The Benefits of a Summer Job
Is a Summer Job Right For Your Teenager?
It used to be that having a summer job was par for the course when it came to summer vacation. After all, if you wanted to take in all the fun and excitement that summer had to offer, you needed a way to pay for it and a summer job provided the money that was required. But are summer jobs still the answer for students who have a three-month reprieve from school and have plenty of time to spare?
Building Character
While many would argue that teens should be left alone to enjoy their summer vacations, I strongly believe in developing a strong work ethic at a young age and a summer job can play a big part in that.
Minimizing Handouts
Besides teaching your teen a lesson about the need to work, a summer job can also teach him or her that money doesn’t grow on trees. In my honest opinion, I don’t think someone ever really knows the value of a dollar until they’ve had to work for it and if you’re constantly handing money out to your kids you’re sending them the wrong message. Having a summer job will teach your child to rely on themselves for their spending money and will minimize the handouts you find yourself giving.
Staying Out of Trouble
Ever hear the saying that idle hands are the devil’s tools? That saying came into existence for a reason. It seems that kids with nothing but time on their hands find themselves getting into way more trouble then kids who are kept busy -- and trust me, a summer job is a great way to keep your teen busy.
Giving Them a Say
Now you might not leave it up to your son or daughter whether or not they take on a summer job, however, I do think you should definitely give them some say as to what it is exactly that they do to earn their money. For example, some kids would rather die than work in a fast food restaurant while others feel right at home in that setting. Some teens would like to put their creative talents to work while others like to work with their hands.
Since no one ever really knows what’s going on in the mind of a teen, it’s best to ask them exactly what they want to do before planning their summer job for them.