Poll Shows Parents Torn When Teens Enter the Workforce

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by HealthDay.

As summer nears, teens may want to apply for their first job or try to boost their hours for the season.

Not all parents think this is such a good idea, though, according to a new C.S. Mott Children's Hospital poll.

"Teen jobs can be super positive, and I think we see that in our data, but there's also the risk of potential physical and mental health" problems, said Sarah Clark, co-director of the Mott Poll at the University of Michigan.

For teens, these early work experiences can gain them money for the things they want or need and help to build their self-esteem. But parents worry their kids might get overloaded.

Parents expressed concerns about kids with jobs not getting enough sleep. They also had concerns about scheduling and transportation, the impact on grades during the school year, stress, and workplace safety.

More than 1,000 parents of teens were polled. About 8% said their 14- and 15-year-olds had jobs, compared to 42% whose teens were 16 or 17 and more than half (53%) of those who had 18-year-olds.

About 76% of parents polled cited money management as a positive impact, while 70% cited self-esteem, 63% said time management, and 28% said social life.

Among the cons were sleep, according to 16% of parents, and impacts on activities and social life (11% each) and school grades (4%).

About 87% of parents said how a job fit into their teen's schedule mattered when thinking about whether a job was appropriate. About 68% cited the convenience of getting them to and from their job as a key factor. Other important considerations included the learning experience (54%), pay rate (34%) and the other teens who work there (25%).

Source: HealthDay
https://consumer.healthday.com/parenting-a-teen-2659845780.html