What Working Teaches Kids

Each teen has his or her own reasons for working. Some do it only (or mainly) for the money - they need or want extra money, and working is the way to get it. Others do it for a variety of other reasons - they want to fill up their time, gain experience, or just get out into the world.

Working can do more for a teenager than provide spending money. It may sound old-fashioned, but there's nothing wrong with having a strong sense of responsibility when it comes to work. Understanding what is required to get and keep a job or to earn a promotion are basic parts of being a responsible adult. The earlier a teen starts to learn this responsibility, the more natural it becomes. Taking responsibility for work can also carry over to taking responsibility for money, too.

Stocking shelves at the supermarket or flipping burgers at McDonalds doesn't exactly supply the job skills of a lifetime. But it can help a teen learn to pace her/himself to get work done and gain self-confidence in doing something well. Some jobs can offer a teen the chance to learn things that can be helpful in landing better jobs later, and working at any job can teach time-management skills. Working will help a teen learn to manage his/her time more effectively.

Getting a job now can show a teen not only that they like a particular field, but also whether they are good at it. A teen may want to go into radio, but working at the campus radio station can show them whether they have the voice quality and the gift of the gab needed to pursue their dream. It's better to learn early that you are headed down a dead-end career path so that you can change your dream and go off in another direction.