How do your 11-13 yr. old boys earn money during the summer?

[ThelmaLou]

Mine are chomping at the bit to earn some money. I know lawn mowing might be an option, but what other things can we explore? (I'm mainly exploring ways they can hire themselves out...not in making money around the house. We already give them opportunities to do that.)

[Unicorn]

My ds (11) is mowing an elderly aunt's yard. Last summer a friend who was doing some landscaping/deck work, hired him to do some digging/ hauling rocks. What about feeding people's pets while they are on vacation? A thirteen year old could do some babysitting (mother's helper). That's all I can think of. I know how you feel though, my ds is really wanting to earn money too, and can't wait until he is old enough to have a real job. Of course, when that time comes, they won't want to work anymore! :0)

[betty]

my 13 yob has a weekly newspaper route
my 10 yog has regular pet sitting and dog walking. She makes a lot more than her brother, but he has multiple allergies and can't pet sit.

yard work
babysitting (best baby sitter our family had started as a mother's helper at 11-12 and moved up to sitting for my at 13. He is so good with play and since my oldest is a boy, this babysitter became a great role model. He's in college now, but my oldest, who babysits for me, want me to hire him on vacations just so he has a chance to hang out.) If your son is good at imaginative play and responsible, I'd encourage him to take the babysitting course and try small jobs with neighbors you know.


Your boys may also want to consider barter type work. For instance, there's a golf course near me that will allow boys (and girls) clean golf carts in exchange for a free round of golf (nonpeak) or buckets of balls for the driving range.

I would also encourage volunteering at a place they enjoy--if they do well, they may be able to turn that into a paying job when they are old enought for a work permit, which is 14 in my state.

[Mosaicmind]

My 10, 13, and 15 yr ds are doing a paper route. They have been for almost a year now. They each make about $100 every two weeks depending on tips.

[6packofun]

There are a few people at church who own their own businesses and we approached them first. My 14yo is hanging advertising door hangers for a franchise company that some friends own. Good pay and lots of exercise! Pizza places, home improvement type places are the big ones for this type of work and there's usually no need for the kids to speak to residents, just hang the ads on doors. :)

[paula j]

My ds will be 13 next month and he has several jobs already. He is mucking out stalls and doing some horse care work for a couple of older men in the area. He has a couple of haying jobs coming up, one person he worked for last summer and another she recommended him to. He takes care of pets and stock for friends that go on vacation. He does some mowing and weed eating. He is also helping out a relative with a roofing business doing some clean up work for them this summer.

[Danestress]

Around here a really dependable pet sitter can do well. He could advertise that he will pet sit, water plants, pick up mail, take the garbage to and from the curb etc. when people are on vacation. Taking care of the lawn could be part of that.

Honestly, my son made pretty good money as a babysitter at that age. It has to be the right family - he did not want to deal with small children or too many children. But some of the families around here with active 5 - 10 year old boys just LOVED having him sit and he was good at it.

[H0MEFree]

GREAT TOPIC!

My 13yr girl does your basic stuff- extra jobs around the house/property like weeding, and such.
She also can earn additional money by doing certain chores way ahead of their deadline. (My husband's idea)
She has a few much younger siblings and so she has been asking if she can start babysitting... I am ready to consider this now.

[ThelmaLou]

These are all great ideas. Thanks for the input. I especially like the pet sitting possibility. That doesn't sound too overwhelming!