Do you make your teenager work for things?

[fenderhutz]

Another thread in here made me think of this.

When I was in high school (early to mid 90's) everyone I knew that wanted to drive or have money for things had to take on some kind of work. Mowing lawns, McDonalds, local grocery stores etc.

I noticed that is NOT happening with my friends that have teenagers or family members as well.

Are we as a nation creating a dangerous situation with all of these kids growing up not having to earn their way or save up to be able to buy something?

I think it is feeding into the self entitlement as well as overuse of credit cards potentially because in the real world mommy and daddy don't buy you everything you want. Are we creating an even lazier generation?

And no, good grades and after school activities don't count as work. I knew people in school that did both without issue.

Any thoughts?

[macaroni tony]

I agree with you 100%. My nephews, sister in law, and other younger relatives are all spoiled rotten. I hate to see it They don't know the concept of working for their money and all of the little gadgets that they want, let alone working to eat and have a place to lay your head.

I do hate to think of what it will be like when this generation of teenagers grow up. When I have kids, man, they ain't gettin jack from me except food and shelter without workin for it

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

And no, good grades and after school activities don't count as work. I knew people in school that did both without issue.

Any thoughts?

Well, when you have a classic underachiever like mine, good grades and after-school chores DO count as work.

You have to set your standards according to the kid. In this case, if I didn't make all his privileges grade-dependant, my son would be a high school dropout and never lift a finger around the house.

As it stands, his cell phone, iPod, TV, video games, and hangin' with friends are all "privileges," NOT rights, to be earned through decent grades, helping around the house, and a general positive respectful attitude.

If I made my son take a part-time job after school or weekends, it would only give him money to burn and an excuse for not trying in school. I'll supply him a car, gas money, and a modest allowance.

School and chores come first. (of course, the car is a "privilege" to be earned as well)

[Relic]

My oldest son (16) wanted a Gibson SG, so I made him work for it. It took him about 7 months of doing odd jobs for me, for neighbors, family but he did it. He even kept on going and saved enough to get a Marshall amp.
I was proud of him and such. he does great when there's a reward in sight, but just random helpful stuff like cleaning his room, helping me rake leaves? Forget it.....

[Joe Gress]

We (as in my four brothers and I) have had help paying for a few things here and there, but most of it has come from our pockets from our jobs.

[macaroni tony]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

Well, when you have a classic underachiever like mine, good grades and after-school chores DO count as work.

You have to set your standards according to the kid. In this case, if I didn't make all his privileges grade-dependant, my son would be a high school dropout and never lift a finger around the house.

As it stands, his cell phone, iPod, TV, video games, and hangin' with friends are all "privileges," NOT rights, to be earned through decent grades, helping around the house, and a general positive respectful attitude.

If I made my son take a part-time job after school or weekends, it would only give him money to burn and an excuse for not trying in school. I'll supply him a car, gas money, and a modest allowance.

School and chores come first. (of course, the car is a "privilege" to be earned as well)

Yeah....as long as he knows he has to earn things. Some parents (including some that I know) will do whatever their kid tells them simply because they're their "perfect little angel" o "special little man"

[Indiana Mike]

I couldn't agree more ... I see my friends doing this all the time . " well johnny is 16 , lets go buy him a car , insurance , give him a gas card , new stereo , tires and 22's , iphone , and anything else johnny wants "

Kids and even "adult children " are often just given things . They act as if they deserve it or it's a right .

My son picked up dogsh*t for weeks to get an xbox that he also helped pay for with xmas money etc..

Instead of giving my kids everything I have them "work for it" first .


I never allow the practice of "working it off' , my employer never pays me in advance , I'm not doing it either.

[Relic]

Originally Posted by Indiana Mike

I couldn't agree more ... I see my friends doing this all the time . " well johnny is 16 , lets go buy him a car , insurance , give him a gas card , new stereo , tires and 22's , iphone , and anything else johnny wants "

Kids and even "adult children " are often just given things . They act as if they deserve it or it's a right .

My son picked up dogsh*t for weeks to get an xbox that he also helped pay for with xmas money etc..

Instead of giving my kids everything I have them "work for it" first .


I never allow the practice of "working it off' , my employer never pays me in advance , I'm not doing it either.

yep. I could not agree more.

[macaroni tony]

Originally Posted by Indiana Mike

My son picked up dogsh*t for weeks to get an xbox that he also helped pay for with xmas money etc..

[FL Knifemaker]

I agree with you.

My daughter has such a busy schedule with we've agreed to let her slide until march when she graduates. At that point she should be able to make pretty darn good money.

My son on the other hand..................................

Needs a fire lit under his azz.

[macaroni tony]

Now for the obligatory...


THESE DANG OL KIDS! DANG OL WHIPPERSNAPPERS DON'T KNOW NUTHIN BOUT NUTHIN BOY....WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE, I HAD THREE PAPER ROUTES! AND I MOWED LAWNS ON SATURDAYS! AND I SAVED UP MY $0.32 A WEEK TO BUY MY OWN RADIO MACHINE....

[HEIST]

Yep, it really shows with the 'work experience' students that we get at our work. The government contacts us on the kid's (14-17) behalf asking for work, and we give them work because the government pays them to 'work'. Bunch of the laziest kids and they don't even bother showing up on time or sometimes even at all.

I believe it's important for kids to work for what they've got. Anything their parents hands them, they should be super grateful for and not feel entitled to it.

[fenderhutz]

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

I agree with you.

My daughter has such a busy schedule with we've agreed to let her slide until march when she graduates. At that point she should be able to make pretty darn good money.

My son on the other hand..................................

Needs a fire lit under his azz.

On a side note off topic a guy at work has one of your knives, good stuff.

[Mike Dimin]

My 15 year old wants to be a film maker. He works 10 hours a week as an unpaid intern to a film maker. He also does video work on the side for pay that he uses to buy the gear that he wants. He has to keep his grades up in order to continue the internship. This takes a great deal of effort and time on his part, so we help out when we can and we think it is is important to do so

[basstotheface]

Next year my Mother will either force me to get a job to help with bills or find a new place to stay.























I can't wait.

[Relic]

Originally Posted by HEIST

Yep, it really shows with the 'work experience' students that we get at our work. The government contacts us on the kid's (14-17) behalf asking for work, and we give them work because the government pays them to 'work'. Bunch of the laziest kids and they don't even bother showing up on time or sometimes even at all.

I believe it's important for kids to work for what they've got. Anything their parents hands them, they should be super grateful for and not feel entitled to it.

Big time.
Unfortunately we live in the "Age of Entitlement" where even the parents feel that their kids are entitled to be entitled...

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Another thread in here made me think of this.

When I was in high school (early to mid 90's) everyone I knew that wanted to drive or have money for things had to take on some kind of work. Mowing lawns, McDonalds, local grocery stores etc.

I noticed that is NOT happening with my friends that have teenagers or family members as well.

Are we as a nation creating a dangerous situation with all of these kids growing up not having to earn their way or save up to be able to buy something?

I think it is feeding into the self entitlement as well as overuse of credit cards potentially because in the real world mommy and daddy don't buy you everything you want. Are we creating an even lazier generation?

And no, good grades and after school activities don't count as work. I knew people in school that did both without issue.

Any thoughts?

i tried that....but with step kids who can play one side off against the other it does not work.....there's always one "parent" who wants to be a pal rather than a parent that will give kids what they want.....the new age parenting style we have adopted does not bode well for the future.....

[Mike Dimin]

Originally Posted by Mike Dimin

My 15 year old wants to be a film maker. He works 10 hours a week as an unpaid intern to a film maker. He also does video work on the side for pay that he uses to buy the gear that he wants. He has to keep his grades up in order to continue the internship. This takes a great deal of effort and time on his part, so we help out when we can and we think it is is important to do so

oh here is one of his vids (unpaid)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udBWUyFoOWc

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Relic

Big time.
Unfortunately we live in the "Age of Entitlement" where even the parents feel that their kids are entitled to be entitled...

i've often wondered why some "parents"feel that their nine year old needs a seventy dollar haircut,or an earring,or allow their offspring to throw public tantrums at wally world,or the local piggly wiggly.....fathers didn't feel the need to be liked so much back yonder and i think the kids were stronger for it.....

[hover]

My Daughter "worked" all summer (watching her little brother while my Wife went to work) to earn her driver's ed money, and has to do chores to earn her monthly cell-phone bill (it's a flat 25 bucks a month)...and a little folding money.

We did this in lieu of her going to get a summer job that would pay her squat, and it really helped us out too, as my Wife took more hours and we got caught up on stuff. SO, she'll go to that, and get her permit...and when she's ready to get a car, we agreed to help her halfway towards adequate, reasonable for first-wheels type car. but SHE has to pay her insurance. SHE has to pay her gas.

As long as she is a student, she'll be on my coverage, the money will go to me, and unbeknownst to her, The Missus and I will be banking the majority of it, so she will have a bit of cash saved for when she's ready to leave the nest. Better for her to have a taste of the real world early...

We'll see what happens this summer, she'll most likely get a summer job, she's been looking and applying now, to get her name in the queue....

Same will go with the boy, but he's got a way to go.

For the life of me I could never stand the "priviledged" kids that got everything and respected nothing, be it top-shelf cars or instruments or whatever. It wasn't envy, it was disgust. In my mind it was an effort to placate the kids instead of having to deal with them on a parental level. Alot of cases, that was exactly the case.