It could also help reduce and combat against things like welfare, under age pregnancies because you know that they are getting pregnant as early as 12yrs of age now days, and it could also help with so many menace to societies that are being problems in schools and in society who leave the juvenile system just to end up in another system "the Big House." I think as Americans and parents who probably was raised in a structured environment and maybe had it a little hard. Tend to raise their children to waist too much time on leisure because of how they were raised. Instead of living in a world of reaility where you know that you are just a child for a little while but an adult your whole life and preparing them for the inevitable. We tend to let them sit and learn codes to video games that commit hanus crimes, and venture off into cyper place with people who are just lurking to have them erased or replaced. So many are just no teaching their children life skills such as if you don't work you will steal and that bills just don't pay themselves. I'll be the first to say that it's ok to let kids run and play but they still need to be faced w/reality that sometimes that even cost. Heck this will be my children 3rd yr of soccer and baseball and they say that they are pooped out but ask me if I care. I say that because I'm pooped out and do they care. What I'm trying to get them to see is that what you put in is what you should get back and everything you do it may not be a profit but at least you've done something constructive and or productive with your day.

Oh please, please, please. A child of 9 or 10 shouldn't have a job. Going to school, doing homework, participating in after school activities and have chores around the house is enough. Get him/her a dog and make sure he walks it everyday.

At 11 or 12 he/she can take on some more responsibility (if mature enough) like babysitting, mowing lawns, shoveling snow, etc.   Or maybe they can learn to help others by volunteering after school to take meals to the elderly, tutor younger children, or get involved in other charitable projects.

IC - girls don't get pregnant because they don't have jobs. It's because they either were not taught sex education or didn't bother to listen.   Teen sex isn't the result of too much free time. TV is a big influence IMHO and parents need to control what their kids watch, although you can't keep them in a bubble. Even the commercials these days look like porn to me.

Just a correction: When I said "teen sex isn't the result of too much free time" by free I was talking about time spent after school studying, playing sports, being in the boyscouts, girlscouts or other groups that teach responsibility and morals. Swimming at the local YMCA, playing basketball, etc., can all help to develop the right skills and attitudes.

Justxploring I like the part where you say that they "didn't bother to listen". My grandmother used to say. "You have 3 types of children the 1's who will do, 1's who want do and the 1's who just do too darn much. Often as parents we are blamed for things that are children do when people often forget that we all fall short of the better decision maker and or person that we could be. I know that girls don't get pregnant because they don't have jobs because their are some who have gotten pregnant in BK bathrooms. I also totally agree with T.V. is being a big influence on children today, I have worked in retail on and off 4 the past 10yrs and often I can't grasp some of the things that store's are selling, and parents are buying for their teens, and tweens. I also agree that children who act in a childs manner and are being taught what a childs place is, should not work but those who act in an adult manner and put themselves in adult situations, 1 should say forget child labor laws get a job!

That's why kids age 12 and up are having sex, because they think life is a full of roses and that they parents will take care of them...That will stop if they began working and learn that you got to work to take care of your kids if you are going to have sex...But i am not suggesting this because of that but because i'll like kids to earn their own money just like adults, there is a lot of stuff kids want that their parents can't get them, and i feel working for them will be the nicest things...And i mean don't we want the best for our kids....I know there are a lot of kids that will like to work...so why can we work and kids can not...

And i think this will make kids watch less tv because the tv there is a bunch of trash in there and make them play less the new video games, because the new video games are horrible too violent, and it will make them be more down to earth...

Kids at age 11, 12 are watching porn movies...That is sorry...

You basically can not put kids to work in the U.S.A. unless they have a work permit.
Otherwise if you put anyone under age to work you can be reported to the authorities and your children will be taken from you. And you as a parent will be prosecuted . You can have these children doing household chores and the same thing will happen to you.

The world has come to a bad case of "spare the rod and spoiled the kid." Meaning so many children are being parented by things like television, computers, and video games instead of doing more things that's useful in the long run to stimulate the brain. We have a high rate in children bullying, committing suicide, joining gangs it's just not enough kids being told that they have to participate in corrective programs like girl scouts, cub scouts, etc., to help them build a better mantality on being a productive citizen when they reach adulthood. It's just sad what's going on in the world with our kids today.

JAP69- Parents are being prosecuted for some of the most darndest things in the world today. Often it's not the parents fault. People should stop and think more on being one because the piss just isn't ez as people think it is on the outside lookin in. I adopted three of my aunts children and 1 hit me in the chest while 7months pregnant. He was 15 at the time and said that he couldn't be chastised. When I called the police they say that they couldn't do anything because he was a minor but when I said what if he had hit you they began to write up the papers. Long story short he was prosecuted but I had to pay for him being on probation and a his $100.00 fine, he only got 10hrs community service and they bought him a Play Station 2 and took him to McDonalds once a week. At that rate I might would have hit me too, I felt like I was the one being prosecuted. His sister who I'd drop off infront of the school, who also could catch the bus, would just leave out the back and then they looked at me for an arrest because she had became truant. I mean I couldn't win for loosin.

Actually what i wantd was to put kids age 9-15 to play board games and other mind games that stimulate their intelligence and get paid for it, like a giant stock market for kids but since they don't want to do that at least put them to work, keep them busy...

Yeah the USA doesn't allow that because the USA is kind of sadistic, it gives me the impression sometimes that they like to see people suffer...

people i think this might be a bad idea, i am not sure i mean is a great idea but kids need so many hours of sleep, etc, maybe 2 hours a day 3 days a week will be fine if they pay them 9 dollars a hour...I mean it could be a good idea as the same time that it could not...You will have to do experiments with kids first...Despite that hope it works and kids get to earn their money instead of watching tv...