hi I need a job

OP -- if your son is good with computers, he can help people prepare power point presentations, spell check reports, etc.

Also, since you said you're in DC -- we are too. Many of our neighbors need their plants watered when they are on vacation, pets watched, mail picked up, drycleaning picked up, etc. He could have a little menu of items he'd be available to do and help him knock on some doors (he should knock) and you could stand a few steps away.

Also, as others have mentioned, he could be a mother's helper for a mom taking her little ones to the park who might want to have some help to entertain the little ones. Or, he could help out a church camp.


Where did you grow up that your son has such nice ideas about work?

I am the pp. Forgot to mention, my ds does this on the Hill. Not sure if they also have the same setup at G'town at the Stoddert games.

We are in DC and my ds started reffeing little kids soccer games in the fall when he was 12. These are kids 8 and younger and the kids who are reffing are probably 11 and up. I think all of them are soccer players themselves so I'm not sure if that is required. There is a reffing class, which isnt mandatory but you make less money if you have not taken the class and passed the test. My son made over $100 reffing last fall and he has not yet taken the class.

Interesting that only one person had an idea that involved manual labor. All other ideas involve sitting on your butt.

No ideas, but sounds like you have a good kid there.

ebayer or craigslister.
buy exceptionally clearance items at department stores, post the items on ebay/craigslist. Able to sell? great! not able to sell? return to the stores within 3 months (by the end of Summer break)

The key is to exchange item/money at public places like busy parking lots right in front of stores.

Giant hires grocery baggers once they turn 14.

Alas, at 12, nothing. At 14, he can bag at Giant. At 15 he can be a paid counselor at boy scout camp (don't pile on). Our local vet will also take kids to help walk the dogs and clean the stalls of the boarded cats at age 15.

Do you have a church with a big youth group? Ask the youth pastor. Our church has a list of young kids always searching for jobs and many of our elderly take them up on it.

Anonymous wrote:start his own lawn mowing/lawn care biz

Finally someone with some sense. There are tons of people who would pay to have their grass cut on a regular basis and not have to pay a lawn care company. This is the time to print up flyers and put them in people's mailboxes.

A friend's daughter marketed herself as a babysitter, house sitter, pet walker, weeded, etc by handing out actual business cards -- you can order them for a few bucks online.

I own a kids clothing store in a strip mall. A friend once needed her 12 year old watched for 4 hours a day. He stayed with me, and I put him to work stocking the shelves. After a week we got him an employee t-shirt, and people began asking him for help finding sizes, etc., so he started helping customers. He was um, a little more honest than our adult employees "Yeah, your butt looks big in those, don't get those" but he put more effort in than any teenager we've ever hired since. He RAN. He played with babies so older kids could get their parents' help. He exchanged sizes, he helped pick out bat mitzvah dresses. So OP, if you have a friend with a small business, see if they'd take him on.

Would love for my teen to have a candy stand, but not sure what the laws are regarding setting up a display on a neighborhood street corner.

Some of the MSers I teach referee soccer games out here in Loudoun. They have to take a test first. Not sure if there's something like that in DC.

start his own lawn mowing/lawn care biz