Teens And Jobs

Many parents are resistant to the idea of their teenager having a job and others are insistent that their teen get a job and learn to have the responsibility of working to earn money for the things they want. The circumstances and situations can very but for many teens the experience of holding a job and working to earn money for things they want to have can be very rewarding and teach a great deal of important lessons early on. When discussing these options with your teen it’s very important to listen to their motivations for having a job. If they’re looking to have a job to gain freedom and independence that’s a good lesson to learn but you should reassure them that you are also there to support them at this young age.

It’s also important to reinforce what is important and a priority in your teens life at this time. If they’re going to school then they should be focused primarily on that and not a job first and foremost. If their work begins to interfere with their schooling or academic performance then it may be time to cut back on the working and have your teen only work during the summer or wait until they're out of school entirely before they take on such responsibilities. A preference on school should be placed as a priority in front of any job they might be holding at least until they graduate high school. It can be very easy for a teen to get caught up in having a job and the freedom that comes with having their own money but it should be made clear to them that the job is conditional on their performance in school.

Some consideration should also be taken to the kind of job they hold and the environment they’re working in. The easiest jobs for your teen to get may not be the best ones for them to have. Jobs such as restaurants and fast food places, while they may be easy to get, often promote unhealthy habits (especially when it comes to eating) and can force teens to work late hours with grueling schedules. This kind of work is not conducive to a teen that is dealing with the pressures of social life, changing bodies, and being in school. It’s much better to find a job that is considerate to your teens school schedule needs and can benefit them in other ways as well. Such a job, perhaps like a paid internship in a field that your teen has some interest in, or a job that can teach them skills that will be useful later like typing, payroll, or various accounting practices would serve them much better in the long run than a job that requires them to simply stand at a counter and hand out food.

The most important part of your teen having a job is to be sure that they don’t start down a path of holding just any job that comes along but of holding jobs that serve them and their situation in life without forcing them to sacrifice other parts of their life. If they can learn that they’ll do just fine in the working world.