A teenage job is a rite of passage, but it shouldn’t be needed to pay the bills.

While there are minors out there who contribute to their family’s finances or even act as the breadwinners, it is a responsibility that, technically speaking, parents have an obligation to shelter them from before adulthood. Learning how to manage money from a young age can indeed give a young person a head start, but there are ways to do that that don’t involve them contributing to the household financially. It can be a delicate topic.

Having a job can be great as a teen to encourage extra independence, give some work experience, and save a little money. Still, there are other priorities to be had in these vital years as well. Sometimes, it is good to think about the other stuff for a while and let professional matters take a back burner. Ultimately, it should be the teenager’s choice.