It depends greatly on the business. My parents own an herb nursery that's on our house's property, and I would do anything from trimming plants to packing orders to repotting, transplanting, watering, consolidating, weeding, etc., etc. Small tasks that have few repurcussions if messed up are best until the chidren and you yourself are intimately familiar with the business.

I have to say,though, that it is really easy for children's education to be jeopardized or overshadowed by their working. I am extremely grateful for the homeschooling my parents did with me, as I got a better education than I would have in the school system around here. But my parents were always very firm that I was never to do anything with the business (or anything else, for that matter) until all of my schoolwork for the day was done. It is really easy to "let it slide," and I have a couple of friends about my age (late teens) that had parents who did. They are going to have a tough time getting into college--one of them doesn't even want to go because she doesn't think she's smart enough.

That is the only drawback I know of to children working in a parent's business. I am so glad I got to be a part of my parent's nursery; it enriched me, taught me how to work hard, and let me spend more time with my family. I would recommend it, but I would definitely use discipline. The whole system falls apart without it.

La"I think that's the most I've ever said in a Forum post"Zorra