Fun and Easy Summer Jobs for Kids

School is out and kids want to relax and do things they enjoy. A summer job is the perfect way to teach kids responsibility by having them pay for some of those fun summer activities like movie tickets, DVDs, and those trips to the food court. Just because they're too young to work at a traditional job, doesn't mean they can't do simple jobs. It's never too early to start teaching them the value of a dollar.

Kids looking for summer jobs don't even need to leave the house. Do chores around the house such as hanging clothes on the clothesline, cleaning the birdcage or cat box, sorting the recyclables, sweeping off the porch and walkway or watering the plants. Negotiate rates with your parents on a daily or weekly basis.

Mom has her hands full with a job away from home, and taking care of the family. Offer to load the dishwasher and put dishes away. Read to or play with younger siblings so Mom can rest.

Organizing a play group to relieve the overworked mothers in the neighborhood is a fun summer job. Play games such as tag, dodge ball, or organize a relay race. Divide the kids into two teams and let them race against each other. Charge a rate that is comparable to babysitting such as $2 hr per child.

If you enjoy working outside, sweep the pool and clean up the patio area. Take the trash and recycle cans to the curb for pick-up. Take a damp cloth and wash the picnic table and lawn chairs.

For pre-teens in the 9-12 age brackets, holding a bake sale can be fun and profitable. You can set up at home, church, or the community center. Cookies or brownies from a mix are easy to prepare and can be sold at a reasonable price, such as 2 for $.50.Feature build your own root beer floats to go with the brownies or cookies. Sell both together for $1.50 and increase your sales. Colorful flyers can be posted at grocery stores, or community bulletin boards. It's important to keep track of expenses, so you know how much profit you make.

Run errands for your neighbors such as grocery shopping or taking mail to the post office. Put up a flyer advertising your services and ask neighbors for referrals.

If you're especially good with computers, offer to tutor the kids in the neighborhood. Set an hourly price of $5 an hour.

Summer jobs can be so much fun for kids that they'll forget that they're working.

Sources:
www.kiplinger.com/columns/drt/archive/2004/dt040506.html
parentingtweens.suite101.com/article.cfm/summer_jobs_for_kids