Will you allow your child to work part time?
Advertisements
Most parent encourage their child to work part time after completing O-level and before starting poly or uni. This is to make them understand the value of money.
However, I feel that they are only young once and they should be spending time on their hobbies or hanging out with their friends.
Furthermore, the salary will be low as they are inexperienced. It’s like cheap labour. When they start working, they will spend their entire lives working.
What’s your view?
Advertisements
Netizens’ comments
- I think the child can decide for themself. I was 17 when I took a retail job as a part-time cashier – not because my parents encouraged me to, but because I wanted to experience the working life myself. Don’t have to worry too much – they are their own person, and at 16+, they can make their own decisions. 😀
- Part of your duty as a parent is preparing them for the future, which includes, surprise surprise- learning how to put in hard work. Also to understand the value of money. Past a certain age they should certainly try working for themselves – they still have alot of time to enjoy their hobbies if they need to. Part time work gives a good opportunity and low cost (cost as in failure cost) for them to try and learn.
My family never needed the money. But my mom encouraged me to find work over the long holidays once I completed my A levels. I did waitering, coaching, worked in a bike shop, internships. I learnt alot- what goes on behind the scenes in a restaurant. How to be punctual, polish cutlery, pour wine and beer, balance food on trays, how to be polite to asshole customers. Learnt how to fix bikes and all about bicycles, how to be a salesman, how to find useful things to do at work if very bored. And also how to work as a team with colleagues.
Even if the salary is low, that makes them understand what it means to earn their own money and how to appreciate lower wage earners. Take it as free tuition in life skills. - Personally my parents never ‘forced’ me to work part time, but I appreciated being encouraged to do so.
Working PT, like what others have commented already, allows kids fresh out of school to experience what working is like. They will be able to learn soft skills essential for navigating workplace dynamics, patience (with rude customers), and a greater appreciation for the hard work that people put in to earn their keep.
Having my own source of pocket money (i.e. salary) was a great motivator as well. I liked the feeling of independence from not having to rely and ask my parents for money. - I will strongly encourage my son when the time comes. To me is not so much about understanding the value of money; that one should be part of their upbringing. Is more on developing skills that you can only learn in a workplace and the chance to experience easy-mode working.
But at the end of the day, if he so chooses not to and want to pursue other activities or hobbies then sure. But I will make it a point to him that it is not guaranteed I would support those activities/hobbies financially.