Working and Volunteering: Pros and Cons

Pros: Donating time and helping others can take the focus away from a teen’s own challenges. It builds empathy and compassion.

Cons: For teens with significant social challenges, the idea of volunteering may not be appealing.

Pros: Earning and spending one’s own money or contributing to the family can cultivate pride and self-worth.

Cons: A teen may not be ready to handle the stress and expectations of a paying job.

Pros: Volunteer groups are generally welcoming and eager to accept those who want to help.

Cons: Teens who need clear instruction and specific jobs in order to stay focused may not find enough structure in some volunteer environments.

Pros: Reporting to a job regularly and being part of a staff can provide a sense of belonging that a teen may not find at school.

Cons: Teens who have trouble with social cues may find it difficult to navigate the politics of a workplace. Employees may have little interest in being compassionate or inclusive.

Pros: Volunteer supervisors may be more patient and supportive when teaching tasks and overseeing a teen’s work. Volunteering shows a teen is civic-minded. It’s an excellent activity to include on a resume or college application.

Cons: Skills gained may not be as practical as those from paying work.

Pros: Meeting demands of regular work teaches responsibility and professionalism. Having a paid job shows enterprise and commitment, which can open doors to future jobs.

Cons: The employer or supervisor may not be as patient or accommodating if a teen needs extra guidance or support.

Pros: Opportunities may be more interesting, fulfilling and inspiring than paid work. This is an important benefit for teens with attention issues.

Cons: The emotional payoff of volunteering may be too abstract for some teens to appreciate.

Pros: A paycheck is a concrete incentive. It can keep a teen focused and on task.

Cons: Entry-level work can be mundane and repetitive. If teens have difficulty staying engaged, they may lose interest in the job after a short time.

Pros: Volunteering can be done in smaller doses and with less of a time commitment. Volunteer work may be easier to find than a paying job. Some opportunities may only be occasional, such as pet adoption events.

Cons: If a teen needs a regular and predictable schedule, the sporadic nature of some volunteer work might be difficult to adjust to.

Pros: Regular work with regular hours provides structure and activity. This is a bonus for teens who aren’t busy socially or who have difficulty handling free time.

Cons: It may demand more hours per week than some teens can handle. And it could be difficult to change or reduce hours if a teen needs more time for schoolwork.