So, you’re 13 and want to find a job. If you’ve already been out searching, you’ve probably discovered by now that “real” jobs for kids under the age of 14 are hard to find. The child labor laws set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) were designed to protect kids by limiting both the age and the type of work kids can do. This is why most businesses won’t hire kids under the age of 14.
For tweens looking for a summer or weekend job, the options are pretty limited. There are a few jobs that are exempt from child labor rules. These include newspaper delivery, kids working at home in the making of evergreen wreaths, and acting or performing in the movies, television, or the stage. Certain agricultural jobs are also allowed, such as picking crops.
So how else can you earn money?
The best way to earn some extra summer cash is right in your own neighborhood. Get to know your neighbors and try to figure out who might need a little extra help. Families can always use baby-sitters. Senior citizens can always use help with yard work, housework, or car washing chores. People with pets might need someone to walk the dog or even watch the animals while they are on vacation. And people on vacation also need someone to watch their house and water the plants.
During the fall, leaf raking is a terrific way to pick up extra cash. And when the snow hits the ground, kids can make lots of money shoveling sidewalks. For these jobs, many kids just walk around the neighborhood and knock on doors.
For kids who like to garden, a roadside stand is a fun way to make money by selling fresh summer fruits and veggies. If you have lots of fruits and vegetables to sell, you might even be able to convince your parents to set up a stall at a local farmer’s market.
My kids used to make money from their hobbies. One son used to sell freshwater aquarium plants and guppies to the local pet store for cash. Another painted War Craft figurines and sold them at meets. If you are good at crocheting beanies, baking cookies, scrap booking, fixing toys, or some other hobby, look for places and opportunities to sell the things you’ve made. School bazaars, parking lot flea markets, and Christmas bazaars are just a few of the places where you can sell your merchandise. And don’t forget the fair! For things that are really good, exhibit them in the “open class” at the county fair. You might even win a blue ribbon and a cash prize.
While getting a job when you’re 13 years old is pretty hard, making money is easier than you might think. All it takes is thinking creatively and searching around the neighborhood for those opportunities.
