time in rehearsals for the plays in which he performed.

I was put to work on my 16th birthday (I lived with my grandparents). I was required to give my grandmother half of my salary. I feel like I missed the social part of 11th and 12th day, no football games, no parts in a play. I worked 12 hours on both Saturday and Sunday and 4pm to 9pm everyday after shool. I feel as though I missed a lot because of it.

But I think summer jobs are good for kids, I'm glad my son worked during his summers.

Katholyn

 

[Krisu]

I am hoping DS gets a summer job. He just turned 15 (today was his birthday!) and doesn't want to attend Boy Scout camp anymore. I know there are certain places he can't work at his age but I'm sure he'll find something.