How to Find Summer Jobs for Kids

With summer vacation just around the corner and everyone looking to make a few bucks, it's the perfect time for locating summer jobs for kids! After all, who you think your kids will be asking for money from every time they want to go to the amusement park, a baseball game or out with their friends? You, of course. Although it could be argued that haggling for an increased allowance develops valuable life skills such as asking for a raise; many parents would agree that when kids make money by getting a job for the summer they learn the "value of the dollar".


You may be wondering HOW to go about convincing your kids to start working for the summer or how to help them find ways to make money. An excellent time to make the suggestion is at the exact moment they want something and ask YOU to buy it for them!


By teaching your kids how to make money and how to come up with GOOD ways to make an income, you'll be teaching them valuable life and business skills for the future.


Here are a few simple and effective tips to help find summer jobs for kids:

Things You'll Need

  • Kids

Instructions

    • 1

      Make a list of summer job ideas -- At first it may be difficult for your kids to get started. To make it easier, you can be prepared ahead of time with a list of different ways for your kids to earn money.

    • 2

      If you have a chalkboard or dry erase board, you could make a game out of brainstorming summer job ideas with your kids. All the ideas could be categorized by how much they would enjoy doing the job, how much they could earn, and the types of personal skills they would need apply to the job. You will then have a whole list of different employment options for your kids to choose from.

    • 3

      For the younger ones, you can have them organize a bake sale for money. Once they've learned how to bake brownies or chocolate chip cookies (most likely with your help) you can help them with their marketing. Have them make signs and give them tips to get things going. Having a simple lemonade sale can also help your kids earn some extra cash during the summer.

    • 4

      Mowing lawns. Mowing lawns is a classic summertime job. To develop their clientele your kids will have to develop interpersonal skills and master door-to-door sales and negotiation. This is an excellent summertime job for kids to get some exercise, build confidence, and get paid very well. This could also be adapted to include things like raking lawns or shoveling walkways in the winter. Depending on the age of your child, you may consider going door-to-door with them.

    • 5

      Carwash. A carwash is a great idea for kids to make money in summer. Since there is very little expense to running a car wash, the profit margin is pretty high. Most people will be more than happy to spend five dollars or more getting their car washed.

    • 6

      Babysitting. This is an easy way for responsible kids to make money in their spare time, in the evenings, or on the weekends.

    • 7

      If you have elderly neighbors, often times they need help with yard work or other various tasks around the house that they are unable to do for physical reasons. Often times they can use someone to run errands as well picking up groceries or prescriptions etc. Again your child can go door-to-door offering their services or post an add in the local paper.

    • 8

      For your older kids and teens, consider joining focus groups or filling out online surveys for some extra cash during the summer. A relatively quick search on the Internet should turn up a number of different possibilities.

    • 9

      You can create a simple website and display craft projects that the kids have created. Some possible crafts for these projects can be acquired at a nearby arts and crafts store. You can also try to sell these craft items on eBay with some creative marketing techniques to make money during the summertime.

    • 10

      Internet or computer jobs for kids could include typing up papers, writing content for other people's websites, taking digital pictures and selling them on stock photo sites (i.e. Fotolia.com), or buying and selling used items such as bikes found on Craigslist etc.

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