12 year old wants a paper round!!

pippamannequin

Hi, My youngest is only 12, we've just moved and moved into an area that has quite a few shops nearby, finances are tight and they (my 2 boys) are very strong minded and independent.
They, especially the 12 year old does lots, washes my car and hoovers, will do anything to earn a few pounds. I do give him pocket money also, but this is him, he just is a 'doer' a very physical boy and up very early.
His 14 year old brother got a paper round last week and my youngest went along the next day and asked for one, he's just turned 12, he told the shop owner nothing, he obviously assumed he was old enough and he does look it, and he got told he could start on Monday. So from Monday he's been doing a paper round :eek:
What do i do??!!

Sallys_Savings

Doesnt he need a work permit? Whenever my children have had paper rounds they have had to fill in a work permit to be signed from school.

Good on them for both working hard ..but 12 is a little young.

debsy42

I had a paper round from being 12 and it was great, did it until I left school at 16. Good on him for going out and getting a job, be proud !

pippamannequin

I am VERY proud of them both, they have been through SO MUCH recently, they have been my little knights in shining armour.:o
He didnt need a work permit, he just told the newsagent he was 13 and as his brother is about the same size as him and almost 15 he had no reason to not believe him. They both are strong, not soft boys at all, just want to look after themselves and mum bless. I do give them £5 (for the youngest) and £6 soon to be £6.50 for the oldest for pocket money, anything they earn is to buy a ps2 game etc, go to the pictures,ice skating and so on..and take their girlfriends to kfc (how romantic :rolleyes: ) !!

pippamannequin

debsy42 wrote: »

I had a paper round from being 12 and it was great, did it until I left school at 16. Good on him for going out and getting a job, be proud !

THANKYOU!!! phew, at least i got a positive post first before a negative, thankyou!:o

Savvy_Sue

I am not sure what checks are done, but I have always had a letter from the local authority after my lads have started a new paper round. Don't be surprised if it is found out that he is only 12. And not wanting to be a doom-monger, IF he has an accident, then he will almost certainly not be covered on the shop's insurance.

So here's a positive suggestion - and I didn't mean to be negative, but you do need to know these things - if there is a free paper round in your area, can you sign up for a round? And then do it with your son, or ask the 14 yo to go out with him.

Also are there any neighbours who would let him wash their cars, or could he walk a dog before school? That would be informal, IYSWIM.

I do admire him. DS3 is dead set against a paper round, thinks it is too much like hard work for not enough money ...

pippamannequin

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I am not sure what checks are done, but I have always had a letter from the local authority after my lads have started a new paper round. Don't be surprised if it is found out that he is only 12. And not wanting to be a doom-monger, IF he has an accident, then he will almost certainly not be covered on the shop's insurance.

So here's a positive suggestion - and I didn't mean to be negative, but you do need to know these things - if there is a free paper round in your area, can you sign up for a round? And then do it with your son, or ask the 14 yo to go out with him.

Also are there any neighbours who would let him wash their cars, or could he walk a dog before school? That would be informal, IYSWIM.

I do admire him. DS3 is dead set against a paper round, thinks it is too much like hard work for not enough money ...

Thanks for that Sue, yes I know what you mean and Im aware of the implications of insurance, gosh, he's not exactly insured on his way to school on his bike etc so thats something he's told me wont matter if anything happens to him :eek: he's just a little too grown up and mature, got an answer for everything! Ive told his brother to make sure he's looked after and he is, though he really doesnt need it, he's one of those lads thats just so polite but so tough, you have to know him to know him iykwim??!!! and how stubborn he is.:eek: He already does the washing cars etc and touting for work, he's just got girls knocking at the door all the time so i guess he needs to earn the money for them.. gosh he'll make a fab hubby one day!:p

pippamannequin

Ok, think Ive decided to go with him ARGHHHHHHHH! Best all round I guess, god i think he'll die of embarrassment!

Doom_and_Gloom

I remember when my older sister got a paper round when I was younger. She got it when she was 13 so I was 8 years old and I helped her every week without fail and got all of 50p of her £10 avereage for my share :rolleyes: tipical sister if you ask me. When she gave it up when she was 16, as she got a proper job, I wanted to take it over but as I was 11 they wouldn't allow it even though they knew I could not only do it but was also more reliable than most of those that were old enough :rotfl:. They did however make sure that as soon as the same one was going and I was old enough I got it and sure enough I did :cool: .

If you younger son gets found out ask your older son if he could take up another one and let his brother help and split the pay between them. It could help build up the trust with the paper round people so he could be given the route as soon as they can allow it. Younger siblings helping is not uncommon so should be okay to do.

ailuro2

It's against the law, so he'll probably be stopped in his tracks.He needs to be at least 13.

Tell him now so he's not too surprised when he's sacked!

Also minors are not allowed to start work of any sort before 7a.m.

Good on your son for wanting to make a bit of money, though. The law is there to protect him from unscrupulous employers who might want to use child labour excessively.

ailuro2

http://www.burnley.gov.uk/site/scripts/faqs.php?categoryID=2083&faqID=287

sums it up nicely.