by Ann Major

Created on: May 03, 2008   Last Updated: April 12, 2012

As soon as a child has the motor capabilities, and a certain degree of reliability, he or she should be introduced to some kind of work, be it chores around the house or doing everyday tasks in the neighborhood. Instead of an initial job jolt at McDonald's for a teenager's first job, young children should be nurtured gradually into the world of work, starting even before puberty.

Getting an allowance is not what it used to be. Allowances used to be given for household chores, perhaps mowing the lawn, doing dishes, the laundry, etc. It fostered a child's sense of responsibility, gave him initiative and made him feel a part of the family unit by being useful. When a child grew to adolescence, he had a sense of self-worth and appreciated the value of a dollar, because he had to work hard to earn that dollar.

The work world has become far too formalized. In previous generations, picking berries to sell, running errands, or shoveling snow for neighbors was very entrepreneurial for a teenager. Now it has become a lucrative business venture more for adults than for youngsters.

When a child begins working at an early age, he or she is building up a resume, a variety of work experiences which might attract the attention of a first official employer. When a potential employer sees a variety of work experiences, he sees a hard-working individual who is not afraid to try out new things or tasks. The more work experience a child has, the better insight the child will have as to the direction he should take upon graduation from high school.

My first work experience was when I was 14, stocking shelves at a neighborhood hardware store. That summer I also started working at my Uncle's restaurant washing dishes for a mere paltry sum of one dollar a day. They didn't take me seriously, that I was just occupying my time and socializing at the restaurant. They considered my washing the dishes as recreational.

When I turned 16, I graduated to waitress work and was on my feet so much I developed corns, and I still have them to prove how hard I worked. At age 18, I began work at a carpet factory, Before getting my first real job, I had also been a pastry packer and a keypuncher. All these jobs served to steer me in the right direction because I learned what kind of work I did not want to do for the rest of my life.

Basically, I am lazy and do not like to clean whatsoever. As a result I knew I never would become a maid, housekeeper, or office cleaner. Midnight shifts at the carpet

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>