Part-time jobs for teens: Achieving a balance

Part-time jobs for teens: Achieving a balance
For many teenagers, holding a part-time job is an important rite of passage into adulthood. It teaches students about the working world and how to manage money. But a part-time job can cut into study time and add to the stress of teen years. Grades can fall, and attendance can suffer. Here are some tips:

• Before your teenager takes a part-time job, remind him or her that school work takes top priority. Make sure your teen understands that if grades begin to decline, he or she will be expected to cut work hours.
• The Educational Excellence Partnership recommends that students work no more than 15-20 hours each week during the school year. If possible, part-time work should be limited to weekends.
• If you strongly suspect that a part-time job is cutting into studies, ask your teenager. If the answer still leaves you concerned, check with your child's teacher or counselor. Don't wait until the end of a grading period to find out.
• If your son or daughter has a curfew on school nights, make sure your teenager's after-school job doesn't conflict.

Related Link:
http://www.aft.org
Source: "Helping Your Child Succeed: How Parents Can Work with Schools and Communities To Help Their Children Meet High Standards," from the AFT's Lessons for Life campaign.