How Can Kids Make Money: 24 Ways to Make Money at Young Age

Back in the old days, there weren’t many ways to make money fast as a kid. But in the modern world, there are more options than ever before! In this guide, we’ll take a look at how to make money as a kid, covering lots of different ideas for kids of various ages.

Contents:

• Why Is Work Good for Kids?
• Jobs for Kids Under 13 Y.O.
• Jobs for Kids From 14 Y.O. 
• Jobs During Holidays 
• Online Jobs
• How to Spend Your Money?

Why Is Work Good for 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.

Making Money

Obviously, a good thing about kids making 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 themselves things that 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 effort and ideas 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 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 afterschool 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 Y.O.

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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, too. Let’s take a look at some super job ideas for kids under the age of 13.

A 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.

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. Yards always need work done, which could include trimming the grass, digging up weeds, planting seeds, or simply watering the lawn with a hosepipe. A good way to get started is to walk around the local area and ask friendly neighbors if they need a hand.

Helping the Elderly

Many neighborhoods have elderly residents who can 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 doing. You may even make some special friendships along the way!

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

Jobs for Kids From 14 Y.O.

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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.

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 your 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 people own dogs. 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.

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.

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 in 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 their 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.

Online Jobs

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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?

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 an online store on sites like eBay or Etsy. These kinds of platforms allow you to sell almost anything you want. 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

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.

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 try their hand at work. 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 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 around with your friends to let others know about the benefits of children working and to give them some great ideas!

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