Child Development

A young waiter serves hamburgers and french fries at a diner in Japan. Jobs in the food service industry are very popular for adolescents.
(Michael S. Yamashita/Corbis)

sonal finance arrangement, and the consequences of
expenditures. All these areas help develop the per-
son’s character and individuality.

Parental Perspectives

Although employment offers many learning op-
portunities, the most difficult task for young workers
is managing the pressure. The pressure might be
caused by tight job schedules, poor working environ-
ments, boring tasks, conflicts with other roles, and au-
tocratic supervisors. All are great challenges to young
people whose abilities and mentalities are still imma-
ture. Some parents want to protect their children
from such pressures so they will not allow their chil-
dren to work. Other parents do not allow their chil-
dren to work because they believe that early
employment and drug abuse are interrelated. Some
might also be threatened by the reduction in parental
authority that occurs when their children claim inde-
pendence because of their ability to make money. In
fact, when young people are free to work and use
their incomes voluntarily, they also desire to have
more independence in other areas. Clearly, working
means independence. If parents believe their chil-

dren working is better than them staying at home,

they are willing to accept this growing process of inde-

pendence. The hardships of work are perceived to be

positive mediators of the growing process.

Young workers in the stage of learning and work-

ing need guidance and assistance from their parents

to resist the negative impacts of work. Parents should

also monitor the problems their children face at work.

Discussing with children their working abilities and

attitudes and their personal finance arrangements

could strengthen their outlook on work. Youths defi-

nitely need their parents to provide emotional sup-

port and suggestions of ways to handle the work

experience during the adolescent years. In sum, pa-

rental supervision and limited working hours might

be the best ways to prevent the negative impacts of

youth employment.

See also: WORKING FAMILIES

Bibliography

Barling, Julian, and E. Kevin Kelloway. ‘‘Introduction.’’ In Julian

Barling and E. Kevin Kelloway eds., Young Workers: Varieties

of Experience. Washington, DC: American Psychological Asso-

ciation, 1999.

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