Paper routes for children?

Question

I am a single mother of two children my daughter is 11 my son is 9 I want them to learn responsibility and also make there own money over the summer. I think it would be good for them to earn there own money and be able to spend it on things they want and also keep them busy over school break. If anyone has any suggestions for me it would be great. Keep in mind that I would be supervising them to make sure the job does get done right.

Answer 1

Personally, I think they're too young for real work for real pay.  Chores at or near home are much easier to supervise and direct.

You could help them weed the neighbor's gardens or walk dogs or whatever else everyone contributed already.  They could help you set up a yard sale with their own used possessions included or list things on eBay if you don't have a yard.

But don't rush them.  Let them be kids.  Expect them to get bored or distracted.  Expect that they won't be perfect.  Let them play and finish the work if it's not done.  They'll learn in time as long as you keep at it.  Just keep any money they made if they don't finish.  That way the job is done, but they aren't rewarded for not finishing.

Good luck!

Answer 2

The concept is great. However, paper routes have changed. These days, people make deliveries throwing them from their car very early in the morning. Consequently, the routes are bigger and a child on a bike (say) can't really compete with the people who are willing to drive to a downtown location at 4 in the morning, pick up hundreds of papers and fit them in their car, then distribute.

Other ideas are pet sitting for friends who go on vacation, dog-walking (that could be a daily job). If your 11-year-old is ambitious she could advertise with flyers and maybe build up a little dog-walking business.  She's not really old enough to babysit but the mother's helper is a good idea.  

Another idea if your daughter (I think 9 is too young for most of these ideas) is the responsible sort, you could tell her that you will pay her something small if she volunteers regularly. So she could volunteer at a senior center or your church and you give her $.50 a session, something like that.  She would probably get more rewarding work that way, but it does interfere with the idea of volunteering for the sake of doing something good in the world.

Answer 3

Its kind of hard to get kids working at that age.  Not many placed will take on a child of that age, not to mention that kids have their whole lives to work and forcing them to work at that young of an age is controversial.

With that being said they are your children and you can do with them what you choose.  paper routes aren't too bad, but a lot of them are done by older lazy people and you have to take into consideration your neighborhood's safety as well.

Im racking my brain to think of other jobs they could get, but theres not many for youngens that young.  Maybe there can be other methods to them learning lessons

actually i used to mow lawns around that age, maybe a little older, do yard work.  Those are the best ways I would think for kids.

Answer 4

What about cleaning an elderly neighbors yard? My brother and I did this for our retired neighbors. Didn't pay great but it still showed responsibility and instilled a sense of community. Other parents in the neighborhood have since taken my parents lead and a different kid does each retiree's yard on the street.

We also lived at the end of the Terry Fox run so every year we set up a stand with ice cream, drinks, peanuts etc. Half of what we raised went to the Terry Fox Run, 1/4 went to the Local Cancer fund (for families who need monetary assitance) and after costs the rest went to us. The local IGA donated stuff for us to sell, The local sporting goods store donated polyeurethane water bottle for us to sell.

Answer 5

I think a paper route is good, I had one when I was younger. You said you would be supervising them so it shouldn't be a problem. Don't forget about kool aid stands, good money maker for kids. I think it's great you are trying to teach your kids how to earn money for the things they want. It teaches responsibility, too bad not every mother wants their kids to work for what they want.

Answer 6

I wouldn't let my kids take on a paper route.  Papers usually need to be delivered at 5:00 AM, and depending on where you live, there are a lot of unsavory characters around at that hour.    If I were you, I'd steer the children in the direction of helping elderly neighbors with yard cleanup.   Your daughter may also be old enough to act as a mother's helper - not a babysitter when the parents aren't home, but someone who plays with and entertains the children while the mother gets her household chores done.