Family, Youth & Consumer News
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Summer Jobs Teach Time, Money ControlBy Marcela Cartagena MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Children who decide to work during summer vacation gain many values that will help them in their future. Dr. Louise Davis, child and family development specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension service, said summer jobs help kids realize the value of responsibility, money and time. According to the Mississippi Employment Security Commission, nearly 78,000 teenagers work in Mississippi. Teenagers make up 6 percent of the total workforce in the state. Davis said appropriate first jobs for teenagers could be babysitting, mowing yards, washing cars or working at grocery stores. Summer camps can also offer good first jobs. Davis said the first thing children learn from summer jobs is responsibility as they begin to realize they have obligations to people other than their parents. They learn responsibility when they have to get to work on time and have limited time for breaks. "Children mainly work to earn money which allows them to develop a sense of independence, rather than depending on their parents for everything," Davis said. Dr. Beverly Howell, Extension family economist specialist, said parents have the responsibility to teach their kids about money management. "Communication between parents and children about money is very important," Howell said. "Parents should teach their kids to set goals to meet financial responsibilities." Teenagers typically earn about $60 per week, or $600 to $720 in a summer. Howell recommended children save at least 10 percent of their paychecks. Parents should help their kids to develop good spending and saving habits at a young age. Teenagers who do not learn to spend money carefully will probably be big spenders later in life. "Media targets children because they are a major spending power in America," Howell said. "The average teen spends about $3,500 a year on personal items. They tend to worry about money at early stages in life and by the time they are 18 years old, money becomes their main concern." Davis said summer jobs not only teach children the value of money, but also about time management. "It's amazing to see how children can balance their time working, playing with their friends and spending time with their families," Davis said. "However, parents should pay attention to how much their kids work, because they also must have time for relaxation." Davis suggested kids who work should also be involved in activities such as soccer, softball, basketball or any outdoor activity. This is important for normal mental and physical development. Released:
June 15, 1998 |
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