Here are some nifty ideas showing how your kids can make money. They can do most or all of the work themselves, but may need a little help at times. Besides earning extra cash, these ideas can help your kids learn responsibility and a work ethic.
Types of work for teenagers — Some of the following items are typical teenager jobs you can get for yourself. You can advertise your services in the local newspaper or craigslist website. Other items are jobs you can do for business employers.
1. Applying decorations to clothing — Keep abreast of the latest teen fashions and then apply appropriate decorations to other people’s clothing for a fee.
2. Babysitting — This is a popular job for teenagers, especially girls.
3. Bagging groceries — Go around to the local grocery stores to get this kind of job.
4. Cleaning homes — Advertise this service to get work. The elderly and shut-ins could be a good source of jobs.
5. Collecting redeemable bottles — Some states charge a deposit on beverage containers. You can collect these and turn them in for a refund of the deposit.
6. Cultivating gardens — Many people enjoy having a garden, but they may not be willing or able to do the work required.
7. Delivering newspapers — This is a popular job for teenagers, especially boys.
8. Entertaining at parties — If you have a flair for entertaining people, you could advertise your services. Maybe you want to be a clown or an elf.
9. Grooming the elderly and shut-ins — Everyone likes to look their best, but may not be able to take care of themselves.
10. Growing vegetables — You can raise vegetables and sell them to local grocery stores or fruit stands.
11. Mending clothing — Active children often rip their clothes or lose buttons. You can advertise this service and make some good money.
12. Mowing lawns — This is a popular job for teenagers, especially boys. You can make more money if you have your own lawnmower. Just walk around the neighborhood looking for jobs during the grass-growing season.
13. Picking fruit — This is a seasonal job performed for orchard owners. The faster you can pick fruit (with care) the more money you can make.
14. Providing a referral service for babysitters — You can ask around for qualified babysitters and store their contact information on your home computer. Charge the babysitter a fee when you refer them to the people needing their services.
15. Providing a typing service — If you have a home computer with a laser printer and word processing software, you can provide a typing service for students and small business firms. (Be sure to run the spell checker and grammar checker before printing your work.)
16. Providing an online research service — If you like to do online research, you can sell your services to authors, small business firms, students, and websites.
17. Pulling weeds – This can be a good way to make some money, but be sure to wear work gloves.
18. Raking leaves — When the leaves start to fall someone has to rake them into piles and/or place them in leaf bags.
19. Refinishing and/or repairing furniture — You can advertise to haul away old furniture for nothing. After repairing and refinishing the furniture, sell them at a flea market or your own lawn sale.
20. Running errands for the elderly and shut-ins — When people are housebound, they may pay you to run their errands.
21. Shoveling snow — After the snowing stops, get out your snow shovel. Ask your neighbors if they will pay you to shovel the snow off their sidewalks and driveways.
22. Teaching people to use computers — Most young people know how to use computers. They can teach their skills to older people for a fee.
23. Tutoring students — If you are very good at certain subjects and can instruct other students, you can earn money as a tutor.
24. Walking dogs — If you live in a big city, there probably are many people who will pay you to walk their dog. The more dogs you can handle at a time, the more money you can make.
25. Working as a retail store clerk – Go around to retail stores in your city and leave your contact information. Visit the stores every two weeks or so.
26. Working as a shipping department clerk – Go around to places that have a shipping department and leave your contact information. Visit them every two weeks or so.
27. Working in a fast food restaurant – Go around to fast food restaurants every two weeks or so. You probably will be hired eventually.
28. Wrapping Christmas presents – Many department stores offer a gift-wrapping service. If you have the required skills, you may get a seasonal job.
Rules about jobs for teenagers
The U.S. has both federal and state rules governing teenager workers. For most kinds of work, you have to be at least 14; but the hours and working conditions may be restricted if you are under 16. In addition, you may have to get a work permit. There are separate rules covering agricultural work.
These age restrictions usually do not apply to traditional youth employment, such as babysitting and delivering newspapers.
Ways to look for jobs from employers
There are several ways to look for available jobs. You can look in places where employers announce their job openings. Examples would be the “help wanted” section of classified advertisements in newspapers and the “jobs” section of Craigslist.org for your desired city.
You could go around to business firms in your local area to see if they have any job openings. You might want to leave your name, age, address, and telephone number if the business looks appealing.
You could ask your family and friends if they know of any possible job openings that might be suitable for you.
Websites about searching for jobs
These job search websites are an easy way to conduct job hunting. When a website has a search selection box that allows for keywords, you usually can enter “teenager” as a keyword. This lets you search for teenager jobs instead of adult jobs.
http://JobSearch.About.com Ways for teens to find a job.
http://www.Teens4Hire.org They claim to be “The #1 career and recruitment website for U.S. teens.” You have to register with the site before getting information on available jobs.