Ways for Kids to Earn Money

Kathy Foust

It's not just trying economic times that make it a good idea for a child to get a job. It's also about developing an early sense of value and appreciation. Children can learn a lot from having a job and earning their own money. But, you do have to be careful to avoid breaking any child labor laws. Let's take a look at some common jobs that kids can do.

Enter writing contests. The world wants to hear what kids have to say. The Internet offers a variety of ways for kids to make money by entering writing contests. From Haikus to short stories, kids can put their imaginations to use and practice their writing skills all at once!

Sell jewelry. Kids who like to make bracelets, pins or necklaces can have their parents put their products online to sell. Whether they open an Etsy store or list items on Ebay, they might be able to make a tidy profit off something they used to think of as a hobby.

Have parents reimburse them for coupons. Don't have time to clip coupons? Have the kids go through the cabinets and learn about the products your family uses. Then they can clip the coupons and you can give them the amount of the coupon or pay them for the service of clipping them. The more they find, the more they earn.

Clean out the closet. I don't know about you, but I'd almost rather have a root canal than to try to clean my son's room. If there's one thing that motivates my child though, it's money. Kids can sell those unwanted toys and clothes at reasonable prices to make some money and help out families that wouldn't be able to afford those items any other way.

Clear out the media center. Yes, it will make you cringe when you realize how many video games and other media products you've bought for your child that they just don't use anymore. The good news is that your child can recover some of that cost by turning them in at places that sell used video games. These are also hot items on auction sites like Ebay.

Help your kids to learn financial responsibility early on by encouraging them to come up with creative ideas for making extra money.

More from this author...

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References: Personal Experience

Published by Kathy Foust - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle

Kathy is a professional freelance writer, student and mother. Her goal is to provide useful information that's easy to understand and that may even be entertaining!  View profile

1 Comments

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  • Lee Hansen9/4/2011

    Very good and creative ways that will also instill them a good sense of financial responsibility and stability.

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