The Important First Summer Job

"Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."

Theodore Roosevelt

Reasons to teach adolescents the value of work:

• Over forty-two percent of 30,000 high school students across the US sometimes lie to save money, of this population, forty-nine percent is male.
• Twenty-three percent said they stole something from a parent or other relative and twenty percent said they stole something from a friend. Boys were nearly twice as likely to steal from a friend as girls.

Source: Joseph Institute, Center or Youth Ethics, The Ethics of American Youth, 2008

Our grandson expressed an interest in purchasing a popular online game to play on our computer while visiting this summer. The price was reasonable and we could have easily volunteered to purchase it for him but we also recognized he was reaching the age where knowing the value of money and hard work needed to be understood.

We discussed with him the opportunity to work around the home to raise money to purchase this game. He was empowered by the idea and asked what he could do to begin earning money. His grandpa soon had him scrubbing the backyard pool area, washing the car, helping with the yard work and other minor tasks. He worked at it with diligence and did earn every bit of the money to purchase the game.

Young adolescents experience physical and mental changes during this time period. They often wonder if they are normal and seek out information on how to handle the emotional roller coaster they ride during this life-growth stage.

Understanding what a young boy or girl is going through may help parents to provide advice and offer jobs around the home or community to help mold their identity and work values.

The characteristics below are evidence of growth in a child and are ones that should be considered in mapping job offers and chores. Providing a job that will help a child to gain some identity or self-esteem by successful completion will help to establish a sense of worth and responsibility towards doing a good job. Jobs also give a child a sense of independence and encourage wise use of personal spending money.

• Struggle with sense of identity
• Focus on self, alternating between high expectations and poor self esteem
• Complaints that parents interfere with independence
• Mostly interested in present, with limited thoughts of the future
• Intellectual interests expand and gain in importance
• Greater ability to do work (physical, mental, emotional)
• Rule and limit testing
• Development of ideals and selection of role models
• More consistent evidence of conscience

Source: American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Normal Adolescent Development, Part 1, Vol 57, December 2011

When an adolescent continues to experience how a job well done is rewarded, he will see how his daily work builds into future rewards. Thus, it enables him to plan for the future based upon current circumstances. This is important in helping a child to understand how life choices affect future events.

As they are guided through positive role models, they will gain an understanding of the value of work. My grandson asked how much he would be paid after his first day of work. A good question! His mother overheard the inquiry and responded quite well, "Sometimes your pay is knowledge. Learning how to work and the value of a job well done is priceless." Although he was rewarded well, this piece of advice will probably stick with him for the rest of his life.

Summer jobs are great ways for pre-teens and teens to earn money. There are certain jobs that require more supervision than others. Additionally, some within the community and work force require permission slips and legal applications. Parents should make sure the job is appropriate age-wise for their child, of interest to the child, and one that will add to the child's positive success in acquiring good work habits. Safety and supervision is key and is not to be taken lightly.

Discuss the job requirements prior to beginning the task with your child. He is now an employee and should know what is expected of him and what your responsibilities are as an employer. Be sure to cover hours, breaks, pay, job details, tools needed and how to use them and length of time to complete the task.

Important in training anyone, regardless of age is to:

1. Talk about the job
2. Discuss the job and demonstrate how to do the job
3. Have them tell you how to do the job
4. Have them show you how to do the job
5. Allow them to work and give them positive feedback at timely intervals.