by Robin Tidwell

Created on: October 31, 2008   Last Updated: November 18, 2008

In spite of physical appearance and the occasional adult-like, verbal profundity that springs forth, teenagers are kids. Kids have several "jobs": to study, to learn, and to grow as individuals. They also should learn responsibility, accountability, integrity, and common sense. For many this will come easily, but for some it will be more difficult. Regardless, all teenagers come to the point where they "think" they are all grown up and should be allowed to make their own decisions. One of these decisions is often to find a paying job. This is not done merely for the sake of wishing to be grown up, but for the practical reason of wanting/needing income. For most teens, however, it comes down to "wanting" versus "needing".

Many would argue that teenagers can learn the aforementioned character traits by holding down a part-time job. Thinking parents, however, realize that teens can learn these very same things by staying in school and using their free time to improve their academic record. These same parents also realize that the teen years are a period of transition, and that teens still need assistance with envisioning the future and developing the best plan for that future. They also know that perhaps 95% of a teenager's "needs" are truly only "wants".

A teenager wants extra cash to buy clothes, or CDs, or makeup, or, heaven forbid, drugs and alcohol. A teenager with a job may also need to pay for a car or insurance to get to and from that job; but if he didn't have a job, he wouldn't necessarily need that car. Most parents do make every effort, some going above and beyond the call of duty, to provide for their kids' needs. Some encourage part-time work to allow the teen to provide their own wants. This can be a mistake.

In some jurisdictions, teenagers can legally work at age 14; in most places, the younger the teen, the more restrictions are placed on time of day, total number of hours, and the type of work to be performed. A majority of teens do not begin working until age 16 when most obtain their drivers licenses - for the simple reason that parents may balk at ferrying their teen back and forth at all hours.

Obviously there are some positive points to a teenager having a job: he will have his own money and will not be asking his parents to finance things like prom, movies with the guys, dates, and so forth; and he will quickly learn the value of a clock, and that 4:00 p.m. does not mean 4:45 or 5:00 p.m. Hopefully he already has or will learn the latter from

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