Working for fun

by Lidiana de Moraes

In our country we are used to seeing children working in exchange of a few coins. This reality is not present only in the big cities. In small towns kids also have to work at a really young age so they can help support their families. But, just because that happens, it does not mean it is right. So at what age should a person start working for pay?
The Brazilian law forbids under-age people to work. They only need to play and study, the other essential things for a good life are the parent’s responsibility, but that is not an excuse to raise spoiled brats. It is important to start teaching from a young age lessons such as the value of money and it is possible to do that through playful ways, after all, who never thought it would be fun to open the “famous” lemonade stand on the sidewalk together with your friends?
As you grow older the amount of responsibilities you have gets bigger. At the age of 16, you almost finished high school, and it is time to choose a career for you to follow. A good way to live the daily situations of a profession is to become a trainee. And if the employer gives financial aid to the students, that will make the experience even richer, because those young learners will have a job that helps to teach how to deal with money.
The critical point in life is when you reach college. If your parents have the money to pay for it, then you will have more time to dedicate to study and possible learning experiences exclusive for students. But if your family can’t afford that, then it is your turn to go to work.
In the end, it is hard to say how old someone must be to start working for pay. But there is one thing you must always keep in mind: money must never be more important than studying.