Many parents are bracing themselves for the summer with their teen. There are so many things to consider – everything from what time their teenager needs to be out of the bed in the morning, how much time they should spend gaming, expectations around the house and curfew, just to name a few. Typically, the teen’s perspective is different from the parent’s point of view.
While the school year can be very taxing and it’s nice to have less stress during the summer, experts encourage parents to avoid throwing structure out the window as kids rest up for the next school year.
Perhaps one solution to keeping your teen constructively involved is to strongly encourage them to find a summer job. While 13 or 14 may be too young for employment, they do have other options. It isn’t too young to do yard work, baby-sit, clean houses or some other type of work.
Julie BaumgardnerTeens can learn so much from having a job. In fact, it can help prepare them for life. Actually going through the interview process is a serious accomplishment, as many young people struggle with conversations that don’t involve texting. Learning how to look someone in the eyes and answer questions about yourself is huge.
Once they have secured a job, they typically have the opportunity to learn a few things. Some of those things include how to get along with a diverse team of people, manage their time, deal with authority figures other than their parents and engage with people who are rude and difficult. They also can experience getting along with kind and encouraging people, develop an understanding of a work ethic and learn how to handle the money they earn.