Jobs For Kids

It's hard enough to find a job when you're old enough to be employed, especially in today's economy. But what if you're not even old enough to babysit? How can we teach our eight-, nine-, and ten-year-olds the value of a dollar without simply handing them an unearned allowance that will likely be spent all in one place-and probably on junk? What are some ways they can earn money prior to entering their early teens?

Yard Work
For one, there is always classic yard work. Fall and wintertime provide ample opportunities for raking leaves and shoveling snow, as well as salting walkways and scraping ice off of cars. During the summer, kids can help in the garden, planting flowers or vegetables, especially for elderly citizens in the neighborhood who are not as agile as they used to be.

Teach Your Kids About Business
Another way kids can make money is to learn the art of business at an early age. And they don't have to sell sour lemonade for twenty-five cents a cup. They can make and sell toys, pencil holders, refrigerator magnets, birdhouses, jewelry boxes, doilies, ceramic dishes, photo albums, baked goods, necklaces or bracelets, jams or jellies, crocheted scarves, or other items that are relatively useful to people. While parents may need to assist with some of these activities, it's still a good way to teach children to earn money, in majority, by their own efforts, and during the process to help them learn other skills such as cooking, crafts, math, and entrepreneurship.

Chores
Many people pay their children just for doing chores around the house. This is a good way to get them to help out and take pride in having a clean and orderly home. However, it's important to draw the line between a task they should already be doing just for the sake of the task itself, and what can be done solely for the purpose of earning money. For example, yard work or dishwashing may be financially profitable, while a clean bedroom should probably be expected for free.

Home Business Work
Also, if you happen to run a business out of your house or if you find that you are frequently bringing assignments home from the office, think of how you might incorporate related tasks into your child's moneymaking efforts. If you need papers filed or copies made, delegate! Some tasks, like the ones that involve advanced math or technical writing, will quite obviously be too complex for kids, but anything menial or monotonous is perfect for someone willing to do almost anything to make a few bucks, and will usually be simple enough.

Consider having them staple packets, color-code documents, label folders, shred personal information that can't be thrown away, stack boxes, stuff envelopes, sort mail, clean out drawers and shelves, or take care of anything else you don't really have time to do yourself. You can even dictate things for them to type, depending on age or skill level. Many kids who grow up performing similar tasks will have greater advantages in the future, so don't underestimate their abilities!