Summer jobs for 9-year-old kids can be limited due to child labor laws, lol, but there are some options available that are safe and age-appropriate.
About 6 weeks ago my kids were begging me to help them set up a lemonade stand in our driveway. In a moment of weakness I said yes.
They rolled out my work bench to the end of the driveway, we made some homemade lemonade, fresh baked cookies and then they held up handmade signs advertising their goods.
They also roped in some neighbor kids to help them.
In one hour they made $28! That is not bad for a 6 and a 9 year old.
Day 2 they made $30 and Day 3 they made $32.
Now that didn’t include expenses but I was astonished at how much they made and realized that this might be a great opportunity for my kids to make some money as well as learn some basics of owning a small business.
On top of that, it was a great way to teach the spend, save, give principle (see tutorial for the spend, save, give jars here) on a larger level.
What are the Best Jobs for 9 year old to Make Money?
Realizing making cookies and lemonade each day was a lot of work FOR ME we presented our kids the idea of making sno-cones instead. We live kiddie corner to a rather busy street and we get loads of traffic and thought this would do well on hot summer days.
I knew I could make the sno-cone syrups in bulk and keep bags of ice in our freezer, which would allow me some freedom to not be busy each day, other than grinding up the ice.
Since there are no shaved ice stands in our town we figured it might be a novelty and do well. So we decided to go for it.
Here are a few examples of Jobs a 9 year-old can do:
- Lemonade stand or bake sale: The one I just presented. A lemonade stand or bake sale is a classic way for kids to make money. With the help of an adult (no, please!) your child could set up a stand in your neighborhood or at a local park and sell lemonade, cookies, or other baked goods.
- Yard work: Your child could offer to help with yard work for neighbors or family friends. This might include tasks such as raking leaves, pulling weeds, or watering plants.
- Dog walking or pet sitting: Your child could offer to walk dogs or pet sit for neighbors or family friends. This can be a great way for animal-loving kids to earn some extra money.
- Errand running: Your child could offer to run errands for neighbors or family friends, such as picking up groceries or walking to the post office.
- Recycling: Your child could collect cans or bottles for recycling and redeem them for cash.
Making a Sno-Cones Stand for them
We agreed it was a great idea so allowed the kids to take out a micro loan from us to purchase the basic supplies (sno-cone machine, syrup pumps, cups, spoons, sugar, ice and Kool-aid packets).
In order to open up the business on day 1 it cost $133.37.
The kids are paying their loan back $10 each day. (Currently they owe us $50 left).
Of course, I can’t do anything small, so I built them a large rolling snow cone stand. I know, I know, I have a problem.
However, I have a ton of scrap wood and knew it wouldn’t cost much other than time to build. I also found a guy who gave me 4 weathered pallets and 3 weathered 2 x 4″s for free.
The major cost was in the 4″ heavy duty casters. However, with all the rolling back and forth the stand would do I knew I needed something heavy duty to handle the wear and tear. I had all the screws, 2 x 4″s, paint, nails, plywood and 1″ x 3″s from another project.
I am guessing if you had to buy everything from scratch this project wouldn’t be super cost effective. But if your kids are committed to the business you can always take the cost out of their earnings each day.
However, I did not. I told them that if they commit to this then I would make them the stand and it would be my investment into their company.
They agreed and were super excited!
Teaching your Kids How To Save Money
So as mom was building their snow cone stand they were planning on what they were going to spend their money on, as well as what they were committed on saving to buy.
I made each of the kids pick something that cost more money that they could save for. I know this might be silly to some, but I really want to teach my kids delayed gratification and that when you want something you have to save up for it.
Kayla is currently saving for an Easy Bake Oven ($50) and Isaac is saving up for a plane ticket to go see grandma. So in addition to the money they get to spend, they are putting away a little money each day in their save jar in order to purchase those items. Eventually I want to also teach the kids saving for camps, college, emergencies, etc.
But for now, saving for items they really want will be a great lesson to learn. In addition to that, each day when we divvy up the money, they also put money into the give jar. I am excited to see what things my kids decide to give to.
So far my kids have opened their stand about 8 times for an average hour and a half each time. That is about all they can stand before they are bored and want to go play.
However, that is okay with me. My only rule is that if they open the stand they have to commit to one hour of it being opened.
Oh and one more rule, no eating snow cones during business hours 🙂
I think that is the hardest rule for them so far. Stay tuned to see the tutorial for the sno-cone stand.
FAQS
Where does the Term “Sno-Cone” come from?
The name “Sno-Cone” is actually a trademarked brand name that was first used in the 1920s by a New Orleans-based company called the Sno-Cone Corporation. The company was founded by Samuel Bert, who developed a machine that could shave ice into a fine, powdery texture that would absorb flavored syrup more easily than traditional crushed ice. Bert’s machine and method became very popular, and he began selling his snow cones at fairs, carnivals, and other outdoor events.
Over time, the term “Sno-Cone” became a genericized trademark, meaning that it became a common term for any shaved ice treat that was similar to the original Sno-Cone product. Today, many companies use the term “Sno-Cone” to describe their own shaved ice products, even though they may not be affiliated with the original Sno-Cone Corporation.
What do you need to fill up the snowcone stand?
To fill up a snowcone stand, you will need a few key items:
- Snowcone machine: You will need a snowcone machine to make the shaved ice for your snowcones. You can purchase or rent a machine online or from a specialty retailer.
- Ice: You will need to have a steady supply of ice on hand to make your snowcones. You can purchase bags of ice from a grocery store or ice supplier.
- Syrups: You will need a variety of flavored syrups to add to your snowcones. Popular flavors include cherry, blue raspberry, grape, and watermelon, but you can also offer more unique flavors like mango or green apple.
- Cups and spoons: You will need to have cups and spoons available for customers to use. You can purchase paper cups and plastic spoons in bulk from a restaurant supply store.
- Toppings (optional): You may want to offer additional toppings like whipped cream, gummy bears, or sprinkles to enhance the flavor of your snowcones.
- Cash register and change: You will need a cash register and change to make transactions with customers. Make sure you have plenty of small bills and coins on hand to make change.
- Signage and decorations: You will want to create eye-catching signs and decorations to attract customers to your snowcone stand. Consider using bright colors and fun graphics to make your stand stand out.
Curious to your syrup recipe for those gallons pump jugs. Any chance you could share?
There are a zillion recipes on Pinterest. I used 1 pack of Kool-Aid, 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water.