What Are Some Jobs Kids 12 & Under Can Have?

Animal Care Jobs

• Children who are comfortable around animals can earn money taking care of a neighbor's pet when the neighbor is away. Jobs caring for animals range from walking dogs to feeding fish. Even animals that are house trained, such as cats, or kept in cages, such as hamsters or birds, need to have their living areas cleaned out and their food and water supplies replenished. Animals used to being around humans will appreciate some quality playtime while owners are away. The preteen who is caring for a pet should negotiate what his responsibilities will entail and obtain a list of emergency contact numbers, including the animal's veterinarian and the local emergency animal hospital.

Outdoor Jobs

• Children who enjoy being outside can perform a variety of neighborhood jobs. During the warmer seasons, kids can wash cars. Kids who like to garden can offer to weed neighbors' flowerbeds or mow lawns. Autumn offers opportunities for raking and bagging leaves. In the winter, snow needs to be shoveled. These jobs can be shared between siblings and friends according to ability. Younger children can shovel paths while preteens tackle the ice chunks left by the snowplow and blocking the driveway, for example. Outdoor jobs are often labor intensive, and children performing these tasks will not only earn money, but engage in healthy physical activity, as well.

"Retail" Jobs

• The lemonade stand, the car wash, the bake sale all offer opportunities for kids to gain retail experience. These are not the only chances for kids to earn money by selling. Instead of lemonade during the summer, children can peddle hot chocolate during winter.

  Kids with a creative bent can sell items they make, such as decorative magnets or jewelry, points out writer Candace Purdom in Family Fun magazine. These retail activities give children the chance to learn about net versus gross profits. Kids who want to sell items must invest in stock, decide on prices and determine how much to reinvest in the business -- all valuable lessons for understanding how markets work.

Child Care Jobs

• Child care opportunities exist for both younger and older children. The American Red Cross offers a babysitting class for kids age 11 and older that teaches skills such as diapering and basic first aid. Kids can also study CPR. Younger children who are not old enough to babysit can still work as mother's helpers. Such experiences prepare kids to someday work as camp counselors or as assistants in after-school programs.

Considerations

• Pay for a job varies widely depending on a child's age and experience, the location, and the job itself. The best way to determine the going rate for a job is to talk to other kids and find out how much they make.

  Depending on how much money they bring in, children may have to pay income tax on what they earn. If in doubt, consult a tax professional.