At what age would you MAKE your child get a job? (teenage, parent)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
My kids have been working since age 14. They will continue to work when they enter college this fall.
Nowadays, 20 is way too late.
If they are in school - 20 is not only way too early, but also damaging.
If you are in the business of studying - you should be studying. A LOT. The RIGHT SUBJECTS. The kind that don't allow time for working to make a buck on the way.
Working would put a dent into study-based life plans.
Making your kids work their way through their years of study may sound virtuous but is just plain not constructive.
If they are in school - 20 is not only way too early, but also damaging.
If you are in the business of studying - you should be studying. A LOT. The RIGHT SUBJECTS. The kind that don't allow time for working to make a buck on the way.
Working would put a dent into study-based life plans.
Making your kids work their way through their years of study may sound virtuous but is just plain not constructive.
That completely depends on the kid. I managed to maintain very good grades while studying business and engineering in college. If I had needed all of my free time for studying that would have been a problem, IMO. Some people barely have to study to do well in school.
That completely depends on the kid. I managed to maintain very good grades while studying business and engineering in college. If I had needed all of my free time for studying that would have been a problem, IMO. Some people barely have to study to do well in school.
This is wishful thinking.
If all the work assigned in college is such a breeze for you that you do it by batting an eyelash, despite being in a good school, studying a rigorous major... and you're still left with all this time in your hands (allow me some skepticism here ...), then you are either doing something wrong, your program is of poor quality, or you need to use the rest of your time to study outside of your major(s), so you will become an educated person, not just a dumb technocrat with a degree.
Never again will you have the chance to develop, grow, read widely and reflect as a human being as you have during your college years. A menial job (which is what most college students will have) will not bring much value to their development, despite popular wisdom arguing the contrary.
College students don't need to cram their schedules like super busy bees, Lord Forbid should they have one minute to hear themselves think. In college, it is their job to hear themselves think.
I would personally strongly discourage my children from wasting their time on menial jobs in college, especially when I pay for them to focus on intellectual pursuits, not on busy-bee work to make an extra buck.
This is wishful thinking.
If all the work assigned in college is such a breeze for you that you do it by batting an eyelash, despite being in a good school, studying a rigorous major... and you're still left with all this time in your hands (allow me some skepticism here ...), then you are either doing something wrong, your program is of poor quality, or you need to use the rest of your time to study outside of your major(s), so you will become an educated person, not just a dumb technocrat with a degree.
Never again will you have the chance to develop, grow, read widely and reflect as a human being as you have during your college years. A menial job (which is what most college students will have) will not bring much value to their development, despite popular wisdom arguing the contrary.
College students don't need to cram their schedules like super busy bees, Lord Forbid should they have one minute to hear themselves think. In college, it is their job to hear themselves think.
I would personally strongly discourage my children from wasting their time on menial jobs in college, especially when I pay for them to focus on intellectual pursuits, not on busy-bee work to make an extra buck.
Live on less, study more.
Maybe that is wishful thinking for you. I majored in finance at a great university. I have a great job earning in the six figures and I've been at this level for several years. I didn't sweat my studies, ever. I've been working for 11 years now; my career is well established.
Despite graduating in 4 years without ever taking summer school classes and working part time the entire time I still had a ton of time to goof off, work on crafts I enjoyed, etc. The programs were challenging but far from overwhelming. If a student IS that overwhelmed with classwork only then they probably chose a program that was too ambitious for them, don't have good time management skills, or something else is going on.
Every single one of my friends from college was in the same boat as me. We all worked, we all partied, we all have very good jobs now. Same with the friends I've met since college who went to schools like Harvard, Northwestern, Chicago, Stanford, etc. Perhaps I just know smarter people than you...
Last edited by nikitakolata; 05-27-2015 at 11:21 AM..
If they are in school - 20 is not only way too early, but also damaging.
If you are in the business of studying - you should be studying. A LOT. The RIGHT SUBJECTS. The kind that don't allow time for working to make a buck on the way.
Working would put a dent into study-based life plans.
Making your kids work their way through their years of study may sound virtuous but is just plain not constructive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by syracusa
This is wishful thinking.
If all the work assigned in college is such a breeze for you that you do it by batting an eyelash, despite being in a good school, studying a rigorous major... and you're still left with all this time in your hands (allow me some skepticism here ...), then you are either doing something wrong, your program is of poor quality, or you need to use the rest of your time to study outside of your major(s), so you will become an educated person, not just a dumb technocrat with a degree.
Never again will you have the chance to develop, grow, read widely and reflect as a human being as you have during your college years. A menial job (which is what most college students will have) will not bring much value to their development, despite popular wisdom arguing the contrary.
College students don't need to cram their schedules like super busy bees, Lord Forbid should they have one minute to hear themselves think. In college, it is their job to hear themselves think.
I would personally strongly discourage my children from wasting their time on menial jobs in college, especially when I pay for them to focus on intellectual pursuits, not on busy-bee work to make an extra buck.
Live on less, study more.
OMG! I'm DAMAGED!!! That explains SO much.
Thanks so much for the laugh this morning, Syracusa.
How in the world did I EVER manage to maintain good grades, participate in extra-curricular activities and work half-time during HS and college?
Was it easy classes? No. I actually found myself better prepared than my peers at Graduate school (where I worked 2 jobs while taking a full load of credits)
Easy extra-curriculars? No. Was a competitive member of a team that won regionals for nearly 20 years in a row. I managed to qualify for the national tournament several times (not easy to do)
Easy jobs? Burger flipper, gas station attendant, assistant store manager, teacher... I don't think so.
All that and I don't even wear a cape!
I sure am glad you came along to tell me all those good experiences were damaging. Hahahahahaha!
If they are in school - 20 is not only way too early, but also damaging.
If you are in the business of studying - you should be studying. A LOT. The RIGHT SUBJECTS. The kind that don't allow time for working to make a buck on the way.
Working would put a dent into study-based life plans.
Making your kids work their way through their years of study may sound virtuous but is just plain not constructive.
Nope.
Damaging??? LOL Millions of people have done it. I did it. In fact, my part-time job at an ice cream place connected me to the lead for my first full-time job after graduation.
"Study-based life plans"?? Working only IMPROVES them.
Unless my son could get a job in the career he planned on working in. I would rather volunteer work in that field and some internships. Since my parents didn't allow me to work jobs like that they didn't feel contributed to my career. However, after undergrad he needs to work.
I have no problem with him living with until 30 if he is paying bill. Most people in my family don't move out until they are married or 30. You are expected to pay a some bills and save for your own home.
As someone said most people are going to do it the way they were raised.
11 OR 12 to cut the neighbors lawn or shovel snow, 13 to babysit; keep in mind this was only a day or two a week, for an hour or two. At 14 I was still in a lot of sports camps in the summer, but on off days I was caddying. In high school I was working more or less full time most of the summer, and maybe some weekend work during the school year. My Dad's thing was that we weren't sitting around the house watching TV or screwing around with our friends.
None of those have any bearing on my current career, specifically, but they did teach me the value of work and a lot more independence at a younger age. I noticed that I had to call my parents for help a lot less than my peers in college and afterwards.
Maybe that is wishful thinking for you. I majored in finance at a great university. I have a great job earning in the six figures and I've been at this level for several years. I didn't sweat my studies, ever. I've been working for 11 years now; my career is well established.
Despite graduating in 4 years without ever taking summer school classes and working part time the entire time I still had a ton of time to goof off, work on crafts I enjoyed, etc. The programs were challenging but far from overwhelming. If a student IS that overwhelmed with classwork only then they probably chose a program that was too ambitious for them, don't have good time management skills, or something else is going on.
Every single one of my friends from college was in the same boat as me. We all worked, we all partied, we all have very good jobs now. Same with the friends I've met since college who went to schools like Harvard, Northwestern, Chicago, Stanford, etc. Perhaps I just know smarter people than you...
Yes, you were all impressive.
How could I not figure that out by myself?
At what age would you MAKE your child get a job? And at what age (if any) would you kick them out?
The age they want to buy things... If it's about kicking them out.. why would you do that just because they don't have a job. As a parent, we are obligated to feed our children right? I wouldn't ever kick my child out of my house. However, if they want anything other than food and shelter... they better get a job.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
...), then you are either doing something wrong, your program is of poor quality, or you need to use the rest of your time to study outside of your major(s), so you will become an educated person, not just a dumb technocrat with a degree. 
