DD wants a job and really wants to apply to the local supermarkets (Coles and Woolworths) Now I am in 2 minds as to encourage her to apply or not allow her to. Now DD is extremely immature so 1. I'm not sure how she will cope with a job and been told what to do as she has a oppositional defiance disorder then no2 I am worried about her mixing with the wrong people and perhaps having some extra money which she may not put to good use. But on the other hand she is extremely bored at home and having a casual job for the school holidays and occasionally after school maybe just what she needs. With the money incentives it may help her gain some responsibility, she could meet some nice friends although they most likely will be older then her and she will have some money for things she may want that I can't afford to buy for her. I just don't know is 13 is too young. What are others opinions? My DH reckons she has a whole life of work to do so she shouldn't start now but she has been counting the days down until she turns 13 so she can start working.
would she be able to apply even? In the dark ages when i was a young'un you had to be 14 years and 9 months old...(this was in QLD)
BUT, that being said, i actually thrived on the work. It was a crap as job at coles in the deli but it did wonders for my confidence as i was finally out of the socially suffocating environment of school and was expected to be respectful and was respected in turn by my colleagues. I made life-long friends! most of the people that i made good friends with were kids like me and a handful of first year or so uni students.
It can really broaden horizons and boost confidence and i do believe that it can lend some really valuable social skills as suddenly you are not protected by the school or your parents (ie. if you are acting stupid you will be called in and/or fired). For me, it allowed me to feel that i was part of something that was not necessarily defined by the parameters set out in the school/home environment (for example, at school i was just a weirdo hippy that like drama lol...whereas at work i was a chick that liked theatre and acting and the arts and that was COOL).
Yes 14yrs and 9months has gone out in the dark ages in NSW which is where we are. Several of DD's 13yr old friends have jobs already. Macdonalds employs 13yr olds ($6.50 an hour apparently no penalties for weekends etc) Woolworths is slightly more for a 13yr old.
That's my concern Dianne that 13 is too young especially for my DD who is an immature 13. But she really really wants a job and we aren't in the position to give her more then a few dollars here and there and when we do tell her she can earn money she can't follow through with the task although for someone else I am sure she could.
If she wants to work, let her work. She may thrive or she may hate it and try again when she's older. I wouldnt do anything to discourage a kid developing a work ethic though. Good on her! It will teach her responsibility.
It will also be a good opportunity to teach her some financial skills, like saving. I'd say she can work if she agrees to put 10% of her net income into an untouchable, high interest, online account that only you know the password to.
That's a good idea L&B about the account. My friend's parents made there daughter save for a car and what she saved they matched it (she had been working for a few years then) so I was going to offer that to DD also. Id be happy to buy her one but she would get a better one if she could contribute a little herself. Maybe I'll tell her she can apply late this year and have the school Christmas holidays to have a trial. I did read somewhere that at 13 you cant work after 7pm which is good if its true.
I think part time work builds character and a sense of responsibility. As long as she can balance it with her other responsibilities (homework, chores, etc), it's a great idea!
My DD is 11 & I'd already love to send her down to the local supermarket or somewhere to stock shelves. To me I'd be happy for her to do it for free as work experience. I think kids need to learn what its like to have a job at a young age, to give them that work ethic. And so they appreciate things more.
If it was to happen & she was to get paid, DD would be not only putting in towards savings, but I would even consider asking for some towards the costs of living. Learning to pay bills is just as important as learning to save IMO (coming from an ex who just doesn't bother)...
I was refereeing basketball at 11 and cleaning the local church from 12. Started babysitting at 13 and then at Target at 14y9m. It made me very much more aware of how much things cost. My parents were raising four kids, with private school fees (think today's equivalent of $25K per year per child) on teacher's salaries, so there wasn't any spare money at all. In fact, I helped my folks out with money when I was in my late teens as Dad was unemployed and they didn't have $ for mortgage payments.
My kids will be starting a part time job as soon as they can, and we have set "rules" about their income, together as a family. They will be saving at least 50% of their own income, and when they want to buy a car etc (although my DS1 wants to buy a house first!!!) I will match whatever they have saved, as a one-off gift to them. So there's a huge incentive to save money and be responsible with their own finances.
I don't think 13 is too young, although it does depend on the individual child. I find children gain a lot of maturity when given responsibilities, including for their own money. I'd be a bit careful about what sort of work they did, though. Volunteering at the library, for example, wouldn't be a bad option for a 13yo. Depends on the child.
Motherclucker that's the position we are in. We have 3 but are trying for no4 and DD been the oldest will probably miss out the most if she doesn't earn some money herself when the time comes. We can pay our bills and the kids are at a private school and with braces there is nothing left for a lot of luxuries. I don't think DD would be keen on volunteering unless there was an incentive to do so. I also think it would help cure her boredom. But on the other hand she is very young.
Some other great suggestions were given about linking into existing opportunites which may be more age appropriate for her? I started out with netball umpiring and coaching, then babysitting for friends. It was great experience and once word got about I was busy as often as I wanted to be. Even odd jobs like dog walking, leaflet delivery may be a possibility?
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DD13 to get a job or not to get a job??
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