Teenagers are one of the largest consumer groups in the United States today. More than previous generations, they have a substantial discretionary spending budget for clothes and entertainment. Some also buy their own cars or pay car insurance as well as save for college tuition.
But should teens be employed while working toward a high school diploma? Or should parents cover all costs so that students can focus on their studies? Here are some pro's and cons concerning a high school student's employment:
Pro's:
1. Students can learn to meet some of their basic living expenses like those related to transportation instead of depending wholly on parents.
2. Teens will get hands-on experience to help them develop important character traits like dependability, commitment, and diligence.
3. Working teenagers may be motivated to develop and follow a budget for personal and entertainment expenses in their first taste of the real world of limited incomes and demanding expenses.
4. Kids may learn to appreciate their parents' hard work and life-long provision for them up to this point, when they assume some of the costs handled previously by parents.
5. They may decide to make college plans and opt for a professional career when they learn first-hand about the strenuous duties and low pay of minimum wage jobs.
In weighing these considerations, however, parents also should look at possible negatives like these:
Cons:
1. Students may neglect their studies to meet job requirements, including picking up extra shifts when supervisors ask them to. Receiving a paycheck may take precedence over receiving a passing grade.
2. Working long hours, weekends, and holidays may interfere with family commitments and social development. A strong work ethic, while generally a good thing, may disrupt the formation of other values that are just as important, or more so, in this age group.
3. Developing a dependence on employment income to meet basic or personal needs may foster a desire for permanent employment and increased hours to make more money, precluding a balanced perspective on life.
4. High school kids with jobs may grow up too quickly and develop materialistic tastes that will need to be fed by increased employment that overshadows other interests like family, friends, and recreation. If your child must work, insist that ten percent be put into a savings plan. And it doesn’t hurt to encourage another five to ten percent be given to charity for helping those who are less fortunate. This will help to develop positive traits in your teen, too.
5. Low-paying jobs for teens seldom teach lasting life values. Consequently, a teen's time may be better spent at study or in learning a career vocation that will provide more permanent and higher paying employment.
If your teen is thinking about getting a job, spend time discussing the positives and negatives first. Then an informed decision can be made, preventing later surprises or disappointments. The old adage holds true: "All that glistens is not gold." While a weekly paycheck may hold significant promise, it comes with a price tag of its own. Help your teen realize this before setting off in quest of that first job.
