Is your child trying to show off their independence by getting a job?
Are they trying to find ways that they can earn a little bit more pocket money?
In America, your child needs to be at least 14 years old to get an official job.
However, there are still things that 12 year olds can do if they want to start younger than this.
If you child takes on a part time job, they learn incredible life skills that will last them a lifetime.
Of course you are going to feel nervous as the parent when you child does things independently for the first time, but you will soon see how much they are getting out of the experience.
Let’s take a look at the best jobs for 12 year olds.
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Best Jobs for 12 Year Olds
1. Babysitting
One great way for your child to earn some extra money is to babysit.
If your child likes kids, then you can ask around your neighbourhood and see if any of your family and friends need a babysitter.
2. Helping Mum
This job is ideal for children who don’t want to do anything on their own just yet.
Helping mum can include playing with younger children while the mother gets other jobs done.
This is also really good training for babysitting one day, and it’s a good job to introduce a 12 year old to the concept of working for money.
3. Yard Work
There are a lot of people out there who have big yards, but they don’t want to do the work to maintain them.
Or, perhaps they are getting older, and can’t get out to do it as much as they could when they were younger.
Either way, another great way for your 12 year old to earn some extra cash is to do yard work.
This can be anything from raking leaves to shoveling snow in the winter, planting flowers, or just weeding.
This way, your child can spend time outside, and earn money for it.
4. Work for the Family
If you run your own business, then you child can help out with some of the more simpler tasks.
These can include filing documents, mailing letters, making photocopies, and even answering the phone.
This is a great way to teach your child about the responsibilities of working, and managing a business day to day.
It’s also a great way to offer your child a job that is flexible, and doesn’t require them to work long hours just yet.
5. Tutoring
If your child is really good at a specific subject in school, then they might want to take advantage of their talents and tutor younger kids for money.
From math to science, it doesn’t matter what your child is good at, there will be a younger child out there that needs some help.
If your child knows how to play an instrument, they could also help another child learn the basics.
6. Cleaning Houses
There are a lot of people out there that don’t have the time to clean their own house.
Doing common household chores like dusting and vacuuming is a great way for your child to earn a bit of money.
Just make sure that they are good at doing this in their own home before they do it in someone else’s.
7. Helping the Elderly
If you have neighbours that are older, then they might be a bit of help around the house.
This could involve anything from taking care of their cat or dog to helping them with some chores around the house, and even buying groceries for them.
There are also a lot of older people out there that would appreciate the company of a younger person.
8. Bake Sale
Does your child love to bake? Then they could earn a bit of money by baking their favorite recipes, and then selling them.
They can sell their baked goods to neighbours and friends.
This is a great way to get your child used to the idea of selling something for money, and knowing what to expect.
If you plan on letting your child sell their baked goods in the neighbourhood, just make sure that you go with them, so that you know that they are safe.
9. Selling Crafts Online
If you are okay with the idea of your child selling something online, then they could start up a business on Etsy selling the crafts that they make.
If your child enjoys making crafts, then they can turn this hobby into a real-life business, and a way of making some money.
Help your child work out how to set up their own Etsy account, and they can start selling their wares.
The only drawback to this is that sellers online need to be eighteen, so you will need to oversee this process for the most part until they are old enough to do it for themselves.
10. Pet Sitting
If your child loves animals and can’t get enough of them, then they might want to think about looking after other people’s pets, instead of their children.
This is another thing that you can do in the neighbourhood, especially because there will be a lot of people out there that don’t like leaving their pets at home during the day while they work.
It’s going to involve taking the animals for a walk, feeding them, and cleaning up after them, so you will need to make sure that your child knows what’s involved before they offer their time.
Final Thoughts
As you can see from our guide above, there are plenty of jobs for 12 year olds and ways they can start to think about how to make a bit of money, so that they can be a little bit more independent.
A lot of these jobs are going to teach your child new skills, and they are also going to give them a bit of cash that they can use on the things that they like.
When your child is earning their own money, they are going to learn to appreciate it more. It’s also important to talk to your child about what kind of job they think that they would like to do.
Sit down with them and discuss the different options, and the pros and cons of each.
You will also need to make sure that the job is part time, so that your child can fit it around school and socializing with their friends.
