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Dear Dish-it: When Can I Get a Job?

May 28, 2010

Dear Dish-it,


How do you get a job at age 11 and get paid?


hippiepeace


Dear hippiepeace,


It depends on the type of job. In the U.S., federal law makes 14 the minimum age for most paying jobs, but there are exceptions, such as [kwlink 23599 ]babysitting[/kwlink], farm work and working for a family business. Some states have child labor laws that set older minimum ages. But you'll be happy to know you can be a star at any age. There's no minimum age for working on TV, in the [kwlink 4109 ]movies[/kwlink] or in theatrical productions.


If you do [kwlink 17261 ]get a job[/kwlink], your employer should follow additional federal rules designed to protect kids from working too much, especially during the school year. For instance, 14-year-old teens shouldn't work before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on school nights. During the school year, they also shouldn't work more than 18 hours a week, or more than 3 hours a day on a school day. Why? You need time to study, play, and sleep!


Have Your Say

Any of you Kidzworld members out there have any suggestions for hippiepeace about jobs an 11-year-old can do - and get paid for??? Write them in the Comments section below!


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