Do you want to give your kids a head start on earning money? Here are great ideas for kids and teens to make money!
Helping your kids develop a strong work ethic will benefit them throughout their lives.
Take that a step further and encourage them to start thinking about creative ways they can earn money even while they are still young!
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The Benefits of Work
Why should your kids, and especially your teens, start to earn money?
Besides the obvious (extra cash!), here are some good reasons to encourage your kids and teens to start working and earn money:
- learn the value of hard work
- prepare for regular work in a career
- develop discipline and responsibility
- start saving money for college, buying a house, and/or retirement (and take advantage of compound interest!)
- start learning how to manage money
- gain confidence
Before checking out these ideas please keep in mind:
- Kids have different skills and abilities (even at different ages). Some of these ideas might be great for your child and others not, or one of your children and not the others.
- Kids might need to learn new skills. Find ways to help them develop skills that are useful and marketable in today’s society, including computer skills and advertising skills.
- Be ready to help your kids get started. Depending on their age, skill-level, and confidence they might need some help and encouragement from you.
- Talk about the importance of investing in their business. For example, they might need to purchase better tools to get the job done or take an additional class to sharpen skills.
- Make sure you use this time to teach your kids the importance of managing money well. Don’t just let them make money and blow it on whatever they want. Talk about the importance of saving, giving, and spending.
Related: Prepare your teen for their first job
Note: Be sure to check your individual state requirements, age requirements, and online requirements before your teens apply for some of these jobs.
Ideas for younger kids to make money
Crafts: (to sell on Etsy, at craft shows, etc.)
- Jewelry (Bracelets, Necklaces, Earrings)
- Tie-die or printed shirts
- Holiday decorations or ornaments (Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc.)
- Holiday or celebration cards (birthdays, graduations, thank you, baptism, etc.)
Sewing or knitting:
- Headbands or hair ties
- Designing and sewing doll clothing
- Repurpose/redesign old clothing
- Knit or crochet clothing (hats, scarves, etc.)
Working with animals:
- Pet walking/sitting
- Training dogs
- Cleaning poop in yards/litter boxes
- Washing, grooming, and/or feeding animals – helping on a farm or while someone is on vacation
- Breed, raise and sell animals (mice, worms, hamsters, dogs, bunnies, cats, puppies, chickens)
- Making treats for pets (baked dog treats, for example)
- Creating personalized pet toys, collars, blankets, food bowls, etc.
Ideas for teens to make money
Some additional ideas for older kids and teens to make money:
Working with kids:
- Hairstyling – for graduations, proms, weddings, etc.
- Child care – after school care or babysitting, teaching a babysitting class
- Assistant – classroom or library assistant
- Tutoring – music, craft, skill, lessons, specific school subject or with general homework
- Mother’s helper – help moms with tasks around the house or watching kids while she works from home
- Helping at birthday parties (assisting parents, entertaining kids, face painting, braiding hair, makeup)
- Sports coach, assistant, or referee
- Design and run a summer camp (sports, cooking, art, music, etc.)
- Lifeguard
- Camp counselor
- Teach English as a second language (or teach any other language)
Helping at homes:
- paint fences or houses
- wash windows
- clean gutters
- decorate for Christmas (or other holidays)
- mow lawns
- rake leaves
- shovel snow
- plant flowers
- maintain gardens
- weeding
- chop wood
- small indoor tasks – hang pictures, change lightbulbs, clean, organize
- run errands for people
Rentals:
Does your teen own something that they can rent out for a charge?
Things like:
- sports equipment: kayaks, skis, snowboard, etc.
- electronic equipment (camera, video games, laptop)
- clothing – prom dresses, for example
- books (textbooks)
Flipping items:
Find (or buy cheap) items to fix up and resell.
Craigslist has a free section. Your teenager can look there for items they can fix up and resell. Thrift shops and garage sales are other great places to find items.
They can resell on places like Poshmark (clothing), Craigslist, Ebay, OfferUp.
Food:
- bake and sell food at fairs, farmer’s markets, local stores, or holiday bazaars
- grow and sell produce from a garden
- catering or serving food at parties
- writing a cookbook
- offer cooking classes for other kids
Music:
- Teach music lessons
- Start a band (and look for gigs)
- Play music at a birthday party, anniversary, or other special event
Art:
- Sell art or pottery
- Make homemade stationery
- Sell photos (Websites like Shutterstock and iStock will pay for professional photos.)
Freelance work online:
(Possibly through places like Fiverr, Upwork, Snagajob, Indeed)
- writing
- graphic design
- web design/coding
- proofreader
- voice-overs
- transcribing
- Website designer
- App developer
Computers:
- Fix computers
- Help people troubleshoot computer problems
- Teach older adults to use computers or specific computer programs
- Teach coding to kids
Online Surveys:
Earn money through survey sites like:
Other online jobs:
- Start a YouTube channel (with tutorials to teach or share experiences or give other advice)
- Start a blog
- offer people email, account, and social media management
Become an Online Tutor:
Having a job or starting a small business when young will teach your kids good lessons to set them up before launching a career. Other benefits of having a job include:
- learning about the application and interview process
- understanding and accepting rejection (if not selected)
- the experience of having a boss
- gaining responsibility (from following a job schedule and learning how to manage time)
- developing customer service skills
- learning how to work with others
What should your kids do once they start making money?
Once your kids start making money, be sure to set them on the right financial path.
Don’t just let them spend it all on trinkets or “fun” stuff. Teach them how to make a budget, manage their money, and grow into financially successful adults!
Related:
Raise Financially Successful Kids
Teens and Credit Cards
Money Lessons for Kids: Ideas for Each Age
Teaching Teens Money Management
Budgeting for teens: 5 easy steps
Even though some of the jobs listed here might require your teenager to wait until they are 18, this is a good time for them to explore options. Help your kids develop marketable skills (for example, computer skills, coding, graphic design) and learn how to promote a business and advertise their skill-set. They can even try some of these jobs as a freelancer on the side for a neighbor or family friend.
Do you have any other great ideas for kids and teens to make money? Let me know!
