Are your kids looking to make money? Maybe you want to help them earn their own money so they can learn money management habits.
My son started asking about money when he was really young. He’s only 10 now and we do have an allowance system but I’ve also been looking into some creative ways to help him earn some extra cash from time to time.
Keep in mind that these ideas are not actual jobs (be mindful of child labor laws) but flexible income streams to explore and possibly even a business idea to try in the future.
Here are 7 creative ways kids can make money.
1. Take Surveys Online
Taking surveys online is one of the easiest ways for anyone to make extra money. You simply answer questions about a particular topic and earn points or cash that you can redeem later.
What you may not know is that most survey sites allow users to sign up once they are 13 or older. This means your teen can take surveys online during their spare time and they don’t even need a computer to do so (in most cases). Most teens have a cell phone and are on it often.
This could be an easy way to make money right from an app. Check out my favorite paid survey sites here.
2. Organize a Garage Sale
Do you have a lot of things around the house that need to go? If your stuff is creating clutter, but you don’t have time to set up a yard sale, have your kids do it and pay a commission of the sales.
Elect your kids to organize, set up, and sun the garage sale while you oversee it. This can be a good lesson for them to know how to count money, sell items, and provide customer service.
Here are some pro tips for a successful garage sale.
3. Create YouTube Thumbnails
A few months ago I taught my son how to use Canva and he’s basically gotten better at using the program than me. Him and his friends started their own gaming YouTube channels and he wanted to know how to create thumbnails for his videos.
I showed him how Canva works once or twice and he really caught on. If your child likes to create graphics on the computer, they can possibly get paid to do this for other people.
Fiverr is a great place to find paying design work and if your child is at least 13 years old they can get paid on the platform.
4. Recycle Items
Recycling items is a household chore that can really pay off. Your child won’t make a ton of money by doing this, but it’s an easy way to get paid with little effort.
If you have a lot of aluminum cans and other recyclable items in your home, allow your child to help store the items then cash them in once you have a large enough stash.
Here’s how to locate a recycling facility close to you.
5. Pet Sit and Walk Dogs
I remember when I was a kid I used to watch Arthur and one of my favorite episodes was when he started his own pet sitting business.
If your child loves pets and you feel they are responsible enough to handle them, help them start a dog walking or pet sitting business.
This could be a great way to make money during the summer. According to Care.com, pet sitters can make around $11+ per hour.
You may have to do your own marketing if your child is too young to sign up for a Care.com or Rover. Start by seeing if your neighbors need help walking their dogs or if family members need pet sitting services when they go out of town.
You can also visit elderly communities like independent living facilities to see if there are any people who have a dog but have trouble keeping up with walks.
6. Mow Lawns
This is another fun way for your child to make money. Last summer a boy knocked on my door asking me if he could mow my lawn and I thought this was such a cool idea.
If you have a lawnmower, why not? There are probably some houses in your neighborhood that need their lawn cut regularly.
Put up flyers or go door-to-door with your child and try to target homes who’s grass could use a good cut. If your child charges $25 per lawn, they can make $100 if they do 4 lawns in one day.
7. Sell Arts and Crafts
This is one of my favorite ways kids can make money. I think it’s important to teach kids that they can get paid for their creativity. When I was young I always wrote stories but I never knew I could earn any money from it. It took me years to realize that I could get paid well as a freelance writer.
My son loves to draw and do art projects. I thought about helping him sell some of his art in the future.
You can do the same if your child does crafts or other creative projects. Maybe they like to knit or sew. Or perhaps, they know how to design things in photoshop or create home decor.
Etsy is a great place to sell these creations and as long as your son or daughter is 13 years old, they can sign up and have you monitor their account.
Creative Ways Kids Can Make Money
If your child is looking to make money that’s often a good thing. It means they are ready to learn more about earning and managing finances. There are so many creative ways kids can make money so I’m sure this list just scratches the surface.
What income ideas do you think would be great for kids?
