I’m watching a news report right now on how more and more teenagers aren’t taking summer jobs like they used to. The Department of Labor said the numbers are down to 60% of teenagers, and they expect it to drop again. Some of the factors they’ve cited:
-The economy’s down; kids are competing with adults for work. (This would make sense for the jobs that don’t require a degree.)
-Richer kids are opting for high-prestige internships that will help them get into college. (New, but ooooooo-kay.)
But the one that shocked me:
-Kids are getting weekly allowances of $100-$125. They’re not bothering to work.
This one blew my mind. I was a teen only a decade ago, and my allowance never topped $5 per week plus $20 for school lunch. When my brother and I turned 16, we were both booted out of the house when school let out, and were told not to come back without a job. (I exaggerate some, but I’d love to use this strategy on MY kids when I have them.)
On the other hand, my kid sister got off easy (we suspect because she’s the youngest and a girl). She’s 20 and in college now, and we finally convinced her to take a volunteer job this summer. So I guess the trend exists…oy.
So, parent dopers: are your kids working? How’d you get them to do it?
I’m not a parent but I’m in a situation worth noting. Currently I’m doing volunteer work full-time for political campaigns. I had been on one (George Jepsen for Governor) since the start of summer, but now that he has decided to join forces with our primary foe and run for Lt. Governor I’m switching over to Congressman Jim Maloney’s campaign. I’m not paid but there are two things allowing me to do that. First, I got a lot of dough in the form of graduation gifts, and second my parents will give me a living allowance in college because I got a $90,000 scholarship. My mother said I have to work 35 hours a week, but I’m doing campaign work because it’s what’s best for my future.
I speak as a teenager, not as a parent, but I don’t have a summer job. I refuse to work in fast food and there’s not much else open to people under 18. Plus, I still don’t have my driver’s license and I would need a flexible schedule in the fall for school activities. All in all, I would be willing to work if I could find a job that meets my specifications (or a job at the bookstore. I’d fit my schedule around that). I don’t have a problem with working.
One question: where are these magical kids with $100 a week allowances? I haven’t had an allowance since 6th grade. Sometimes my parents will hand me a $20 (bribery, I think…“I’ll give you money if you supervise your younger siblings at the mall for two hours!”) and they’re usually willing to pay for small things like an occasional trip to see a movie, but otherwise I just get $10 a week for lunch during school.
My kid is only three so I can’t speak to this issue from direct experience as a parent. However, I saw an article based on the same statistics, and I found the whole thing insulting. They used the term “lazy” in the headline.
I admire teens who work. However, I do not see it as some kind of moral imperative for their development as responsible, hardworking future adults. They’ve got the rest of their lives to be living under the stresses of mortage payments, student loans, utilities, food, and the like. Why not allow them to enjoy some off-time while they are young and it doesn’t matter? Besides, the way some kids are scheduled during the academic year, I think some decompression time is in order.
My parents never insisted I get a summer job, and when I did seek one they asked that I keep it part-time. They said I worked too hard during the school year and I needed to give myself a break. Amen, parents.
Then again, I’m pretty lazy as an adult, so maybe an important opportunity to teach me something was lost. Okay, forget me as “Exhibit A” and just go with the first part of my post.
My Perfect Child[sup]TM[/sup] gets $20/week for dusting, poop-scooping, taking out trash, doing dishes, and keeping her room/bathroom clean. She’ll get extra if she washes my van at my request.
She’s had a job since February at a local roller rink. She’s done every job there except DJ, and only because she’s not interested in being a DJ. She’s handed out skates, redeemed tickets for prizes, run the snack bar, worked the office (including preparing bank deposits), hosted private parties, supervised the playground, worked as floor guard, and donned the “Wally Gator” costume to do the Hokey-Pokey on wheels. She loves it! Her only complaint is that she just makes minimum wage, but even that’s a weak rant. Plus she’ll go over there several times a week just to skate. She’s managed to bank over $1000 in 5 months.
You raise them understanding the value of the almighty dollar.
I have two boys, both out of the house now, but still in college. They both work over the summers and on break. Mrs.Coda and I both raised them with the principle that if they needed money it was there for them, but they both had to work for it.
Coda:"OH your tranny blew and you can’t make it to school. what are you going to do? "
Son: “I need 1500 bucks to fix the tranny so I can get to work etc…etc…”
Coda: Thats fine, Here it is, but this weekend we’re re-shingling the garage and you are painting the entire porch. including stripping it and painting. (the porch is huge, and encircles the pool. )
I have no problem giving my boys money, if they work for it. But hey they have to do their part. Because when they are on their own no landlord is going to let a month slide here and there, or a creditor isn’t going to say sure pay us later…
I respect my sons more, because they rarely if ever ask for money. They work for it.
My daughter is babysitting, and my son is working on a farm for the summer. Our strategy to make them work isi to discontinue allowances during the summer months. That way, if the kids want to go do something, they need to make money to do so. They are 14 and 15 respectively, and we’ve been doing this for about 3 years. We helped them find thier jobs of course, and assist with travel to and from, but keeping the job and negotiating salary is up to them.
