Children and jobs
I was recently asked what I thought about children having jobs. Well, I totally agree! Work around the house and even a job outside the home. Jobs teach children responsibility, work ethic, honesty, honor, and pride.
Of course, if the work is done by the parents or one of the parents is too involved in pressuring the child to do things, the opposite may happen … the child may not learn to be a good worker, it may be learn to be. a big bum.
I have two examples:
Amanda is 15 years old and since she was 10 years old she received an allowance from her parents to do housework. Her parents had to continually remind her of her jobs, write lists of things for her to do, and most of the time complete her assignments. Guess what. She still has her allowance. I’m not sure if this is right or wrong, but looking from the outside in, I can imagine that Amanda is learning that she doesn’t have to do much (or anything) to make money.
Jason is 17 years old and for the last year he has been working at a fast food restaurant. His mother drives him, picks him up, and keeps his schedule written on a list on the fridge so ‘she’ remembers when she works. She only started doing this after Jason’s manager called when he hadn’t shown up for work; her mother had not remembered and therefore did not go to work. Again, I don’t know if this is right or wrong, but again, looking from the outside in, I can imagine Jason is learning that he doesn’t have to be responsible for his own schedule. Who knows how he is doing at work!
I have a personal bias here. I started doing housework when I was very little and I was paid accordingly. And I started working outside the home when I was 14 years old. McDonald’s Mac Cabin was my first job and I worked there for 5 years. It was a great learning field for all the things I have mentioned, and probably some that I have not mentioned.
In short, I vote YES for kids who have jobs and a big NO for parents who get too involved or let kids take shortcuts. I’m curious, what was your first job?