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Many teenagers would be better off earning some money every now and then. Maybe you could tell your teenager to supplement her spending money. Odd jobs are easily available to teenagers, provided they are responsible and regular. These odd jobs enable them to make money, even while they can attend college and catch up on their other activities.

Jobs encourage her short-term and long-term interests. They teach basic jobs skills like punctuality, dependability, responsibility, inner-direction and teamwork. They also help develop decision-making and problem-solving skills that are essential for higher paying jobs in the future.

Baby sitting: Every mother is grateful for any help she can get for baby-sitting. Looking after a baby round the clock is a tiring job. She longs to put her feet up for an hour or two. If your teenager likes babies, then maybe this would be an ideal job for her. She gets the pleasure of playing with a baby, learns the responsibility of looking after one and gets paid for it too. True, baby sitters are never paid much. But it is a beginning - a fun beginning.

Does your child like horticulture? Has she a green thumb? Encourage her to take up gardening. She can even grow her own plants and sell them. Many people love having plants in their homes. But they don`t have the time or convenience to go about it themselves. This job will also make your teenager more aware of the environment and the various issues that concern it.

Is your teenager a gifted child? Does she draw, paint or sculpture well? Or has she another skill up her sleeve? She can put them to good use. Tell her to put in extra effort honing her talent - may be she could earn some money. Paintings by professional artists are all too often too expensive for the middle class. They would welcome good works of art for their homes at lower prices.

Is she tech savvy? Loves to play around with graphic designs? Encourage her to hone her skills. She could start creating websites, online brochures and circulars. A lot of people in the IT industry could use this kind of skill. She may not be paid as much as a professional, but she could do well to further her career in future.

Parents can help teens find jobs like these. It does take time and effort. Teenagers also tend to respond to the first advertisement they see. But you could sit down with them and motivate them to move in the right direction. They must keep in mind all the time that their studies should not be neglected.