What Should You Know About Jobs for Teens?Do you have any ideas on suitable jobs for teens? How do you feel about your teenager working? Did your own parents drag out the guilt with “in my day we had to scrub out the cow shed/slops bucket/front drive every morning before breakfast and only got paid a single bent penny and a piece of twine…” You may find that your teenager is actually very keen to take on part time or casual work. It helps to talk to them about it from a fairly young age. You can use it as a way of teaching them about: 
• What it means to work, It may also give them an insight a career they have in mind. Most jobs aren’t nearly as glamorous as they appear. Pocket Money for TeenagersWorking at home should be something you encourage from an early age. Its part of family life that chores are done, pets are fed, and yards are maintained.You needn’t pay your child or teenager for doing work around the house unless you feel strongly about it. Parents are often quite divided on this topic. It is a great incentive to only pay teens for chores they do above and beyond their normal duties What Are Suitable Jobs for Teens?• Supermarkets.• Corner store • newspaper deliveries • Delivering brochures • Food shops – fast food, take away • Gas/Petrol Service Stations • Modeling or acting • Lawn mowing and odd jobs for neighbors • Cleaning and tidying up for mechanics or other workshops • Odd jobs on local farms • Baby sitting • Apprenticeships Questions to Ask Yourself and Your Teen’s Employer• Is this work safe?• Is my teenager mature enough to handle it? • Is the money offered fair? • Is there anything about the work that may be harmful to my teen’s health? • Is there anything about the work that may be harmful to my teen’s development? • Will the work get in the way of my teens education? • Will the employer and other employees treat my teen well and fairly? • Does my teen want to do this work? Teens and MoneyTalk to your teenager about what they will do with their money before they start working.Some of the choices may be: • Will they spend the money however they like? Every parent will have different ideas about this. Your teen definitely will. Talk to them about their money and help them to learn about saving, budgeting and spending wisely. Before Your Teenager Starts WorkWhat are they being paid? Check that it meets standards for the type of work and your teen’s age.How are they being paid? Is it cash? Are records kept and insurances covered? Make sure your teenager knows their rights as far as harassment and safety issues are concerned. Suggest a ‘trial period’ for the job to make sure it fits in with school, family commitments, etc. As your teen starts work and time progresses, check how they are going on a regular basis. Find out how they like it, any problems they may have. You may be able to offer advice and support based on your own experiences. Look Out for Your Working TeenagerYou as the parent need to make sure that your teenager also has time to:• play Work shouldn’t be more important that your teenagers education. An exception to this would be for an older teen where it is clear that a working apprenticeship will provide them with a better start in life. Be aware of what your teenager is doing and how much they are being paid. It will be up to you to protect your teen from being exploited. Don’t Forget Volunteer WorkOf course, not all jobs for teenagers need to be paid. Your teen can learn valuable lessons above life and themselves by being involved in volunteer work.This may be something you do as a family. Some suggestions are: • Preparing and serving Christmas Lunch at a homeless shelter. You’ll find endless suggestions on volunteer jobs for teens with your church, local council, or online.
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