The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

Is your teen ready for a summer job? Let's face it, not every family can afford the luxury of summer camps.  Some teens, no matter what financial background they come from, want to earn their own money.  This is fantastic! There are many great summer opportunities for teen's today.  Here are a few to consider: 1.  Babysitter 2.  Server 3.  Busser or Dishwasher 4.  Camp Counselor 5.  Tutor 6.  Movie Attendant 7.  Lifeguard (must get certified - contact your local Red Cross) 8.  Pet Sitter (dog walker) 9.  Retail Work 10. Internships (specifically in a field your teen is interested in)

What plans do you have for your teen this summer? Will they have a job? Will they be hanging out in the neighborhood?  Maybe catching up on some community service hours and volunteering. Whatever you decide it is a fact to keep your teens busy so that they don't find themselves busy in a way that may not be what you want.  Like a trip to the local sheriff's office! Do you know your teen's friends? Do you know where your teen surfs online? Do you know where your teen hangs out? Do you know what your teen does in their spare time? If you answered no to any of these questions, now it the time to find out.  Summer has a lot of down time.  There is nothing wrong with vegging a little and taking some time to relax from their studies, but be sure they are playing it safe and keeping within boundaries you approve of. Do you suspect your teen is using drugs? Drinking? Are you skeptical of the kids they are hanging out with? Is your teen being secretive about ...

Debra Beck, an Author and Mentor to Teens, has a wonderful website http://www.myfeetarentugly.com/ and focus's on building your teens self esteem. Having self confidence can help your teen make better choices. Debra just posted a very timely Blog on Teens and Money - check it out! By Debra Beck It’s amazing to me how teens react to money differently. My oldest daughter didn’t like to spend her money or mine for that matter. She was always very picky about what she purchased to make sure that the money was well spent. My youngest on the other hand spent both of our money without a second thought, and sometimes on wasteful things. I am noticing the same with my partners boys, one is very careful about his spending, and the other has the money spent in no time at all. What can we do as parents to assure that our teens have a certain amount of respect for money, no matter where it is coming from. The first thing I suggest is starting at a young age. Be careful that you don’t give th...

7 Ways Parents Can Help Kids With Job Searches Source: Radical Parenting by Vanessa Van Petten Parents often walk a fine line between wanting to help their kids find a job and making their child feel nagged and overwhelmed. There are few things to keep in mind when helping your child with the job search: 1) Know they are feeling scared too I often hear parents complain that the reason they are helping their kids with the search is because they do not think their kid’s are taking any initiative. This may or may not be true, but if you are feeling nervous and scared about them finding a job, then they are probably feeling it even worse. Be sensitive to the fact that they might not be showing you how vulnerable they really feel. 2) Approach Carefully You can ask once or twice in a few day period if your child needs help. If they say no, back off, they might need their space, otherwise they might feel you are nagging them. This is also a rather sensitive subject and can be packed with al...

With today's economy teens and kids are watching or hearing about many of their families having to cut back and become more aware of what they are spending. As parents we need to encourage our kids to look at their future - build a foundation - nurture a dream. With today's technology the ideas are always expanding. Check out this article and get your kids started in a positive direction! Source: Connect with Kids Teen Entrepreneur “I’m a gigantic believer in the value of an entrepreneurial experience- if there’s any time in someone’s life when they ought to take a risk it’s when they are not saddled with an enormous number of financial and family responsibilities.” – Andrea Hershatter, Ph.D., M.B.A. When today’s teens talk about what they want to be when they grow up … the answer that is becoming more common than ever is: my own boss. Like a lot of college freshmen, Sean Belnick has a job on the side. He works for a company that brings in more than 20-million dollars a yea...

A Guide for Teens: How to Find a Summer or Part-Time Job by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. Even if summer vacation is still a few months away for most teens, now is the time to plan and lay a foundation for landing that cool summer job you really want. Some caveats: This article is really geared to older high school and college teens, with a focus on summer jobs, not internships. For younger teens (under 15), check out another article I wrote, Job Ideas for Teens 15 and Younger: Beyond Babysitting . For college students looking for internship tips, we’re working on such an article, but for now, please visit: Quintessential Careers: College Internship Resources . The Action Plan for Teens Wanting a Summer JobThe first step you need to do is decide on the summer job you want or need -– in terms of the type of job, the location, the hours, the pay. You may not be able to find a job that meets all your needs, but given the current employment situation you should strive to find one that meets as ...

It seems today economy will soon effect the summer jobs our teens look forward to. Well, most teens look forward to. Connect with Kids offers some great tips to start looking for your summer employment. Parents, take a moment to read and learn how your teen can get a jump this summer. Having a summer job can help build self esteem, learn responsibility and accountability. No matter what your financial status is, a sense of self worth that job can bring a teenage can be so important in building their maturity and giving them a good foundation in life. Source: Connect with Kids “It’s a difficult job market, but don’t give up. Look longer and work harder to find [a job]. There are some, but you’re going to have to commit yourself in a much more focused way than maybe in the past.” – Michael Thurmond, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Labor They look through newspapers, scan the Internet, and drive around looking for “Help Wanted” signs. There aren ’t many out there. “I looked for a s...

With today's economy, many parents are working full time and/or two jobs leaving many teens home alone. Many will spend their days online - however it is important to get them involved in constructive activities outside the home. This can also help build self esteem! Is there a local Humane Society? A local Nursing Home that needs help? Maybe a Holiday Tree Stand that hires many teens to help carry the trees or deliver them? Booths in malls that wrap gifts? Jobs at movie theaters increase - check in your local area. Encourage your teen to get busy! Keeping your teen active can help prevent them from mixing and hanging out with peers that are less than desirable and looking for trouble. As difficult as it is, keep your lines of communication open! They may think they need a break from the structure of school and studies, but help them to see that all these activities could be fun! Parents, your employment is critical to feeding your family and keeping up with your mortgage or rent ...