If you are the parent of a preteen, you may be wondering how can 12 year olds make money? Earning their own money is a great way to teach children responsibility and the value of hard work. In the US, children under the age of 14 aren't permitted to have most standard jobs. However, that doesn't mean 12 year olds can't earn money. They just need a little creativity and persistence to find the best way to go about it.
Related: How to make money as a kid
Once their ideas are successful and they've started making some money, they'll need somewhere safe to put all that cash. So, think about setting up a GoHenry account. A GoHenry kids debit card is ideal for children and teenagers making their own money or even just earning an allowance. Children can use their prepaid debit card to spend their hard-earned money while at the same time developing good money management skills. Here's our guide to how 12 year olds can make money.
- Household chores
- Gardening in the summer
- Tech support for your parents/grandparents
- Selling old belongings
- Walking neighbors' dogs
- Washing neighbors' cars
- Doing paid online surveys
- Selling handmade items online
- Starting a blog
- Tutoring other kids
- Mother and elderly person helper
- Painting job
- Lemonade stand
- Bake sale
- Start a YouTube channel
- Putting up holiday decor
1. Household chores
Who would say no to having extra help around the house? There are many benefits of giving kids chores, and they are an excellent way for them to earn an allowance. Work out which chores they can complete successfully on their own and which would be most helpful to you.
You can then set up tasks in the GoHenry app that will pay out to your child’s account once the tasks are marked complete. Some of the household chores a 12 year old may be able to do include:
- Basic shopping
- Walking the dog
- Cleaning up after dinner
- Helping younger siblings
- Folding and putting away laundry
- Taking out the trash
- Washing dishes
- Vacuuming and mopping floors
There are also many ways to make chores fun for kids in case your kids struggle with their tasks.
2. Gardening in the summer
Summer is the perfect time for a 12 year old to get some paid gardening work, especially if they enjoy being outdoors. Whether mowing the lawns, pulling up weeds, or cutting back hedges, they can start by helping you in the garden to get some practice and then ask neighbors to see if they can drum up some summer gardening work. If they are serious about earning money from gardening, you could always help them make some flyers to advertise their gardening services and put them through neighbors' doors.
3. Tech support for your parents/grandparents
Not everyone is quite as tech-savvy as young people today. Providing tech support could be a great way for your 12 year old to earn some money. Some older family members might need help with understanding and navigating the internet, sending emails, uploading photos and videos, or even just sending text messages. Your 12 year old will probably be able to help with all of these things and much more. If they are very confident with all things tech, they could even broaden their customer base by asking any older neighbors if they need any help.
4. Selling old belongings
Your 12 year old probably has a lot of items like games, DVDs, clothes and toys that they don't use anymore. If you don't have younger children to hand the items down to, your 12-year-old could clear some space and make some money by selling them. They could try selling their old belongings at local rummage sales or trunk sales, or you could help them sell the items on online auction sites.
5. Walking neighbors' dogs
If your 12 year old loves animals, then what better way to earn some money than by walking friends' and neighbors' dogs? Encourage your child to spread the word that they are available to walk dogs and perhaps even contact local dog walking services to see if they need extra help. Your 12 year old may also be able to make some money by feeding pets when their owners are away.
6. Washing neighbors' cars
A bucket of soapy water, some sponges and a bit of elbow grease is all your 12 year old needs to earn some money from car washing—along with some paying customers, of course! Accompany your child as they knock on neighbors' doors to see if they'd like their car washed – and if your child does it well, they might find themselves with a regular job.
7. Doing paid online surveys
Some companies use paid online surveys to determine what young consumers think about their products and services. Paid online surveys aren't big money-makers, but it's quick and easy work that a 12 year old can do from home. These companies tend to want to know people's opinions on various things, including preferred brands, food, TV shows, clothing, and travel.
8. Selling handmade items online
There's a huge market for handmade items online, so if your 12-year-old is good at crafts, it can be a great way to earn some extra money. They just need to use their imagination and make things that people would like to buy on sites like Etsy or eBay. For example, cards, scarves, jewelry, candles, soaps and confectionary items. If they are particularly good at graphic design, then your 12 year old could make some good money selling their services as a logo designer on sites like Fiverr.
9. Starting a blog
Your 12 year old can make money by blogging through sponsored posts, advertising, and affiliate marketing. Blogging can be a fun way to make some money for older children. They just need to find their niche and make sure they post regular content. However responsible your child might be, you should keep a close eye on what they share online and remind them not to share personal information and photos.
10. Tutoring other kids
How can a 12 year old earn money while also building academic skills? Tutoring other kids can be a great way for your preteen to earn extra money while helping younger students in regular school subjects. Kids with special skills like playing an instrument or excelling at sports can offer tutoring services, too.
11. Mother and elderly person helper
While babysitting might feel overwhelming to some 12 year olds, helping mom out around the house can be a great place to start practicing skills. Caring for elderly relatives, helping with tasks, or assisting with in-home care can also be a great way for kids to get involved. Consider offering pay for special tasks or time spent as a helper for mom or the family.
12. Painting job
Painting is a great skill that many 12 year olds can manage well to earn money. From small projects to painting houses, there are plenty of jobs to consider. If your child enjoys painting, they can consider starting their own business and spreading the word with friends and neighbors for more work.
13. Lemonade stand
A lemonade stand is a classic way for kids to earn their own cash in the summertime. This age-old tradition is a fantastic way to show kids how to run their own business and practice being an entrepreneur.
14. Bake sale
In addition to a lemonade stand, you might consider a bake sale for your future pastry chef. Creating their own products for sale, like lemonade, gives kids a way to practice business skills. Practicing early can give kids the confidence they need to pursue their own business down the road.
15. Start a YouTube channel
If your child loves creating videos and isn’t concerned with making money right way, they can start a YouTube channel to create their own content. As they build a following, 12 year olds can make money from advertising and sponsorships in the future.
16. Putting up holiday decor
The holidays can be a great time for your 12 year old to earn some extra money. Consider offering to help neighbors put up holiday decorations or hang Christmas lights. You can even offer to pay your child for extra tasks to help get ready for the holiday season.
Jobs 12 year olds can legally be employed for
While 12 year olds can’t hold most standard jobs, they can legally be employed for a few different categories of work. If your child wants a regular paycheck from a job, they can consider the following for legal employment:
- Newspaper delivery
- Working in TV, movies, and entertainment
- Working in the family business
- Babysitting
- Performing small chores in private homes
Get a prepaid debit card with GoHenry to keep your money safe
When your 12-year-old starts making money, it's a good idea to set up a GoHenry account for them. With a GoHenry prepaid debit card, your child can access their hard-earned money to make purchases online and in-store. It's super convenient and ideal for older children and teenagers. You can also set up one-off or regular payments to fund their account, making it much easier for parents to give an allowance. Plus, there's the added peace of mind that the parental controls mean you can set limits on how much they spend and where they spend it.
There are plenty of ways your 12 year old can make some extra money. And once you set them up with a GoHenry account, they have somewhere secure to put their hard-earned money while they decide what to spend it on.
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