Part-time Jobs in High School – Why I Made It a Requirement
Think back to the olden days, when working while in high school was the norm. You worked part-time jobs at the local ice cream shop, helping with roofing, detasseling corn (could be an Iowa thing), working as a cashier, or in fast food. While your job took some time away from friends after school, it didn’t overwhelm your entire life.
Let’s face it, changes to the demands on teens in high school have escalated. More pressure for good grades and more emphasis on extracurriculars/sports are the main culprits. But have these activities improved our kid’s life and experiences?
Based on the health crisis we see today with heightened anxiety, depression, and suicides, the evidence does not support it.
So how do parents get off the hamster wheel and step back to evaluate what activities are important in their kid’s life?
It is all about choices.
Erika, a blunt, feisty trainer at my gym put it succinctly when talking to her daughter, a junior in high school. She said, “After high school volleyball ends, you can stay on your traveling team knowing you won’t be playing ball in college. Or, you can get a part-time job, learn new things that help you in life, meet new people, and get some work experience.” Her daughter, after some thought, chose a part-time job.
I, like Erika, believe that most teens should work while in high school.
Now is when I hear, “But Kristin, you just don’t understand what it is like today for teens.”
Yeah. I do.
But before I go off on a rant about choices, let’s talk about the benefits of working, why I am adamant on my stance and why I made it a requirement my boys work a part-time job while in high school (and college, but that is another discussion!).
Benefits to teens that work:
· Better time management skills – teens who work do better in school. The credit for this is they have to manage their time better.
· Learning the value of money – After my son got his first paycheck, he ate out with his friends. He said with disdain “Mom, did you realize I have to work two hours to pay for one meal at Chili’s?” What an eye-opener for him! This revelation did not stop him from enjoying a meal out with friends, however, when he was not hungry, he chose to enjoy a Coke instead of having a full meal. Can you say choices?
· Increased confidence
· Meeting people outside their friend group
· Interviewing skills
· Learning to deal with customers
· Reinforcing what they learn in school – yes you do math in real-life.
· A sense of accomplishment
· Having their own money – What a way to build confidence when a teen can choose how they want to spend their own money. There is no need to ask Mom and Dad for the things they really want. And knowing they earned it!
· Learning things they like and don’t like about specific types of work
· Responsibility – My son worked extra hours one week and I questioned if he was working too many hours to keep his grades up. He said ‘Mom, they need me, I can handle it.’ And he did!
· Negotiating with an employer about hours, time off, etc.
Cons of having a job in high school: Note the brevity of this list!
· Employers that are not teen-friendly. I’ve seen this happen to my own kids. Please don’t discount the good life lesson but encourage them to talk it out with their boss first. If that does not work, coach them to get a new job as soon as possible.
Reasons teens should not work in high school:
· Students who need to spend large amounts of time studying may not have the time and/or the energy to work.
· Teens with a medical issue that does not allow them to work, or puts too much strain on their parents to warrant this activity.
· Students with talents that require them to spend a consistent time on extracurricular activities. I’m talking, about great athletes, musicians, dancers, etc. that require year-round training.
Reframing the Conversation:
How you position working to your teen matters. Parents will often say to their kids, “Have fun now, you will be working your whole life.” Talking about work as a chore or something you ‘have to do’, limits our kid’s expectations and experiences.
What if we changed how we talk about working as a way to enhance your child’s life instead? I often ask my kids if they are having fun at work. Usually, the answer is yes! Framing work as something that provides opportunities and enjoyment can make all the difference.
You make the choice.
Special Note to Parents: Finding Balance
When working, high school students should try to keep their hours to 15 or less or it could affect their schoolwork. Research shows that students who work more than 20 hours a week have lower GPAs than students who work less than 10 hours a week.
For those students who play a sport or, in demanding extracurriculars, having a job may not be possible. However, it goes back to choices and determining which will enhance your teen’s life more.
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