When did your kid start working?

[Anonymous]

My 13 year old is chomping at the bit to get a job. His uncle runs a company that does landscaping among other things, and would hire him on his 14th birthday in July if I asked. Is there any reason I should hesitate?

[Anonymous]

I found a place where my 13 year old can work as soon as she turns 14. That's my plan as well.

[Anonymous]

Little league umping at 12. I think it's fine as long as they get good grades and still have time for school and friends.

[Anonymous]

Last Summer she was 15. 32 hours a week as a camp counselor. She babysat before that but not a regular gig.

[Anonymous]

That’s awesome and I would totally allow that. I’m racking my brain trying to think of places my (non-sporty) 14 yr old could work this summer.

[Anonymous]

Is that what your son wants to do? That is hard dangerous work.

[Anonymous]

All of my kids started working at 15. Mostly lifeguarding, tutoring and swim instruction/coaching.

[Anonymous]

My kids are all older teens/early 20s now, but they didn't start until they were 17 or 18.
We didn't have any friends/family in a position to hire them like that, but if we did I definitely would have allowed it.

[Anonymous]

Kids need a work permit at that age. Definitely check if a 14 year old can get one for a landscaping job.

[Anonymous]

I’d let my child work for a family member at age 14. Not full time or anything close, but on a part time schedule that works around their activities. My 13 year old has just started earning some money doing odd jobs for a neighbor and is eager to try to do more.

[Anonymous]

Age 14 for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is that what your son wants to do? That is hard dangerous work.

My BIL is, by nature, a cautious dude. I am sure he will find work that’s hard but not dangerous for a 14 year old and that’s legal. I know he can’t operate machinery but he can load mulch into trucks or plant or whatever.

His older sibling did what other people describe here, finding a job at a recreational place that he was already connected to, like life guard at the pool he does summer swim at, and camp counselor. To me that seems less intense somehow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is that what your son wants to do? That is hard dangerous work.

Landscaping for his uncle? No, that is not hard, dangerous work. I highly doubt that the uncle is going to let the nephew do much other than weeding, spreading mulch, digging up bushes with a shovel, walking behind a push lawn mower, etc.

Think of the 13 and 14 year old kids posting their services for dog sitting/walking, snow shoveling, and lawn mowing.

[Anonymous]

There is a reason landscapers don’t hire minors. I wouldn’t be okay with that unless it’s clerical work or something like that.

My DS got his first job at age 16 working at a country club pool cafe. Lots of other teen workers and he made around $4500 that summer. He has worked at summer day camps the last two summers.

[Anonymous]

10-11 helping old people with tech stuff. Charged $50 an hour. 15 now and charges $150 for first hour - $110 for each additional.