job ideas for young teens (merged)

Mrs_B_12

My 14 year old daughter has tried for months to get a job but no one wants to know because she's under 16. So much for trying to be responsible!

irchy_mum

When my step-daughter was 15 she received pocket money from her parents and in her opinion it was never enough for her so we suggested she got a job.She had always used the excuse she wasn't old enough etc but got a job at the local pub/restaurant waitressing at weekend lunchtimes.

She has just packed it in as she's 'outgrown' it (now 18).

laurajayne

My first job was a paper round at 12 and 364 days £2.25 a week (I only worked Sundays.)

Then it was onto the local chemisits - who sacked me after a few weeks for being 'immature'

Worked in the local newsagents right uptil I turned 16...then off to Safeway.

I've worked ever since that paper round....admittedly it is somewhat difficult to find work under 16, but it is do able.

freebie_junkie

i got pocket money of £2 up to working age but had to do 5 jobs around the house, if i didnt do all 5 i got nowt, i could also earn unlimited extra money at 10p a job (when i wanted extra cash the house was spotless!)

i also did
kids party entertainment
babysitting
car washing
hair braids
paper round
recycling cans
other peoples washing and ironing (with some money going to me mum for use of washer and powder)
and just about anything else i could turn my hand to to make some cash!

im sure your daughter can come up with an idea of a way to make money she enjoys

lushkat

I was only thinking about this yesterday as my daughter is 15 and would like a job. She seems to think that the family income comes from some bottomless pit and that if she does extra jobs at home we can finance them endlessly so that she can have more money. She does get pocket money and she does help at home but not entirely without a few cross words and "evil looks".

I was thinking that maybe she could volunteer to work a few hours at the weekend in a charity shop until she was 16. That way she would learn a bit about helping others and have something to say to future employers when she is 16 and looking for a part time job. Would also give her something to do on her Saturdays rather than traipse round the local shops not being able to buy anything.

Her response was that the supermarkets will be falling over themselves to employ her when she is 16 so she doesnt need the experience! I was ever so disappointed. Am I being unrealistic to expect her to see the benefits of this or is she being a typical 15 year old.

i_wanna_save_money!

I enquired in clothes shops as my step-daughter aged 14 wants a job and they sais they can't employ staff without NI number and she won't receive that until she 16.

Rachie_B

when i was that age i did babysitting,saturday job @ a greengrocers,holiday job @ a newsagents

stars_bright

My son started working at a local pub, waiting at the tables, when he was just 15. He didn't have an NI number when he started but we phoned up and they sent him one when asked to. I'm not sure it was such a good idea in retrospect - I found out later that he was not only serving at the table, but also behind the bar (which is illegal) and they were serving him alcohol, this was dispite the fact that they knew his age. I found that he grew up a little too quickly for my liking and will not be encouraging my daughter to do the same. I agree with kids learning the value of money but I wouldn't advise the pub environment, I guess I should have known better but just a little warning to anyone who might be as daft as myself. I didn't know anything about them having to have a license either!

annie-c

I had a paper round (periodically) from age 14 then a Saturday job aged 16 onwards.

Personally, if you want to teach her responsibility then I would start at home and, as others have suggested, make some of her pocket money contingent on helping around the house. Responding to your requests for help by complainig that she is 'not a slave' is just plain cheeky and you deserve more respect than that!

At home, I started by helping wash the dishes from about age 9, by 14 I helped clean the communal areas and did some of my own ironing. I think that having responsibilities at home is good training for when you are old enough to go out to work.

inkie

Why not try the local markets - I often see youngsters helping out on our local one. Also, as the run up to Christmas will be starting soon, keep a look out for any that will be wanting seasonal staff - i'm particularly thinking restaurants etc...