Photoshop

Making money ideas for kids is being discussed just about everywhere right now. The economy has been down too long, taking a lot of jobs with it. Available jobs are being filled by people laid off from their regular jobs, making the job market even tighter, especially for kids.

Frankly, if you’re under 16 years of age there isn’t much of a job market out there anyway. Lack of experience, workplace laws and insurance barriers all stand in the way of a good paying employment. It also doesn’t help that the school year will only allow night and weekend work, while the summer is over in 90 days.

Traditionally low-paying work like mowing lawns, paper deliveries or chores in the neighborhood were all a kid could find to make a little extra money. Menial work like this usually only brings the equivalent of minimum wages, which doesn’t go very far these days. And the work can get pretty physical too. Not a top choice among most young adults.

We scratched our head and searched for some kind of employment that would not only have the possibility of providing more money, but also be something today’s kids might like to tackle. After searching around, we think we’ve come up with two good candidates.

Taking photographs for fees might be one making money for kids idea. This could be a family project because it’s suited to nearly everyone, it could be fun to work together and I believe at least the account holder must 18 (Mom or Dad for instance).

Go to the Internet and do a search for stock photography websites like istockphoto.com. Enter the sites and get to know their rules and regulations first, then study some of the other photos there to see what people are buying. I should have said “leasing”, not buying. You never lose ownership of your work. The idea is that after you upload photos people like ad agencies, web designers and graphic artists crawl through these kind of sites every day looking for fresh content to use. When they find it they pay a fee to download (borrow) and you get around 20% as a commission. This making money idea for kids won’t make you rich, but it sure can help.

Young people are great with electronic gadgets and you probably already own a digital camera, so it seems like a natural making money idea for kids. It likely won’t be big money unless they capture a shot that no one else has ever seen before. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to do this either. Anyone can participate. Kids can exert their artistic skills in ways that adults can’t and this might be the showcase for that talent. It might have just the right new and young slant that catches the eye of potential buyers. It could be interesting and fun for them too. You, as a family might just be drawn into a family project that keeps you all talking about it and, well, just talking among yourselves in itself might make the whole making money for kids effort worthwhile, especially after the kid becomes a teenager. It costs nothing and might have a huge impact overall.

Working with pets might be another making money idea for kids. I’m talking vertically integrating here. From dog walking to pet sitting to grooming and even poop scooping if possible. There are over 60 million dog owners in this country and most dote on their pets, especially dogs. Take advantage of this phenomenon by getting your kid involved. Dog owners will spend on their pet’s well being before their own sometimes.

Pet walking and pet sitting don’t require any special training. Just make sure to be careful and respectful of the owner’s pet and property. Many people are just too busy to do these things themselves and will be happy to find someone responsible enough to do it for them.

Dog grooming will require a little work as a making money idea for kids. Most people like to have their dog groomed or at least bathed on a regular basis and many don’t want to do it themselves. If you got the word out that your kid would be willing to come to their house, bringing everything you need for a good bath and comb-out and do it for a price less than the grooming shop, you might just having a willing crowd. If people found a way to avoid making appointments, taking the dog to a grooming shop, picking them back up in rush hour traffic and still pay less, it would just make common sense they would jump at the idea. Provided of course that it was not a prize poodle needing a fussy haircut.

Grooming skills can be acquired very easily these days and could provide a major source of cash flow to expand your pet business offerings as a making money idea for kids. Online websites can be found with written or even video instructions. Local classes may also be offered at junior colleges or pet shops. You may offer just to trim up a dog’s hair with clippers and scissors or complete “summer strips” once you acquire the skill and confidence.

And if you really want to add to your ultimate list of pet offerings as a making money ideas for kids, you could perform poop scooping too. It’s really a simple process provided you get over the “ugh” factor. Buy a scoop, a hotel-style dust pan and some plastic bags and you’re in business. Schedule regular weekly stops and you’ll likely have many people scrambling to get on your list. It’s a valued service in many parts of the country.

When it comes to thinking up making money ideas for kids, just let your mind open up to all the possibilities that may exist in today’s busy world.