14 year old girl with no summer plans

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Forum -> Parenting our children -> Teenagers and Older children

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amother

Mon, May 27 2019, 8:32 am

I didn't want to hijack the other thread about the 13-year-old, since the situation is somewhat different. Before I start-located in Flatbush.

My 14-year-old sister has no plans for the summer. She went to camp in the past and hated it. She worked in a backyard day camp last year and quit after a week. She realized that she just doesn't enjoy working with kids.

She said that if she were getting paid enough, she'd be a counselor. But they changed the SYEP rules so that for 14- and 15-year-olds who get Youth Corps, they can't use it for a job, but instead need to go for 15 hours of "career education" per week, and they get paid $700. My sister didn't even get onto Youth Corps as of now, but even if she does, that's not really how she wants to spend her summer. Without Youth Corps, she'll make $150 a half as a counselor. That's downright robbery.

What other options are out there for a 14-year-old in the city who doesn't want to work with kids?

Last edited by amother on Mon, Jul 08 2019, 11:37 am; edited 1 time in total

amother

Firebrick

Mon, May 27 2019, 8:48 am

Can you find someone that goes around to day camps for entertainment, and she can be their assistant?
That can be career training.

amother

Burlywood

Mon, May 27 2019, 9:05 am

Is the youth corp training given during the day?

Am I understanding correctly that the 14-15 year teens can't work at a day camp and be on the YC program?

amother

Black

Mon, May 27 2019, 10:02 am

Unfortunately, there's not much. It makes it tough for a frum teen who doesn't enjoy working with kids. Those seem to be the only available, not to mention, acceptable, jobs....

amother

Red

Mon, May 27 2019, 11:00 am

amother [ Burlywood ] wrote:

Is the youth corp training given during the day?

Am I understanding correctly that the 14-15 year teens can't work at a day camp and be on the YC program?

YC training is 9-12 daily. The camps are figuring out how it could work out.

OP - can you ask around if she can work in the office? Filing?

amother

Azure

Mon, May 27 2019, 11:07 am

Disclaimer: I'm not in New York (and I'm not sure what Youth Corps is).

When I had a 14-year-old who wasn't interested in child care, it was challenging. A generation ago, kids this age did yard work, pet care or light housework for neighbors for pocket money. It's not so popular now, but if she has an interest, she can look for opportunities. Volunteer work is similarly hard to arrange for younger teens. However, if there's a particular organization that interests her, she can ask if they would take volunteers her age. You never know. Is there a family member or close friend who could use her for office work?

Fortunately, for kids (and their parents) who are willing to pay rather than earn, there are other choices. Consider community college courses, music lessons, sports programs and special interest camps (cooking, computers, crafts, you name it).

Some young teens spend a free summer or part of one learning household management: planning family meals and shopping lists, maintaining a cleaning schedule, things like that. These are important skills which are transferrable to other life situations.

If she is creative and already has some skills, she could spend the time productively making a movie, writing songs or stories, creating art, etc. She could have a nice portfolio by the end of the summer.

ra_mom

Mon, May 27 2019, 11:10 am

amother [ Firebrick ] wrote:

Can you find someone that goes around to day camps for entertainment, and she can be their assistant?
That can be career training.

I was thinking she should reach out to the kangoo jumps people and see if they need a young energetic assistant to jump with the kids at show them the ropes when they travel to day camps.

dankbar

Mon, May 27 2019, 11:34 am

Can she go around to daycamps to do some fun stuff for a fee. Lets say baking & food decorations demos. Puppet shows. Balloon sculpting. She can head the craft department for a camp or daycamp. Ordering the supplies setting up samples etc

amother

Chartreuse

Mon, May 27 2019, 11:40 am

She already took an art course last summer. She enjoyed it, but she was very lonely.

She's not the type to be the "young energetic assistant." She's a great writer and has artistic talent.

Ideally, she'd like to make some money this summer. She just doesn't want to work in something she hates for practically $0.30 an hour (they pay counselors $300 for the entire summer at her age).

Last edited by amother on Mon, Jul 08 2019, 11:36 am; edited 1 time in total

amother

Black

Mon, May 27 2019, 11:46 am

Really, at that age it's childcare related or nothing. And practically slave labor wages:(
She might do better as a babysitter in a home or mother's helper. Boring but easier. Better $, too.

dankbar

Mon, May 27 2019, 11:50 am

She can paint & sell her artwork for large amounts.
She can give the neighborhood kids scrapbooking lessons or art lessons for a nice fee.
Do professional scrapbooking for a fee.

She can bake professionally looking miniatures & sell for nice fee for yom tov or simchas.
She can help a party planner set up simchas
Or help a daycamp set up for events with decor.

amother

Burlywood

Mon, May 27 2019, 11:51 am

amother [ Red ] wrote:

YC training is 9-12 daily. The camps are figuring out how it could work out.

OP - can you ask around if she can work in the office? Filing?

I see, thanks.
OP, The YC enrollment site hands out a listing of companies who are seeking YC employees.
Your sister could also contact hospitals if she would be interested in a volunteer position at a hospital, as well as collect YC payment.

ra_mom

Mon, May 27 2019, 11:56 am

Does she want to relax during the day and join a night activity teen program? I saw an advertisement for that.

amother

Chartreuse

Mon, May 27 2019, 12:08 pm

Thanks for the ideas!

Amother red, I didn't see your post above before. She said she'd like to do that, but which place is going to hire and pay a 14-year-old for something like that? She's not going to do filing for free just to have something to do, since it's quite boring.

Amother black, she really doesn't want to do any childcare. Mother's helpers get treated like garbage as far as she and I have seen. They work like dogs.

dankbar, a lot of those things take confidence and an ability to put yourself out there. Most 14-year-olds have their mothers taking care of their applications to camp and for counselors. She's not "super talented" in art, she just has some talent and enjoys it. It's a hobby. I'll definitely pass along the suggestions, but knowing her, she'll probably say no to all of them.

As of now she still didn't get on to YC. Amother burlywood, thanks for those suggestions, if she does get YC she'll definitely check it out.

ra_mom, I'd love more info about that.

Last edited by amother on Mon, Jul 08 2019, 11:36 am; edited 1 time in total

ra_mom

Mon, May 27 2019, 12:10 pm

Teen Night Club - 7th & 8th graders
347-263-0913

I've seen other such programs advertised in past years, so keep looking through the weekly ads if you need a different location.

dankbar

Mon, May 27 2019, 12:27 pm

On the other thread for 13 year old there were lot of nice suggestions

chestnut

Mon, May 27 2019, 12:37 pm

ra_mom wrote:

Does she want to relax during the day and join a night activity teen program? I saw an advertisement for that.

I saw the ad, too. Might be a good idea

amother

Violet

Mon, May 27 2019, 12:41 pm

My dd is a year older and doing summer youth. Not sure where she’s working yet but she doesn’t like working with kids either and can only work a certain amount of hours per week by law. So I already know she’ll still be bored.

amother

Black

Mon, May 27 2019, 12:41 pm

OP agree with all you have said. Unfortunately, child care is really the only way realistically she will be able to earn any money. Even if she is woefully underpaid.

thunderstorm

Mon, May 27 2019, 12:47 pm

When I was 14 I worked in the office of a preschool day camp. I did a lot of shlock work, preparing supplies for arts and crafts , made copies of notes , answered phones and took messages, helped the director prepare for any big activities such as carnivals and shows (moving tables and benches , setting up booths and making signs etc). I was also a chaperone on all the trips and I helped distribute the lunch sandwiches , poured the drinks from the big commercial tanks of punch we brought along. It was lots of work but actually it was very rewarding and prepared me for future office duties. I wasn't afraid to assist with anything. I had another girl my age who worked together with me and we had a great time.

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