electronblue

My 17 yr old has her first real job this summer and loves it. I've been impressed with her work ethic, her supervisor calls her and gives her extra hours all the time. My 15 yr old is easing into working with part time hours. Neither were required to work.

SBDad

Yes. He started at 15 and we insisted on it. To us it's as much a matter of learning responsibility and the ability to take direction as it is the money.

interesteddad

Yes. Working every summer starting after 8th grade, starting as a grocery store cashier. Summer after 11th grade, full time community service as a teacher in urban enrichment learning camps.

Worked (or got stipends) every summer during college. Was expected to provide her own spending money during college from summer earnings and work-study hours at school.

Booklady

Yes and no. S had a part-time job last summer (at age 15) but is abroad this summer. Next summer we'll expect him to have a job, not so much for the money itself as for learning what the real world is like and how to budget his finances. D did academic programs every summer until she was 16; the summer before college, and between freshman and sophomore years, she had a job and/or internship. This summer she's studying abroad, but plans to work in the summers after that.

Youdon'tsay

We think work is essential. In fact, 16yo just started his summer job today.

The younger son gets first dibs on things like pet sitting when someone asks.

Both boys have worked weekends during the school year since they were in sixth grade -- one ref'ing soccer and another ump'ing baseball. Both of those sports-related jobs are very flexible, so it's great for a busy kid. Some weeks you might take five games, some weeks you don't take any. The ump'ing pays particularly well.

ChiSquare

Yes, my 17yo had a P/T job during the summer as well as during the school year. during the school year, it's ~ 10 hrs/wk. A little more during the summer. I have not yet found the magic formula to get her to save some of it, though.

ignatius

D (rising senior) works 4 hours a day at an insurance agency. Her older brother also worked part time at the agency for two summers (as a rising senior and then before his freshman year in college). D let the owners know early that she was interested in applying for the same position this summer.

Great first work experience. The agency owners believe in hiring hs students and providing them with beginning work experience in an adult environment. One of the plusses is that d has flexibility built into her work schedule. She was able to go on the family vacation and she just missed the last two days of work to have her wisdom teeth removed. She can adjust her work hours from morning to afternoon, if need be. She also has the option to continue to work during the school year if she wants, even if she only works on Sat. mornings or during school breaks.

The local vet is also known to hire hs students to provide beginning work experience. High standards, yet flexible enough to accommodate funky hs schedules. Nice when business owners take the time to encourage beginning workers.

lspf72

Yes. S1 has held two jobs for the last three summers. Lots of hours but only average pay. Am guessing he'll try for an internship or a job related to his major next summer-- he seems ready to "move on."

3bm103

Yes. as soon as they are able.

shawbridge

No/yes. 15 yo is doing volunteering, catching up in areas in which she had some difficulty last year. I was picking her up from a gathering and two of the three kids had paid internships/jobs this summer and the third one is teaching tennis at one camp (probably paid) and trapeze at another (likely unpaid).

18 yo is completing a novel he is co-authoring (with an adult). They anticipate some kind of advance as they've had active interest from a well-known publisher and a strong agency for their genre, so this might qualify as paid.

gadad

No - Both Ds were busy with theatre and other musical activities while in HS, and both have had unpaid study abroad internships or service trips over the past two summers.

dbwes

Absolutely yes. Starting at 16. All summer and some hours during the school year as sports schedules allow.

lderochi

Yes. Good money, too -- $14/Hr. I'm proud to say that he works a lot, as well. Usually 45+ hours

binx

We don't require money. We require productivity.

cartera45

No official job - we have always had horses to take care of up until this summer so she spent the summers pretty much living at the barn or at a horse show. Lots of dirty, hard work but no pay. This summer, she is in summer school in order to get a head start on gen ed classes.