10 Ways For Your Child to Earn Money This Summer

The carefree days of summer vacation are a great time for your child to relax after the busy school year. However, boredom is bound to set in after a week or so unless they have something productive to do.

This is a sponsored guest post

When children are very young, daycare and summer camp often fill their summer days (especially if one or both parents work). But as your child enters their teenage years, a whole new possibility presents itself: the opportunity for a summer job.

There are tons of different ways that your child can earn money over the summer break, from the traditional mowing lawns and walking dogs to more modern alternatives.

Here are ten great ways for your child to keep busy, have fun, and earn a little money this summer:

Dog Walking.

If your child loves animals, dog walking is often a fun and active way to make a little money over the summer.

Most adults don’t get a long summer vacation and will still need to have their dog walked during the day while they’re at work.

While it’s important to keep safety considerations in mind (children should only walk dogs they’re physically capable of handling and dogs without aggression issues), dog walking can be a great way to get exercise and earn a little money.

Pet Sitting

Lots of people go on vacation during the summer months, and they’ll need someone to feed their cats and walk their dogs while they’re away.

Because boarding and pet hotels can be very costly, many people look to local kids to provide their pet with care and attention while they’re away.

If your child is an animal lover, you can help them advertise their services as a pet sitter.

House Sitting

Even if they don’t have any pets, many people feel more comfortable going away on summer vacation if someone is watching their house.

House sitting often entails small chores, such as collecting the mail, watering the plants, and occasionally sleeping over.

Lifeguard

While this job requires your child to be a strong swimmer (and likely some on-site training), lifeguarding can be a very rewarding summer job.

Besides making a little money, being a lifeguard can teach your child invaluable lessons in responsibility and safety.

Lawn Mower

The hot summer months often mean more intensive lawn care. If your child is old enough to safely operate a lawn mower, they could offer their services to local families in the neighborhood who may not have the time (or the desire!) to mow their own lawn.

And best of all? This type of work can be replicated in the winter in the form of snow shoveling.

Concession Stand Worker

Summertime brings various carnivals, fairs, and other outdoor activities. Kids can often be found working the concession stands, either selling tickets or refreshments.

While these jobs rarely last the entire summer, they can be a great way for your child to earn a little extra cash.

Babysitting

The old standby. Parents still like to go out of town, or even just out for the evening, during the summer months.

This is especially true when school is out and the parents need a little break!

Babysitting, provided your child is old enough and responsible enough to handle it, can be a great part-time job during the summer.

If your child wants to make themselves even more marketable as a baby sitter, they can even consider enrolling in CPR or childcare classes.

Newspaper Delivery

If your child is old enough to ride a bike or drive a car, newspaper delivery could be a great option for them in the summer time.

Best of all, newspapers are usually delivered in the early morning before it gets too hot!

Freelancing

Does your child have any special skills? Are they a talented artist? Savvy with computers? Do they speak a second language well enough to do basic translations?

If so, let the wonders of technology work in your favor! Your child may want to consider freelancing.

While this job is best suited for older children, usually 14 and older, there are tons of websites that connect freelancers to businesses and individuals who need work completed, and this can be a great option if transportation is an issue, as most freelance work can be done from home.

Golf Caddy

This is another classic job for teenagers. If your child doesn’t mind the heat, likes spending time outside, and has an interest in golf, being a golf caddy at the local driving range could be a great fit.

Make sure to lather on the sunscreen, though!

Bio: Ron Stefanski is the founder of www.JobsForTeensHQ.com and has a passion for helping teenagers find jobs.  He created the website because he feels that teenagers need to focus on their professional passions much earlier in life and aims to teach them how they can do that.  When he’s not working on his website, Ron is a college professor and loves to travel the world.

Author: Jasmine

SAHM to one little boy, and wife to a former member of the USMC. I blog about parenting, relationships, brands I love, and product reviews!