How to Make Money as a Kid: Jobs for Kids Under 13 and Older

Are you a young go-getter looking to discover how you can earn your own money? Or perhaps you’re a parent seeking suitable opportunities for your child to start making their own cash.

In this article, we’re here to spark ideas and creativity, showing kids under 13 and older the ways they can make money and even start their own business ventures.

It’s never too early for young minds to explore the exciting world of financial independence, and we’ve got the tips and tricks to help them get started. So, let’s dive into the possibilities and find the perfect money-making adventure that suits your child’s unique interests and skills!

Contents:

• Why Is Work Good for Younger Kids?
• Jobs for Kids Under 13 Years Old
• Jobs for Kids From 14 Years Old
• Jobs During Holidays
• How to Make Money Online
• How to Spend Your Money?

Why Is Work Good for Younger Kids?

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You might be wondering whether work is right for kids. Well, many experts agree that there are actually lots of benefits associated with encouraging kids to try jobs from a relatively early age and learn about making their own money.

Here are a few reasons why younger kids should be encouraged to work.

Earn Money

Obviously, a top benefit of encouraging kids to make extra money is that they’ll actually have some cash to spend. This means that they won’t simply rely on a regular allowance and will be able to afford to buy things they want or purchase gifts for their friends and family.

The Value of Money

It’s vital for children to understand the value of money, and this can be a tough thing to teach. By encouraging kids to work and use their own efforts and ways to make money, they’ll start to value each and every dollar much more than before.

The Importance of Saving

Encouraging kids to work can also teach them the importance of saving. They might want to save up for something special, like a video game console or a new bike, for example, and will have to work hard and show restraint to avoid spending their money early on.

How to Work?

A firsthand experience of work will also help children learn about how the working world actually functions. They’ll see how labor and effort can be rewarded with cash and gain valuable skills that will be so important in their future when they grow up and enter the working world on a full-time basis.

Gaining Independence

A lot of kids are completely dependent on their parents to do everything for them, and many kids also depend on mom and dad to give them an allowance or buy them things they want. Work gives kids a chance to become more independent and feel all the benefits that independence can bring.

New Skills

Jobs for kids can also teach children a wide range of skills. Being an after-school babysitter, for example, can teach them key social skills, while making their own YouTube account can fuel their creativity and teach them about video editing and online sharing.

Jobs for Kids Under 13 Years Old

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You might think that only teens can make money, but there are plenty of options for younger children to make some cash at an early age, too. 

A Lemonade Stand

One of the best ways for kids to start making money is lemonade stand. This is a classic, but it’s still worth bringing up and can still be a valid option for young kids today. Almost any kid can set up their own lemonade stand, preparing a pitcher of lemonade and selling it from a desk or table in their front yard. This teaches younger children about how retail stores work and is a great first taste of working life.

Food Stands

Similar to lemonade stands, food stands can also be set up in the front yard or the corner of your street. From these stands, kids can sell tasty homemade goodies, like baked cakes, cookies, and chocolates. The only challenge is making sure that the kids don’t eat all of the sweet treats instead of selling them, but this can be a fun way for children to test their willpower.

Overall, encouraging your kids to sell baked goods is one of the easiest ways kids can make money.

Washing Cars

Washing cars is another one of those classic kid jobs, just like lemonade stands and bake sales. As long as people have cars, they’ll need to have them washed, and many folks prefer employing the services of local neighborhood kids to clean their cars rather than paying high rates at official businesses. The key to this job is making sure to clean the car thoroughly and leaving it shiny and sparkling to impress the owner.

Shoveling Driveways

If you live in an area that gets lots of snow during the winter, shoveling driveways is a really good job to do, as many of your neighbors may not want to go out into the cold weather themselves and spend a long time clearing the snow away. In fact, elderly people in the neighborhood may be relying on young, strong workers to come over and help them. This can be tough, physical work, but it’s a great way to serve one’s local community.

Yard Work

Similar to shoveling driveways, but available all year long, yard work is another good option for younger children who want to earn some extra cash while also supporting neighbors and their local community. It’s one of the easiest business ideas your kid can start with little money upfront.

Helping the Elderly

Many neighborhoods have elderly residents who struggle to carry out simple tasks. As well as things like doing yard work and shoveling their driveways, many older people might find it hard to carry out basic duties like getting to the grocery store, cleaning their homes, or organizing their kitchens. Young children can offer to help out old people in the area with any little tasks or chores they might need to do. You may even make some special friendships along the way!

Recycling

Recycling is an excellent job opportunity for kids. Not only does it teach them the importance of taking care of our environment, but it also allows them to earn some pocket money while doing their part for the planet.

Kids can participate in recycling by collecting recyclable materials such as paper, plastic, and aluminum cans from their homes or communities. They can then take these materials to a local recycling center or participate in recycling programs in their community.

By participating in recycling, kids not only contribute to a cleaner planet but can also learn valuable skills such as responsibility, time management, and teamwork.

In addition, recycling is also a great way for kids to earn some extra income. Many recycling centers pay for recyclable materials, allowing kids to earn money while helping the environment.

If you’re worried about your kid being elsewhere but at home, use the Findmykids app. It will help you to calm down and not restrict your kid’s independence.

Jobs for Kids From 14 Years Old

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As kids get older and closer to adult working age, they have even more opportunities to make money legally. Here are some interesting job and working ideas for kids aged 14 and above who are interested in starting their own businesses.

YouTubers & Streamers

These days, a lot of young people want to build their careers on video sharing and streaming sites, like YouTube and Twitch. There are even many success stories of teens who have become very famous and wealthy just by making vlogs or streaming themselves playing popular video games, like Minecraft and Fortnite. You might not become the next big online star, but it’s still possible to make some money on these sites with a relatively small audience.

Paper Route

If you prefer something more manual or like to spend time outdoors, you may want to consider getting your own paper route. This is a classic job that many teens have been doing for years, and it’s one that is still relevant and enjoyable in the modern era, too. All you have to do is carry and deliver newspapers around the neighborhood, and you can either do this on foot or with the aid of a bicycle.

Babysitting

Babysitting is another one of those classic teenage jobs that many young people like to try at least once, and it can be a really good one for making friends, building bonds, and developing your social skills to help you in the future when you’re applying for colleges and jobs. Plus, there’s usually a lot of demand for babysitting services, especially if you live in a busy city with lots of parents nearby. Choose the family near your house, it’ll save you time and bring money.

Painting

Do you have any neighbors who need their fences painted? Noticed some peeling paint that is ruining the look of an old home? Well, if so, you could head on over and offer to help out with the paintwork. Many people need fences, walls, and interior spaces painted and don’t necessarily want to spend hours doing all of that hard work themselves, so will be very happy to have some young local volunteers to help them.

Dog Walking

This is another great idea for teens to consider, especially if you live in an area where you notice a lot of pet owners.

Owning a dog can be a wonderful and rewarding experience, but it’s also a lot of hard work, and many people are too busy to walk their dogs every single day. You can offer to help out and walk dogs around the block or take them to a nearby park to run around and play. 

A few ideas for helping your kid get started with this kind of business? Have them print out flyers, get references, and invest in a few dog toys. Some planning goes a long way!

Odd Jobs

You may also want to simply take on odd jobs for the local community. This could include anything from yard work to cleaning up the streets or helping people move out of their homes. There are always things that need doing and people who need help in your local community; the key is to simply get out there and find these opportunities for yourself.

Tutoring

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One way to support our children’s growth and development is to encourage them to become tutors. Tutoring other kids not only provides a great opportunity for kids to earn money but also allows them to enhance their academic skills, boost their confidence, and improve their communication abilities.

Research shows that tutoring has numerous benefits for students. A study conducted by the National Tutoring Association found that students who received tutoring services achieved higher grades and test scores than those who didn’t. Tutoring helps to strengthen students’ critical thinking skills, which are essential for success in school and in life.

Moreover, tutoring can be an excellent way for kids to give back to their community. Tutoring younger students or those who are struggling academically can provide a sense of fulfillment and purpose. It can also aid in forming positive relationships with peers and teachers.

Another perk of tutoring is that it can be a flexible job. Kids can schedule tutoring sessions around their schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and other commitments. This means that tutoring doesn’t have to interfere with their education or personal growth.

Lastly, tutoring can be a lucrative job opportunity for kids. The demand for tutors is high, especially during exam seasons. The going rate for tutoring varies, but the average hourly rate is between $20 to $30. Depending on the number of students and hours worked per week, kids can earn a significant amount of money while enhancing their academic and personal skills.

Tech Help

With the increasing importance of technology in our daily lives, one great job opportunity for kids is tech help.

Tech help jobs can range from basic troubleshooting and device setup to more advanced tasks like coding and programming.

Not only do these jobs provide valuable experience with technology, but they also foster problem-solving skills and teamwork as kids work to solve technical issues and help others with their devices.

Many businesses and individuals are willing to pay for tech help services, especially as technology becomes more integrated into our lives.

Personal Shopping

With the rise of e-commerce and online shopping, more and more consumers are turning to personal shoppers for guidance on what to buy. This presents a great opportunity for young people who possess excellent communication skills, a passion for fashion and retail, and a desire to help others.

As a personal shopper, kids can help individuals or entire families pick out clothes, shoes, accessories, and other items that fit their style, budget, and needs. Personal shoppers can be employed by a variety of organizations, from department stores and boutique retailers to online fashion companies and even individuals seeking assistance with their wardrobe.

The job typically involves meeting with clients, discussing their preferences and requirements, researching potential purchases, and providing recommendations. Personal shoppers may also be responsible for ordering items, arranging for delivery, and managing returns or exchanges.

Parents can support their kids in pursuing personal shopping as a job opportunity by helping them build their skills and experience. This may involve encouraging them to volunteer at local boutiques or retail stores, investing in professional training or certification programs, and helping them create a portfolio of their work.

Teach Music Lessons

When it comes to finding the perfect job opportunity for your kids, few options offer as many benefits as giving music lessons. Learning to play an instrument or sing not only provides children with a fun and engaging activity, it also fosters key developmental skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

For starters, music lessons can help improve cognitive function, memory, and problem-solving skills, all of which are essential for success in academics and beyond. Moreover, music has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in children, providing a healthy outlet for managing emotions and promoting overall wellness.

Whether your child is an experienced musician or just starting out, there’s always a demand for music lessons, particularly in today’s digitally connected world.

Jobs During Holidays

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The holidays are a great time for kids to get jobs and make money, as they have plenty of free time and no school worries or studies to keep up with. Here are some job ideas for kids during the holidays.

Camp Leader

During the holidays, many parents send their children to summer camp to learn new skills and make new friends. And every camp needs some leaders who can step up and guide the way for the children. This is a great job for teens, allowing you to enjoy all the fun of summer camp with some extra responsibilities and interesting duties. Plus, you’ll usually make some great friends along the way.

Mowing Lawns

In the summer months, lawns grow at a faster rate than many people can cope with, and it can be tiring for folks to have to mow their own lawns every single week. You can offer to help out. Visit your neighbors to let them know you’d be willing to mow their lawns or put up flyers or posters around town with your name and contact details, as well as your prices.

Lifeguards

Here’s another good choice of summer job for older kids: you can volunteer to become a lifeguard or safety warden at your local pool, or at the beach if you live on the coast. It’ll be your duty to look after young swimmers and spot any signs of danger.

You’ll need to be a strong swimmer and have some training to carry out this job, but it can be really rewarding, and you might even save a life.

Nanny

During the summer, a lot of parents are still working, even when their kids don’t have to go to school, so they may choose to hire long-term nannies to live with them and look after the home and the kids while they’re busy with work. If you’re a teen who is great with kids and has a good sense of organization, this could be a super job for you, and many parents are willing to pay high rates for nanny services.

Team Member at Festivals and Events

If you live in a city or an area that has a lot of festivals and special events, you could become a helper or team member. This can involve a range of different duties, such as cleaning up after the event, helping to prepare the event, handing out posters and flyers to market the event, or taking payments and handing out tickets to attendees. Get in touch with the organizers and authorities in your area to see if any openings are available.

Market Seller

A lot of markets and similar events occur during the holidays, both in the summer months and around Christmas time. These markets are a great way to make some cash as a young person. You can help out at other people’s stalls, for a small fee, or you can set up your own stand and sell items like handmade jewelry, crafts, or farm-fresh produce if you grow your own fruits and vegetables.

How to Make Money Online

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Since the COVID pandemic, there’s always a risk that kids may have to go into quarantine due to the spread of other viruses and illnesses. But even when you’re stuck inside, there are plenty of jobs to try.

So, how to make money as a kid online? Here are a few ideas.

Online Store

If you’re stuck indoors during quarantines and lockdowns, you may not be able to sell products face-to-face with your customers, but you can still set up a store with your own business on online platforms like eBay or Etsy. 

These kinds of platforms allow you to sell almost anything you want, making it easy to start selling stuff online even as a kid. You could create your own arts and crafts to sell, for example, or buy and sell collectible items like trading cards or vinyl records.

Online Surveys

Did you know that you can make money from home purely by filling out online surveys?

Well, there are actually plenty of these survey sites that will reward you with points, gift cards, and even cash payouts. It can be quite time-consuming, and you won’t be able to make money too quickly, but if you keep at it, this can be a really simple and easy way to make some money on the side.

Writing Content

Many businesses will also pay young writers to create blogs, articles, posts, and guides for their websites, and this can be a very lucrative option for teens, especially if you have good writing skills.

You can use sites like Upwork and Fiverr to find writing jobs and start creating content on a wide range of topics, from science and nature to business and marketing.

Blogs

A lot of young people set up their own blogs to share all sorts of thoughts, opinions, and stories with the world, and some of these blogs turn into serious success stories!

Some of the biggest stars and celebrities out there started off as bloggers, and if you’d like to share your voice with the world, there’s no better way to do so than with a blog.

Influencers

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Imagine being paid to take photos of yourself and given free products from your favorite brands just for mentioning them. Well, that dream life can be yours if you become a social media influencer.

This isn’t something that happens overnight, and it takes a lot of hard work, but it is possible for almost anyone to become an influencer. Just start some social media accounts on sites like Instagram and start sharing content with the world.

Self-Publishing

Ever wanted to write your own book? Well, in today’s world, it’s easier than ever, as you don’t need to worry about having your own literary agent or publishing deal; you can simply write something and then self-publish it via Amazon or other sites. You can write about anything you like, from fantasy fiction to nonfiction guides.

Just make sure to edit your book properly before you publish it and invest in marketing to get some buyers.

Social Media Management

While traditional part-time jobs like babysitting or delivering newspapers are still popular, there is a growing new field that your kids may be interested in: social media management.

The benefits of this job opportunity for your kids are numerous. For one, it provides them with valuable skills that are highly sought after in today’s job market. Social media management requires excellent communication, creativity, and organizational skills, which are transferable to other fields.

It also allows your kids to work from home or any location with internet access, providing them with flexibility and independence. And it can be a great way for them to earn some extra money while gaining valuable experience.

Of course, social media management is not without its challenges. Your kids will need to be comfortable using social media platforms and have a good understanding of the brands they are working with. They will also need to be able to manage their time effectively and balance their work with school and other commitments.

How to Spend Your Money?

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So, what can kids actually do with their hard-earned cash? Well, that’s up to you! Early on, it’s natural for children to want to spend the money they earn quite quickly on items that they want, like toys and games, and they should be allowed to do so.

However, as time goes on, kids may want to consider saving up their cash for bigger purchases. They might give themselves a target, like saving up a set amount to buy a new bike or something similar. Or they may even want to save almost everything they earn and build up for the future.

Parents can set up investment accounts, savings accounts, or other kinds of accounts for their children, and the cash they earn can go straight into those accounts. As time goes by, the amounts will build up and interest will be added, giving kids a great fund for college, their first car, or even the deposit on a home when they get older.

How to speak about money with kids, find in Telling children about money: teaching the child to be financially intelligent.

So Many Ways for Kids to Work

There’s never been a better time for kids to earn cash and explore a way to make money. From classics of the past like washing cars and setting up lemonade stands to more modern innovations like YouTube accounts and streaming, there are countless options out there. Kids who are old enough to get paid now have the opportunity to start earning a decent money.

In today’s digital age, even playing games can be a profitable venture, as many people are willing to pay for in-game items and services. So, whether you’re considering traditional methods or looking for more contemporary ways to earn money, the possibilities are endless.

Kids who start working now will not only be better prepared for their future financially but will also develop key skills they can rely on when they grow up. Share this guide with your friends to let others know about the benefits of children working and to give them some great ideas!

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