Summer Job = Paychecks and Self Esteem

My first part-time gig was baby-sitting. Then I frothed up caffeinated concoctions in my small-town coffee shop; and one summer, I scooped ice cream and earned more weight than I did money. But, I always enjoyed having a job. It kept me busy, and I liked having my own spending money.

How about you? Did you deliver pizzas or work retail during your teenaged years? Will your kids?

Dr. Pete Stavinoha, a child psychologist at Children's, says there's no right or wrong answer to whether teens should work during their summer break, and he says every family should make the decision that's best for them.

We'll take a look at both sides of the coin. Today, we'll give you a little ammunition for your argument if you're pro-work for your lackadaisical teen.

A study being released in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior - to which you all have a subscription, right?) - finds that summer jobs can counter risk factors associated with depression and suicide.

Interestingly, researchers found that holding a summer job had a greater impact on these risks than participating in sports or hanging out with friends. They interpreted their findings to suggest that earning money had a greater impact on self-esteem than just staying busy.

In addition to the psychological benefits of having a job, there's also the real-world experience teens gain from the job hunt itself. This can be a great opportunity to help your teen write his first resume. If he lists his cell phone or e-mail address on the resume, does his voice mail greeting sound professional to potential employers? Does his e-mail address reflect a responsible, professional persona? And don't forget about his social networking pages online. Is there anything on there that may turn off a potential employer? Use this time to help your kid polish up his professional image. It's also a great time to explain the benefits of networking ("Remember meeting Dad's friend who works at the golf course? Maybe you could give him a call to see if they're hiring part-time help...").

Most agree there are some real benefits to having a summer job. But, there are some potential pit falls to consider, too. So, stay tuned. We'll touch on those later this week.