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DH is strongly of the opinion that kids should have to do quite a bit of work, particularly to help pay for their own college. He started working at 13, had a hardship license at 14, and worked multiple jobs during college. His dad is a total workaholic (in a very bad way), and instilled the idea in him that you HAVE to work a ton pretty much to have value. I do think our kid(s) should work some, but I don't want them to have the same sort of mindset he did. It's going to be interesting finding some balance there.

I want my kids to work hard at school, participate in keeping our home clean and running well, and (when they get to HS) find ways to earn extra money to pay for their own fun expenses. We'll always take care of their clothes and food and other necessities, but it they want something that is explicitly for fun they'll have to find a way to earn it.

I wouldn't be opposed to paying them myself if they were to go above and beyond their basic house hold chores. Oh, and I will expect them to do their best in extracurriculars that they show interest like music lessons. If they don't put forth an effort the activity will go away.

Do well in school, participate in extra curriculars, do chores. That's the baseline.

I'm iffy about working in high school and college. It really depends on what's going on--it wasn't feasible for me to work during my school year because I played 3 sports. I was so busy, there was no time for work, so that was acceptable in my house. And my mom probably didn't want to drive me all over the place to work, too. So yeah, at 14, my kids probably won't have a job because *I* don't have the time to cart them around.

In college, my load was so much more demanding than other majors, but i worked during the summer. So....I think earning a little extra money is good (because I certainly will not pay for everything they want), but I realize it's not always feasible to have a 'job' on top of everything else they may be doing, so I am not going to demand it if their courseload is high and demanding.

I want my kids to be kids, though. They'll work plenty throughout their life. I don't believe they should pay for household expenses. DH and I chose to have them, so we are responsible for them.

They will be responsible for part of their own tuition. We simply cannot and will be unable to cover it all for all of our kids. But i'm not sure what the higher ed landscape will look like in 16 years

I had a job in high school, but it was seasonal, I worked at a local pool as a lifeguard. During the school year, though, I didn't have a job and my parents preferred it that way. Now, my childhood wasn't luxurious or anything, but we all had the basics.

I saved the money I earned in the summer, I eventually lost it in some poorly chosen stocks I bought while interning at a brokerage house.

More than anything i think it was my parents goal to fill my day as much as possible so i wouldnt get into trouble. Academics always came first, 2nd to that was what ever i made a commitment to do (whether it was to an activity, or a boss).

My employment began the summer after 8th grade. i was too old to attend the daycamp ran through the elementary and middle schools. So my mom got me in as a volunteer Counselor in Training. It was 3+ hours a day, 5 days a week for 5 weeks. my mom ended up paying me something like $100/week to do it. I worked there every summer for like 6 years into freshman year of college. I ended up heading the arts & crafts room and doing the after camp care.

When I was a sophomore in HS I started doing the after school care through the same school organization. That was 3 hours a day 5 days a week, except school holidays. As a senior i got a job in retail.

In college i worked like 2-3 jobs at time. I always did work study through the college, I worked at a pizza shop at night and on weekends, and once I worked my co-op, I stayed on part-time and would arrange my schedule so i could do a full 8 hour day each week there. Most of the money I earned was either saved, used for my own expenses, or put toward materials for college classes (fabrics, trims, art supplies, printing)

ETA: In HS, the job at the daycamp and after school care was a 10 minute walk from my house.

My kids will have age appropriate chores as soon as they are able.

They will begin working a summer job or evening/weekend babysitting jobs around 13-15. The $$$ earned will go toward purchases DH and I find frivolous...designer jeans, etc.

We will cover all household expenses as well as clothing, any fees/materials for school and extracurriculars, birthday presents for friends, etc.

They will be expected to contribute somewhat to tuition simply to earn an appreciation and to be motivated to work hard. They will also e expected to seek out scholarships.

There will be no allowance and there will be no expectation to hold a job during the school year

ETA: There will be a savings requirement of some sort...X% of each paycheck must go into savings.

Before high school, just school, extracurriculars (within reason), and chores. Once they reach high school, I think summer jobs are appropriate but not necessarily during the school year (kids have too much pressure on them already these days). By college, I expect them to work part-time during the school year and full-time over the summer (that's what I did).

I think summers, once LO is a teenager (14, 15 or so), he should find work for at least part of the summer. During the school year I would only expect him to do well in school and activities, and help around the house. If he wants to do some extra small jobs, like babysitting or mowing lawns or whatever, that's fine, but nothing that would make it difficult for him to get schoolwork done.

I started working when I was 13, but it was at my families hotel & restaurant. I always worked there and also had other jobs in retail, summer camps, etc. In college I always worked 10-15 hours a week again in retail, for a year as a nanny, etc. However I was not a student athlete- I think if my daughter excels at an extracurricular then that is her job, but I would still expect her the bank volunteer hours.

I think having a high school then college diploma does not always cut it. I perceive that employers want to hire college grads with some kind of work experience even if it is just volunteering. I learned so many life skills... How to be on time, be accountable, to take constructive criticism etc. I think working made me a better employee out of college, and I got a great job with a top company right out of school- and the transition felt really seamless.

Chores are a life skill- you need to know how to cook basic food and do laundry IMO.

I expect my kids to do well in school first and foremost, and then do chores around the house. When they are old enough to drive and get a job, then they will need to work for their own fun stuff, but I will still continue to provide them the basics! And they'll need to get loans and scholarships (or work) to help pay for college.

Doing well in school will be the number one priority. I'd like it if he did extracurriculars too. He will also probably help out around the house and get an allowance. I think allowances are important for teaching the value of money.

Further down on the list, he can get a job if he's interested, but I'd rather he do that over the summer than after school. The priority for the school year is school, not earning money. When I was kid I spent time at music camps, soccer camps, theater stuff, etc. I'd be happy to support his interests if they're something he loves. As someone else pointed out, he has his whole life to work. I feel like it's my job to instill a love of learning, get him a good education, and teach him about the value of money/budgeting.

Chores, certainly. That'll probably be it, beyond a general sense of finding their own motivations and passions in life. Requiring my children to do well in school is not something I'll be doing. Both my husband and I were fairly moderate achieving academically, and we have gone on to really successful lives, both personally and career wise. If my kids want to pursue straight As and the Ivy League, I'll happily support that. But if they want to focus on other things, that's absolutely fine with me too.

Doing well in school is top of the list, but helping around the house is also important and will absolutely be mandatory. I was also able to hold down a part time job through the last couple years of high school without it negatively impacting anything else, and I'll likely expect my kids to do the same, to learn about money management and responsibility. A job through university will be a must.

Extra curricular activities.. I mean, that's going to depend on the kid. If they pick something up I will want them to follow through, but not at the expense of anything else.