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Jobs For Kids

Dear Dish-It,

I’m 10 years old and I was wondering, what kind of jobs can a 10-year-old have? And not jobs around the house; I mean jobs that pay at least $10 a week – I’m saving up my money.

candy123

Dear candy123,

Good for you for wanting to start earning some money so you can save up! The good news is, you have the right attitude to start working (remember, work means responsibility and following through on your promises, so having a positive attitude is a must). The bad news is, there are laws that prevent kids from starting to work in “real” jobs (like at a store or in a factory) at too young an age. I’m afraid that 10 may be a little to young to get hired at a “real” workplace – but that doesn’t mean you need to forget about earning money until you’re older! I know you said you don’t want to do “jobs around the house,” but there are plenty of things you can do to earn at least $10 a week (if not more!) outside of your home and around your very own neighborhood! Check out these ideas – maybe you’ll like one of them, or maybe they will inspire you to think up a cool job you can do on your own!

Yard Work

If you’re old enough to use a mower to mow lawns, then that’s a great way to earn money around your neighborhood – and maybe even in your very own front (or back) yard! Ask your parents for permission to use the lawnmower first. Then, you can either make up signs and post them around your neighborhood, or knock on your neighbor’s doors (especially the ones whose lawns look too long or untidy) and ask if you can mow the lawn for a fee.

If you’re not old enough to mow lawns, or you don’t really feel like lugging the mower around, there’s tons of other types of yard work you can do, either for your own parents or in your neighbor’s gardens. Depending on the season, you can rake leaves, plant seeds, water flowers, etc. The same thing applies – post signs saying you’re available to do yard work for a fee, or ask around your neighborhood to see if anyone may need your help.

Lemonade Stand

It may seem like a “babyish” thing to do, but some kids have been known to make lots of money running their own lemonade stand. If the weather is right (it’s got to be hot!) and you choose the perfect spot to set up your stand, you could entice almost every passerby to buy a glass of cold, refreshing lemonade from you! If you put up signs before you open for business, let people know exactly where your stand is and how much each glass of lemonade will cost. Also, selling some other items along with (or instead of) lemonade could mean you make even more money – try cookies, rice treats or other snacks, for a start!

Dog Walker

If you don’t like the idea of waiting for the weather to be just right in order to be able to earn some money, try dog walking. Dogs need to be walked all year round, no matter the weather or the time of year. This job is actually quite a big responsibility, so make sure you can handle it before you start offering your services to your family, friends and neighbors.

Pet/House Sitter

If someone you know is going to be away on a vacation or holiday and needs someone to either feed their pet, water their garden or pick up their mail while they’re away, let them know that you’re available and would be happy to do it for a slight fee. Your responsibilities could be feeding a pet cat or goldfish, watering a lawn or garden to make sure the plants stay healthy and alive or picking up the mail or newspaper while someone is away from home.

Paper Route

While some newspapers won’t hire kids who are under a certain age, some smaller or community papers will. When I was 10, I had a newspaper route! The next time you get a paper delivered to your house, check it out to see if it has any ads requesting carriers, and ask your mom or dad if it would be OK for you to apply for the job. You may have to wait until a paper route is available near your home, but once a nearby route opens up, you may be the one who gets to deliver the papers!

Mother’s Helper

While you are too young to be a babysitter, you could be something called a “mother’s helper,” which means helping out a mom with her young kids while she’s also at home. You may be asked to play with the kids and keep them entertained while their mom does other chores around the house – or even while she takes a break herself!

Car Wash

If you don’t mind getting a bit messy yourself, you can offer friends and family who drive or own cars to keep their cars clean and washed for them. You could even set up a schedule with people who like to keep their vehicles extra shiny – arrange to come on a certain day every month and wash their car for them. A great way to earn some dough when you’re 10 years old!