Three Reasons Your Teen Should Babysit — even if they have a busy schedule, get an allowance, and have minimal experience with little kids

Working in your teens gives you an advantage later in life.

It’s easy to think that we’re letting our teens enjoy their final childhood years. But, the research shows that teens with jobs have a greater chance of being employed for higher pay in a higher quality job in their 20s than their non-working counterparts.

Here are three ways babysitting jobs will set them up for success.

1. They’ll learn how to manage their time

Being on time is a skill.

Babysitters need to plan ahead to get to the job on time. They need to manage their calendar to avoid schedule conflicts. And, communicate with their parents and employers about how they’ll get to and from the job.

2. They’ll learn the value of money

It’s easy to spend someone else’s money.

Since my daughters started earning their own money their definitions of needs and wants have changed. It’s amazing how quickly they can decide they don’t need something when the money is coming out of their pocket.

3. They’ll develop empathy

Being responsible for others changes your perspective.

Experiencing first-hand what moms are dealing with every day helps teens appreciate what their parents went through with them. They’ll start developing empathy and be slower to judge after they’ve caught a four-year-old lying, or dealt with a two-year-old’s temper tantrum at the park.

Babysitting is a win/win situation.

Your teen will be providing much-needed childcare while collecting transferable skills for their bright future.

Read this post and more on my Typeshare Social Blog