My daughter turns 14 in a couple of months and desperately needs a job. We have talked about her babysitting, and she is going to take the safe sitter coursed offered locally, but what are some other options? 20+ years ago I was 14 when I started working at Burger King. My friend was 14 when she started at White Castle. Yes, I was restricted to 12 hours a week, but at least I could work! I have called around and nobody these days hires under 16 years old. I don't know if that is a legal requirement, or an internal company requirement, but it's frustrating! Any suggestions?

There are all sorts of child labor laws that are very restrictive for kids under 16 years old... Lots of breaks, longer breaks, fewer work hours, no late work hours, limited responsibilities, etc. Because of this very, very few companies will even considering hiring somebody so young.

She will most likely have the most luck with under-the-table jobs around the neighborhood (such as babysitting) or accompanying mom on shops that check for ID for kids (movies, video games, etc.)

Dog walking, lawn mowing

I just googled my state's labor laws, and yes , she can work at 14, with many restrictions. So, I'm guessing it's a company thing. There are a lot of movie compliance shops near me, sending your 14 year old in to try and buy R rated tickets, so we have that to look forward to shortly.

Gonna keep trying. I've tried the grocery stores and several fast food locations. Next on my list to call is going to be the pet stores and nurseries.

Taking care of pets, lawns, gardens when neighbors go on vacations is good, too....

@Flash wrote:

Dog walking, lawn mowing

She would absolutely love to walk dogs, and has offered her services to neighbors, but for whatever crazy reason our local neighborhood has people who apparently have plenty of time to walk their own dogs. The one neighbor who has dogs that would probably pay to have her walk them has three huge dogs that are absolutely out of control. The owners never bothered much with obedience, and I would not in a million years let her walk those dogs. My son had a friend come over and the neighbor let the dogs out and they always take off running around the cul-de-sac. One of the dogs ran over and jumped on her and would not get off. She freaked out and was yelling "can you please get your dog off me?" The neighbor was just like, "yeah, yeah, I'm coming". Sorry lady, but some people are scared of dogs or severely allergic to dogs. I love them, but I don't tolerate ill behaved dogs very well. I've totally gotten sidetracked...

She mows our yard and gets paid for that. Most of our neighbors have professional lawn service too. We joke that we bring down the neighborhood with our yard. :-)

Maybe a "Candy striper" at a hospital or Senior home. Or newspaper deliverer. Daily newspapers are delivered to your home but you probably will have to accompany her on the deliverance.

'Mother's Helpers' were big when my kids were small. Generally when I took my kids to the playground there would be a few young teens who were playing with really little kids hoping to be invited to be a helper or suggest it themselves. It wasn't really the responsibility of babysitting but rather the girl might be sent to the grocery store to pick up a couple of items or might stay with the kids in a playground where there were other adults around as well while the mom went to the grocery store. Where there was a good relationship between the kid and the girl, she might play with the child in the home while the mom cleaned or cooked or whatever. That was about 40 years ago and the girls got about 2.50 per hour, which I'm sure would have gone up by now. Part of the emphasis was to have the kids engaged in something other than TV by having a 'big sister' read to them or help them build with blocks or help put toys away.

If the job is more about getting experience and having something constructive to do, she could volunteer... Animal shelters of need people to spend time giving animals attention so that they stay friendly and adoptable... Childrens' hospitals often need folks to read to young kids or hold babies... There might be junior camp counselor positions at a YMCA.... A local cooperative day car might like having an older kid to sit and read in a corner with the small folks...

@sojo917 wrote:

Maybe a "Candy striper" at a hospital or Senior home.

Those are great ideas! I will definately add that to the list to check out.

@MFJohnston wrote:

If the job is more about getting experience and having something constructive to do, she could volunteer... Animal shelters of need people to spend time giving animals attention so that they stay friendly and adoptable... Childrens' hospitals often need folks to read to young kids or hold babies... There might be junior camp counselor positions at a YMCA.... A local cooperative day car might like having an older kid to sit and read in a corner with the small folks...

It's a little about both. She really needs to earn some money, but she would be open to volunteering as well too, she just needs to do SOMETHING! She retired from gymnastics last year. She trained for 20+ hours a week. It was brutal and rigid and structured. She had a double stress fracture in her lower back amongst a whole list of other physical injuries from the sport, so I'm glad she decided to stop. But she went from being occupied every moment of her life six days a week to doing absolutely nothing. Occasionally she baby sits her younger brother during the day when I need her to when I travel for work, but I feel like she's still just sitting around the house when she does that.

I actually checked with the Humane Society, surprise surprise, they required you be at least 16 years old. I'll check into the the day care/ children's volunteering, they may be more accepting of a younger age. In a way I get the animal shelter age restriction for liability issues, but I don't understand why she couldn't just clean or something. She wouldn't have to handle the animals.

I understand your thought that she could 'just clean or something' at an animal shelter but it would be terrible for her not to be allowed to handle the animals. It would sort of be like working in a chocolate shop and never allowed to taste the product.

If she was a gymnast she has learned a whole lot of self discipline and attention to detail. It would be ideal to find something she could bring those traits to that engrossed her as fully as gymnastics. The things that come immediately to mind for me for that are music or cooking, though those won't bring in pocket money.

Is she in or entering high school next year? Many high schools keep a list of parents/businesses that are looking to hire teens. If you live in a small enough community that it's safe, she can put an ad in the paper.

When I was a kid, "mother's helper" included simple meal prep, washing dishes, vacuuming, mopping, etc.

She can call the local senior center or Agency on Aging, and ask them. Many seniors would appreciate some
help with technology, as well as help around the house, and can't afford the going rate for professionals. I'll tell you, there are teens around that can build a website faster 'n slicker than a pro (oh, I can have that up and
working for you tomorrow!) for $50 Many senior centers allow teens to put up "I'm available for XXXXX" signs on a community bulletin board. Make sure it lists what she's willing to do, and the $ per hour she'll work for.

What does she LOVE? Let her volunteer in something in that area. Sure, won't pay -- but will help her when
she's looking for a job next summer.


One word of advice: have HER make the phone calls. No employer wants to talk to the parent. When I had my retail store, I hired lots of teens -- and I never hired a single one from a phone call! I wanted to SEE him/her, see that they were neat, clean, presentable, respectful of elders, etc. In fact, I'd say, don't make
any phone calls at all. Just go in person. Make sure she knows how to say "yes, sir" or "yes ma'am"!

You can set her up an account on e-bay and she can sell stuff. You might even enjoy going to a few thrift
store/auctions/garage sales with her looking for stuff to resale. I can't tell you how many times I bought stuff for less
than $2 and sold it for over $100 on e-bay. Among them were old magazines, post cards (pre-1900's), and
a china gravy bowl/server.

Does your community have a farmer's market? Take her there and let her get to know the vendors. Farmers hire teens ALL the time.

Your state department of Employment MAY have a list of employment for teens. In fact, I recall working for the State of California as a summer job, placing OTHER teens in a summer job. Now that's a great experience, because she has to fill in an actual application and go through an interview with a state employee -- good practice! Plus the employers have already agreed to hire teens, else they wouldn't have listed the job with
the State.

One 12 year old I know makes several hundred dollars each spring from selling jams and jellies she makes.

Good luck.

When I was about 14 I got a job one summer at the local country club (It sounds hoity-toity, but it really, really, wasn't) pulling weeds. Try smaller companies without large corporate headquarters. The large companies likely have a policy restricting kids under 16, but the smaller ones might not. Think of small businesses you frequent and let them know she's looking for some summer work. Or better yet, have her ask. It will be good experience even if it's just experience hearing "no". Good luck!

If she's doing well academically, tutoring kids in her fqavorite subject.

amusement parks are the only ones i know that hire that young

www.care.com, www.sittercity.com are all national sitting sites for pets and people

bestmark does compliance shops that uses teens nationwide

swagbucks, clixsense, inboxdollars are always looking for people with kids for surveys and a multiple of things that are really easy to do like cycle ads or click on websites ... i cant recall if there are age restrictions

summer camps always need people sometimes its volunteer sometimes its paid...

VBS will be starting soon and the YMCA could always use help, along with animal shelters, retirement communities, and food pantries always need people year round... none of this is ever paid but it might get her a foot in the door for next year

Summer camp, Vacation Bible School, life guard.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/2016 03:28AM by HonnyBrown.

When I was that age I used to do cleaning and I walked to the camps.I also worked at an ice cream place.

Some volunteer opportunities can turn into paid work, once they get to know you. Also, in places where you meet people, one thing can lead to another.

If she's crafty, maybe she could make things to sell on Etsy.

I worked at a riding academy cleaning stalls, grooming, exercising, and feeding the horses when I was 13.

I would love to have someone like her just come in for a few hours a week and give me a hand with light housekeeping. Dusting, running the vacuum, emptying the dishwasher, walking the recycle stuff down to the recycle bin (I live in an apartment), helping me with laundry, etc. If she can find a complex where there are a lot of older people like me living there, a notice on the bulletin board might generate some interest.

I started working at 14 at a local farm stand - cashiering, washing produce, etc.

Aside from dog walking or baby sitting or as Flash said, a Mothers helper, maybe go to an assisted living home, and see if they need someone to help with seniors pushing a wheel chair/. I'd say a pet store, helping groom animals. My daughter started working at 15 in a Yogurt store, we didn't want her too, but she insisted. I remember picking her up at closing, and seeing her sweeping the floor. My favorite is baby sitting, she can read to them, play and it would be fun...sitters here get 7.00 an hour. Fourteen sounds a bit young, maybe she could tutor or read to a child. Nice that she wants to work.

My jobs at 14 consisted of raking leaves, mowing lawns, shoveling snow, picking apples, babysitting, catsitting, and selling lollipops. I made enough money to keep me in cassette tapes and lip gloss.

She needs to be home studying and doing homework. Period.

right now snow shoveling would be a good one or raking leaves... just depends on where you live...

sorry to hear about her injuries