Instilling a sense of responsibility, both financial and social, is one of the most effective ways of avoiding the pitfalls of dealing with an entitled teenager. Kids who work to pay for the things they want learn not only the basics of earning and saving, but also the very valuable lesson that nothing in life will come to them for free. For your teenager, the real world is just around the corner. Learning to navigate adulthood is a scary prospect for even the most well-prepared kids; a child who expects the world on a silver platter is in for a startling realization. When classes end for the summer, encouraging your teen to get a summer job is a great way to help them learn more about responsibility and financial planning. These are ten of the best jobs for teenagers, one of which may be exactly what your teen is looking for.

1. Babysitter – It may seem that the teenage babysitter has been tossed aside in favor of high-end nannies and center-based care, but this isn’t always the case. Helping your teen connect with parents in the neighborhood or family members with small children can give them a line on babysitting jobs, which tend to be flexible in scheduling and very part-time.
2. Server – Everyone should work in restaurant service at some point in their lives, if for no other reason than to gain a basic understanding of how difficult the job really is. By working as a server, your child will gain a new appreciation for how hard the wait staff at their favorite restaurant works.
3. Busser or Dishwasher – Restaurant work is one of the best jobs for teenagers in terms of building character and learning to appreciate hard work, but front-of-the-house isn’t for everyone. If you have a less than gregarious teen on your hands, bussing tables or entry-level back-of-the-house positions like dishwashing may be ideal.
4. Camp Counselor – Outdoorsy teens may balk at the idea of spending the nicest months of the year cooped up in a restaurant or shopping mall, but those who have an affinity for dealing with younger kids may thrive as a camp counselor.
5. Tutor – Some kids struggle academically, while others seem to have intellectual pursuits come naturally. An honors student may have a built-in set of job skills, which she can offer to those who tend to struggle in school. Tutoring is also a great way for your teen to stay sharp over summer break, while other kids are losing the skills they learned last semester.
6. Movie Theater Attendant – During the summer months, Hollywood releases a slew of films that are projected to be box-office hits. As a result, your local movie theater will almost certainly be hiring additional staff members to deal with the influx.
7. Lifeguard – Athletic teens who are loath to give up their poolside time over summer vacation may actually be eager to work as a lifeguard, especially if they’re particularly proud of their swimming skills. Just be sure that your teen is certified in CPR and other life-saving skills to give him a bit of an advantage over other applicants for this highly desirable position.
8. Pet Sitter – Summer is the season of the family vacation, and most resort locations frown on an entourage that includes Rover or FiFi. An enterprising teen can capitalize on the situation, offering her services as a dog walker and pet sitter. Most teenagers will only be able to break into the business by working for people they already know, but word of mouth advertising can actually be quite popular. Before you know it, your high-schooler may have a booming little business on her hands!
9. Retail Work – Though the winter holidays tend to be the busiest time for retail outlets, there’s also a relatively steady rate of turnover that creates openings year-round in some stores. Encouraging your teenage gamer to look for work in a video game store, a fashionista to seek employment in a clothing store or a bookworm to apply at your local book store will allow them to work within an area of interest while still earning money and gaining life experience.
10. Internships – Many teenagers don’t have a clear idea of what they’d like to do professionally when they reach adulthood, but others are set on a career path from a young age. Internships are generally unpaid, so your teen may be earning experience, rather than money for her time spent. Still, internships look great on college applications and will provide her with some real-life work experience within a field that interests her.

While it’s certainly an experience in character-building to work a part-time job during the summer, it’s also important to remember that your teen’s real job should be focusing on her academic career. When the school year starts, you’ll need to help your teen come up with a plan for resignation so that she’s not spread too thinly to give schoolwork the attention it deserves.

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