ItB次元官网网址檚 been a rough couple of years, especially for teenagers. Between the shutdowns and the shift to contactless everything B次元官网网址� including education B次元官网网址� adolescents got a pretty raw deal. They could use a break this summer. Actually, they could use a job.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 good news for teenagers ready to work. Unemployment is under 4% overall, and the rate for teens 16-19 was just over 10% in April, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And the B次元官网网址渉elp wantedB次元官网网址� signs hanging in the storefronts of so many businesses drive the point home.

It could be a prime time for kids on break to fill the void, earn a wage and learn some life skills along the way.

A (TEENAGE) WORKERS MARKET

The hot job market applies to teenagers too, says Cornelius Thomas, a career development coordinator at Smithfield-Selma High School in Smithfield, North Carolina.

Thomas, whose role keeps him connected with local employers, has seen the leverage turn to the student worker as of late. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 become more and more common for employers to reach out to career development coordinators with incentivized opportunities for students,B次元官网网址� he says.

The positions can be lucrative too. He says internships now come with pay more often than not, and some of his students have taken fast food jobs that start at $12 an hour. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a few bucks better than the federal minimum wage.

A CURE FOR THE COMMON CONFIDENCE PROBLEM

Opportunity knocks at a time when kids could use a boost.

The last couple of years took a toll on teen confidence, says Jennie Marie Battistin, a licensed marriage and family therapist based in the greater Los Angeles area. She says itB次元官网网址檚 not uncommon for ordinary interactions, like speaking to a server at a restaurant or checking out at a grocery store, to feel uncomfortable.

B次元官网网址淗aving an outside job helps bring confidence in that they can talk to others in the outside world,B次元官网网址� Battistin says.

With kids everywhere on edge, a classic summer job, like lifeguard, restaurant server, camp counselor or cashier, could sub as a master class on human interaction, in real life.

MINDFULNESS OVER MEDIA

While it may be instinctive for parents to shield their kids from another source of stress, the summer job might actually help teens escape some of the pressures of today.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 because theyB次元官网网址檙e signing off social media, engaging with co-workers and making connections in the real world, Battistin says. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e learning practical tasks. That helps their brain kind of just stay mindful and present in that moment.B次元官网网址�

Battistin makes the idea of mindfulness feel attainable and necessary right now. B次元官网网址淲hen we stay mindful in the moment, we are present with the activity. WeB次元官网网址檙e shutting out all the chatter of the craziness of the world. And weB次元官网网址檙e realizing, B次元官网网址業 can accomplish this task and I can feel good,B次元官网网址楤次元官网网址� she says.

A PAYCHECK PREVAILS

While mindfulness is bliss, money is motivation.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of the students that I work with are interested in jobs primarily for the paycheck,B次元官网网址� says Margaret Sproule, a career coach at Radford High School in Radford, Virginia. But their spending goals have evolved with the times. TheyB次元官网网址檙e after B次元官网网址渟ome discretionary money so that they can help with their phones, or their gaming systems and the games that they want.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 a delicate balance between needs and wants, says Thomas, who encourages his students, especially those with obligations to help with household expenses, to openly discuss money matters with family and mentors like him.

B次元官网网址淗aving those conversations is important because they have to understand how to get the most out of their money,B次元官网网址� he says.

MONEY BASICS, NOT MEME STOCKS

Parents can push these paycheck basics:

B次元官网网址� Pay your teenage self first. At 17, thatB次元官网网址檚 as simple as socking away $50 a month in savings.

B次元官网网址� Spend less than you make. ItB次元官网网址檚 the first step of financial freedom.

B次元官网网址� Take steps to establish credit early. Brave parents can add their teen worker as an of an existing credit card.

Play to your kidsB次元官网网址� financial interests too. Some of SprouleB次元官网网址檚 students want to talk about cryptocurrencies, and that opens the door for the never-too-soon B次元官网网址渋nvesting for your futureB次元官网网址� chat. ItB次元官网网址檚 also a good time to tell them the GameStop saga of 2021 was a fluke.

Ultimately, the practical experiences with money help cut through the noise and alleviate the angst that so many teens have about the next stage of life, Battistin says.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e starting to build confidence that, B次元官网网址業 can operate out in the real world financially and make good decisions,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she says.

B次元官网网址擳ommy Tindall Of Nerdwallet, The Associated Press