Smart Summer Jobs For Kids

By Geoff Williams

So your teen wants to make some money this summer? Or maybe your children want cash, and you've told them they need to work for it. Whatever your situation, here are some ideas and opportunities for your children to earn money over the next few months.

The young ones (ages 4 to 10). Jobs to consider include raking leaves, gardening, taking out the trash and cleaning their room. Really, these are the allowance years. "Children as young as age 4 can benefit," says Pamela Yellen, author of "Bank on Yourself." "An allowance can help teach them how to recognize coins, though they're also more likely to lose them."

Yellen is an advocate of tying allowances to chores. "The earlier children learn basic financial principles, such as the exchange of goods and services for money, the better," she says.