Middle Years

One great way to teach preteens responsibility and the value of money is to help them find a summer job. You don’t need a work permit to mow the neighbor’s lawn, pet-sit for the weekend or help out at an evening dinner party. But your child will earn references for future job applications, as well as an opportunity to see what goes into earning a few bucks.

How do you know if your child is ready to take on such a challenge? Look at how he handles himself at home, suggests Dr. Myrna Shure, author of “Raising a Thinking Preteen.”

> Ask yourself, “Do they readily take on responsibility – keep their room clean, do the dishes, follow through with assigned tasks – or is everything a fight?”

> Even if your child is a go-getter, the key to ensuring that an early job experience is beneficial is by empowering her to make the decision to get a job on her own.

> In a casual conversation at the dinner table, bring up the idea of delivering newspapers, helping out at a local stable or walking a neighbor’s dog. Say something like, “I always thought it would be fun to deliver newspapers – what do you think?” Once you get him talking, the next step is to get him thinking. Do this by asking something like, “What do you think the pros and cons of a job like that would be?”

> It’s always nice to infuse a little humor too, suggests Dr. Shure. Make up a silly job – like popping balloons at the fair – to kick-start the conversation. However, no matter where the discussion leads, avoid simply telling your child what to do, which runs the risk of sending him into defiance mode.

> “Don’t ask them what job they’re interested in so they can start tomorrow – it should be a casual conversation to get them thinking and excited,” says Dr. Shure. “They are at the age where they are trying to figure out who they are, who they want to be like, and what their values are. If we’re constantly hovering over them, that doesn’t give them the space to figure these things out. If they can come back with their own idea, they’ll likely be more excited and zealous about it.”

Not only will your preteen enjoy the experience and wages that accompany a job, but parents will likely enjoy their child’s newfound attitude toward spending. Their list of “must-have” items tends to change dramatically once kids are asked to contribute a few hard-earned bucks out of their own pocket.

Michele Piazzoni is a contributing writer to OC Family Magazine.