Teens at work

AS the parent of a teenager, you have many decisions to make every day, ranging from approving their clothes and hairstyles to boyfriends and girlfriends.

If your child wants a part-time job, however, the decision is easy – let him/her take it.

Part-time jobs are great for teenagers as they teach them responsibility, the value of hard work, and money management skills that they will learn nowhere else but the real world.

By allowing your teenager to find a part-time job, you’re stepping out of the way and letting the adult world teach him these skills.

Whether it’s mowing grass for the neighbours or flipping burgers at your local fast-food joint, a job is a classroom in and of itself, where your teen learns a variety of real-life lessons.

Learning these lessons will be a boon to them now and when they grow up.

» Be responsible

The key element of doing well at a job is showing up. If your teenager can manage that, consistently and on time, he’s ahead of the game.

People, who are frequently absent from work or are tardy, end up getting fired. Regular attendance will teach your teen the importance of responsibility.

He’ll also practise this skill as he works on the tasks required by the job – to do them consistently and accurately.

If your teen gets fired, you may be tempted to jump in and negotiate on his behalf. Don’t! Instead, help him to see where he fell short on the job and correct his mistakes, so that the problem doesn’t happen again.

By doing so, you’ll be teaching your teen even more about responsibility, although it may be a painful lesson to learn.

» Know value of hard work

Most part-time jobs require repetitive tasks or manual labour – neither of which is a lot of fun. In fact, the job may very well feel like ... well ... WORK!

This may be your teen’s first experience with hard work, so be sure to reiterate to him how valuable the experience is.

Take the time, however, to help your teenager find a job that suits his skills or interests, so that he won’t completely detest it. There’s value in finding meaningful work that you enjoy – help your teen to do so if possible.

» Money management skills

Now that your teenager has a part-time job, it may be time for him to start contributing a bit more to the household finances.

For example, you may have him pay his own cellphone bill, or contribute towards his petrol or car insurance bills.

Teach your teenager about money, savings, credit, and other financial subjects. He will need this information as he grows into adulthood, and it’s wise to use his own money to help him learn.

If he is of age, you may even consider opening a current or savings account in his name and teach him how to use it properly.

While it can be difficult at first to let your child work, remember that part of your job as a parent is to let go when necessary.

A part-time job is a great way to practise sending your young adult out into the world, while you’re still around to help him work through his mistakes.