Teen can benefit from job experience. But there are risks you must assess

The Benefits
-A teenager's job can teach work skills that will serve him well in college and prepare him for careers in adulthood.
-He can acquire confidence, develop a sense of responsibility and feel more independent.
-Studies find that students who work a moderate amount—no more than 10 to 15 hours a week during the school year—tend to earn higher grades than those who don't work at all.
-Earning money will enable him to buy things he wants and will provide an opportunity for learning responsible money management.
If you and your spouse work outside the home, an after-school job can give him adult supervision in those crucial afternoon hours.
-The right job—or jobs—may expose him to new work possibilities and set him on the path to a lifetime career.

The Drawbacks
-Working more than 13 to 20 hours a week is associated with lower grades.
-Teens who work too many hours find it difficult to keep up extracurricular activities and social relationships.
-Some studies have found that teens who work long hours are more likely to engage in such risky activities as using illegal drugs or alcohol—in part because they are exposed to older coworkers who lead them astray.