If you have a 10-year-old and you are based in America, they can’t legally work a conventional job.
However, they might be a budding entrepreneur, who can’t wait to start earning his or her own money.
The great news is that with a little bit of hard work and creativity, 10-year-olds can find a lot of different ways to make money.
When they make money, they learn really important lessons about teamwork, responsibility, and managing money.
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Can 10 Year Olds Work Legally?
There are a couple of pieces of legislation that mean that children under the age of 14 can’t legally work in conventional jobs.
This is called the fair Labor Standards act. Of course, there are always going to be exceptions to the rule, however, generally speaking, a child isn’t going to be able to work a traditional job.
However, if the child is employed by the family business, or if the child is doing agricultural work, then that is OK.
A side note that you should be aware of is that before you let your child start their own business, make sure that you check out local ordinances, because you might need to get your hands on a permit for them to be able to do this.
Entrepreneur Jobs for 10 Year Olds
When a child gets a job that is age appropriate, they are able to learn valuable lessons, to do with commitment and responsibility.
Starting their own mini business also encourages money management, as well as creativity.
Just make sure that you are helping them manage the business alongside with them, and it’s also helpful to know that friends and family can be a really good source when it comes to referrals and first clients.
1. Plant and Pet Sitter
Does your 10-year-old love taking care of the family pets, and loves to water the plants around the home? If so, they might be really into the idea of plant or pet sitting.
When neighbors are away on holiday, or on a business trip, your child can offer their services of being able to water the plants and feed their pets.
Remember that you need to charge extra for additional jobs like taking animals for walks, and grooming.
2. Plant Daycare
Setting up a dog kennel, or a cattery is going to be too much work for a 10-year-old, but they can set up a plant daycare.
Just like people drop off their pets to be looked after by somebody while they are away, there are a lot of people that are willing to leave their plants with a child.
This kind of service is going to be appealing to people that aren’t always keen on the idea of having strangers in their homes.
Also, a 10-year-old is going to have limited transport, so it’s a lot easier to have the plants come to them.
3. Dog Walker
There are plenty of people out there that have dogs, which means that dog walking can be a niche of really nice jobs for 10 year olds to earn some money.
We suggest that kids at the age of 10 walk just one dog at a time, but you can make exceptions, like if the client has a couple of small dogs.
Dog walking can be big business, which is why you need to make sure that there aren’t any permits in your local area.
The great news is that it is really easy to earn money through this type of job.
4. Lemonade Stand
Children have been setting up lemonade stands and selling lemonade for decades, and it’s a great and easy way to earn some extra cash, especially in the summer months.
You don’t just have to stick to lemonade, you can also sell snacks as well, and the best part is that you can charge however much you want.
Just to make sure that you aren’t ripping people off.
5. Yard Work
There are a lot of people out there that won’t be comfortable with a 10-year-old mowing their lawn, due to safety concerns.
However, they are happily going to hire them to scoop up dog poo, pull weeds, and even rake leaves.
Yard work is something that a lot of people can get behind, because most people have a yard, and most people either don’t have the time to do it themselves or would rather pay someone else to do it.
6. Paper Route
Of course, you might have done a paper route when you were a kid, but the world has changed over the last 30 or so years, and there aren’t too many kids doing paper routes anymore.
This is a shame, because it’s a really great first job for kids.
However, you might want to see if your local area still has an opportunity like this.
Running a paper route can keep kids fit, and teach them really important lessons like managing their time, and being responsible. It also helps them get out of bed.
7. Backyard Eggs and Chickens
Another great first business that you might want to try out for your 10-year-old is being a local egg supplier.
Not only do they have to learn how to fulfill orders, but they need to learn how to manage and care for animals.
They will have to think about how much they are going to charge for their eggs, and they need to understand how much the cost of running the business is, from the egg cartons, to the chicken feed.
Not every area permits backyard chickens, so you’ll need to check in on your local laws, to make sure that this is the kind of job that a 10-year-old can have.
8. Tech Support
There are a lot of older folks in society these days that get a little bit confused by the technology of today.
As a result, they can end up getting ripped off by expensive IT consultants, for simple tasks that the average 10-year-old can figure out in just a couple of minutes.
Your 10-year-old can make the most of their technology skills to offer simple tech support to those that need it the most.
Common problems can include Netflix not working on the TV, printers not connecting to computers, and smartphone issues.
A 10-year-old who is tech savvy can easily help install and set up an app, share basic social media advice, and then teach elders how to find their favorite music on Spotify.
9. Parent Helper
10-year-olds are too young to be able to babysit legally in the majority of American states.
However, as an alternative, they can become a parent helper.
They can be a parent’s assistant, and do minor cleaning, or even keep a toddler entertained, so the parent can do other things.
10. Reader
You’d be surprised at how many older people there are in your community that either can’t read themselves anymore or love the idea of having someone read to them because they spend a lot of their time alone.
Of course, there are podcasts and audio books, but these just aren’t the same, especially when they crave human connection.
If your 10-year-old loves reading, then maybe you can market them as a reader, at your local retirement home, or assisted living centre.
This is going to bring joy to an older person, while giving a 10-year-old a bit of money, and a sense of responsibility.
11. Hand Out Samples of Flyers
There will be a lot of local businesses in your area that need help handing out promotional samples or materials of their products.
Check them with your local Chamber of Commerce, to see if there are any business seminars, or local job fairs in your area.
12. Event Setup
Are you connected to any caterers or party planners?
People in professions like these always need help setting up chairs and tables, taking out rubbish, and wiping tables off before and after events.
Online Jobs for 10 Year Olds
There are plenty of jobs out there that a 10-year-old can do, even though they can’t legally work in conventional jobs in the US.
However, there’s also jobs inside that they can do as well, involving the Internet.
The good news is that the Internet has a large number of jobs for 10 year olds to get started.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of letting your 10-year-old find a job online.
13. Sell Stock Images
Does your 10-year-old love the idea of photography, and editing their photos?
Then they might be able to sell some of their images to companies that provide stock images to their clients.
There are guidelines and rules to each business.
14. Etsy Business
If you have a 10-year-old that loves to create things, then they might want to set up a shop on Etsy.
They can sell anything from jewelry, to holiday decorations, to tie-dye products, and even homemade bath bombs.
It all comes down to what they are passionate about, and what they have the time to make.
15. Social Media Influencer
As we all know, social media is pretty controversial, and not every parent is going to be comfortable with their child creating a presence for themselves online.
However, for those that feel they’ve got the time and the skills to monitor the situation, this is a way for children to turn their interest in social media into a following.
As an example, there are some companies out there that will send people books for free, in exchange for reviewing them.
As a result, a 10-year-old could set up a YouTube channel, or an Instagram page, and review the books that they have read.
16. Social Media Profile Creation
These days, there are quite a number of 10-year-olds out there that know how to set up a social media profile in no time at all.
If your child knows how to do this, then why not make the most of these skills?
There are a lot of small business owners out there that know the advantages of being visible across multiple social media networks, yet they don’t have the time on their side or the skills to be able to do this on their own.
This means that they will be more than happy to pay your child to set up their social media profiles for them.
Volunteer 10-year-old Jobs
Not all jobs are going to result in a financial reward. There’s a lot to be said for a 10-year-old learning the value of having a job by volunteering.
Being a volunteer is going to teach responsibility, as well as the spirit of giving. However, most places are going to require a guardian or parent to be present.
This can also be a really good way for you to spend time with your child.
17. Animal Shelter
A lot of the time, animal shelters are in desperate need of help.
However, it’s not just about playing with animals that you find adorable, and then taking them for walks.
You’ll need to do other things too, like folding laundry, cleaning litter trays, and filing paperwork.
18. Reading to the Elderly
As we’ve talked about already there is a market for reading to older people but some of these older people aren’t going to have the money to pay you for the privilege.
If you want to be able to learn a bit more about volunteering, and connect with older people, and you live near a nursing home, than your 10-year-old might want to put their reading skills to the test, and read to the elderly.
19. Clean-up Crew
There are some local organizations that manage local cleanup initiatives, like cleaning litter off the beach, or in the park.
This might be something that your 10-year-old is willing to do occasionally.
20. Local Library
These days, there aren’t too many libraries out there that have big budgets, which means that they are always on the lookout for volunteers.
A 10-year-old that is responsible is going to be able to volunteer after school once a week, which might not seem like a lot of time, but it’s a huge help for the library.
This is also going to benefit your 10-year-old, especially if they love reading already.
21. Community Gardener
There are quite a few neighborhoods these days that have community gardens. Find out if your 10-year-old can be of assistance.
Maybe they are looking for somebody to water the plants or do some weeding.
This is a great chance for them to learn about plants, and then also to understand how to look after plants as well.
At-Home Jobs for 10 Year Olds
One really important job as a parent is to prepare your children for life when they become an adult.
One way to do this is to encourage your children to take on tasks around the home.
By doing chores they are going to learn respect for themselves and responsibility, and respect for where they live.
By the time your child is 10, they should be able to contribute in a number of different ways, including making their own lunch, unloading the dishwasher, sweeping the deck or floor, brushing pets, and even cleaning the toilet.
There might be some other jobs that your 10-year-old can help you with around the home. Let’s take a look at what some of these are.
22. Wash the Car
Washing the car can be a big job, so first you’ll need to talk to your 10-year-old about what needs to be done to wash it, and how much you’re willing to give them for the trouble.
You might even need to watch the first time, to make sure that they don’t end up damaging the car in any way.
23. Pack Lunches
Most 10-year-old children should be able to make their own lunch for school.
Maybe you’ve got rules, so that they understand what’s healthy, and what’s not so healthy when it comes to their school lunch.
Once they know how to make their own lunch is this not only going to save you time, but it’s also going to give your 10-year-old an opportunity to earn some money for it.
24. Organize Clutter
The more children you have, the harder it is to keep up with the mess at home.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at any point about how messy your house is, then you might want to recruit the help of your 10-year-old child, and even pay them for doing so.
Perhaps your garage needs organizing, or perhaps you haven’t gotten to that spare room in a while.
Whatever it is, asking your child to help you organize clutter is a great way to pay them.
25. Make Dinner
If your 10-year-old child has already shown that they have an interest in cooking and baking, then you might want to pay them to make dinner every once in a while.
As long as you set your expectations at the right level, and don’t expect a five-course meal, then this is one less night that you have to worry about making dinner for the whole family.
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FAQs
How Much Should a 10-year-old be Paid?
Of course, this completely depends on the job that they are looking at doing, and what the job involves as far as the work goes.
A 10-year-old generally speaking should be paid less than a professional would be paid for the same job.
Final Thoughts
Because of child labor laws there aren’t too many conventional jobs out there that your 10-year-old can get just yet.
However, while they are waiting to turn 14, so that they can get a conventional job, as you can see there are plenty of other ways that they can make money.
From being able to volunteer their time, to being able to create a lemonade stand, or even walk the neighbourhood dogs, there are plenty of jobs for 10 year olds to make some money.
