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

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 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 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.

Age 14 for sure.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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?