To Work or Not to Work–the Dilemma

       My sister who teaches middle school and I talked about just what holding jobs teaches kids today.  I’ve observed that many part time jobs for teenagers seem to indulge consumerism. Any money they earn goes toward clothes, stereos, computer games, and fast food with their friends.  Money they make is just spent with no thought for doing anything useful with it.

         A couple of years ago, I wrote about over-indulged children and the impact of indulgence on their character development.  So, you’d think having a job would be a good thing, and, yes, holding a job can teach a work ethic.  “Get that kid a job” has been a mantra for decades.  The idea is to take a lazy kid and put him or her into a position of earning a pay check and answering to a boss.

         I remember thinking, “Let ‘em see what it’s like in the REAL world” when my teenagers failed, again, to finish an assigned chore–or worse–failed to even start.  I’d come home from work, tired and grumpy to see the lawn over-grown, sticky dishes scattered over the kitchen counters, and the vacuum cleaner on its side in the middle of the family room.

         In answer to my “Why didn’t you ----?” my yawning off-spring would give me a puzzled look and, “Somebody messed it up” then wander back to a nap or something.

         But when my children landed jobs, those jobs became an even better excuse for non-performance around the house.  “I had to work” substituted for “I did it but....”

         Kids with their own money from part time jobs tend to waste it.  So what’s a parent to do?

         First, jobs for teens should not replace interaction with family, study time, and opportunities to develop important social skills.  This fact means that teens shouldn’t work more than 10 - 15 hours or so a week during times school is in session.  These hours mean no more than 2 hours on a school day and 5 on the weekend.

         But, again, numbers of hours aren’t as important as the reasons for working and your family’s needs.  I remember when everybody who could hold a job in the family worked and turned over their pay checks to the household.  Our teens didn’t squander their money, they bought food and helped meet the mortgage.

         In most states 15 or 16 is the minimum age for working in offices, fast food, etc.  But tweens (children from ages 11 or 12) and early teen kids can throw newspapers, babysit, and mow lawns.  Having their own money, earned by the “sweat of their brows” can be character building.  But you have to walk a tightrope on this issue.  And by no means do I have all the answers.  Let me know how you teach a work ethic to your kids.  E-mail me at heavenhelpusbeourbest@gmail.com

- Corrie Lynne Player