Should Your Child Get a Summer Job?
Summer is here.
And that means your children are going to want more money - a lot of money.
There are movies to see, theme parks to visit, vacations to take, and a whole lot of activities to keep them busy.
But unless you are willing to increase allowance for the chores your children are doing, you've got to come up with a money solution.
For older children, there is always the possibility of getting a summer job.
But are summer jobs worth it? Are they valuable to your child without affecting the way your family functions.
We looked at some of the pros and cons of summer jobs.
Pros: Your child learns "real world" responsibility.
Even though your child has chores and other responsibilities around your home, there is nothing that can perfectly simulate what it's like to work a job.
With chores, your child can get them done on their own schedule.
A job is not going to be so lenient.
So it's great for them to see what really happens.
You aren't the one forking out money.
If you were made of money, you may not mind giving a little more to your child.
But most of us are on a budget.
And paying your kids $20 to vacuum the floor and take out the trash is simply not realistic.
Once your child has a paycheck coming in, they won't pester you with money quite as much.
You won't hear the "I'm bored" complaint.
One of the biggest challenges of summer time is keeping your kids occupied.
There never seem to be enough things to do.
But once they have a job, there isn't as much time to get bored.
Which means...
less t.
v.
, less complaining, and less needs for money.
You could even encourage your child to save some of the cash they're bringing in.
Cons: It could add to your busy schedule.
If your child doesn't have a car, you'll find yourself driving around a little bit more as you get them to work on time.
Plus, if you have younger children at home, you can no longer count on the older ones to help out.
The free babysitting just went to work.
Your child may be less inclined to do their chores.
Sure, work is important, but so is taking care of responsibilities around your home.
And your children should be contributing to that effort.
Once your child has a job, they may feel less inclined to do their chores.
Or, they may put them off as long as they can.
Not only does that develop bad habits, but the benefits of having a job are now offset by the lack of help you get at home.
You see less of your child.
As difficult as having your kids at home for the summer can be, it's also a great time to bond with your kids.
Unless a job is imperative, you may not want your kids to get a job.
If a summer job is something you and your children are contemplating, then take a minute and talk through the options with them.
Whatever choices you make, just be sure that your family is well taken care of and that your child knows family chores and responsibilities take precedence.
And that means your children are going to want more money - a lot of money.
There are movies to see, theme parks to visit, vacations to take, and a whole lot of activities to keep them busy.
But unless you are willing to increase allowance for the chores your children are doing, you've got to come up with a money solution.
For older children, there is always the possibility of getting a summer job.
But are summer jobs worth it? Are they valuable to your child without affecting the way your family functions.
We looked at some of the pros and cons of summer jobs.
Pros: Your child learns "real world" responsibility.
Even though your child has chores and other responsibilities around your home, there is nothing that can perfectly simulate what it's like to work a job.
With chores, your child can get them done on their own schedule.
A job is not going to be so lenient.
So it's great for them to see what really happens.
You aren't the one forking out money.
If you were made of money, you may not mind giving a little more to your child.
But most of us are on a budget.
And paying your kids $20 to vacuum the floor and take out the trash is simply not realistic.
Once your child has a paycheck coming in, they won't pester you with money quite as much.
You won't hear the "I'm bored" complaint.
One of the biggest challenges of summer time is keeping your kids occupied.
There never seem to be enough things to do.
But once they have a job, there isn't as much time to get bored.
Which means...
less t.
v.
, less complaining, and less needs for money.
You could even encourage your child to save some of the cash they're bringing in.
Cons: It could add to your busy schedule.
If your child doesn't have a car, you'll find yourself driving around a little bit more as you get them to work on time.
Plus, if you have younger children at home, you can no longer count on the older ones to help out.
The free babysitting just went to work.
Your child may be less inclined to do their chores.
Sure, work is important, but so is taking care of responsibilities around your home.
And your children should be contributing to that effort.
Once your child has a job, they may feel less inclined to do their chores.
Or, they may put them off as long as they can.
Not only does that develop bad habits, but the benefits of having a job are now offset by the lack of help you get at home.
You see less of your child.
As difficult as having your kids at home for the summer can be, it's also a great time to bond with your kids.
Unless a job is imperative, you may not want your kids to get a job.
If a summer job is something you and your children are contemplating, then take a minute and talk through the options with them.
Whatever choices you make, just be sure that your family is well taken care of and that your child knows family chores and responsibilities take precedence.
