## Quick Answer

Kids can do any **age-appropriate work** for a family business. Common tasks include: filing and organizing (ages 6+), packaging orders and inventory (ages 8+), data entry and social media (ages 12+), and customer service (ages 14+). The IRS requires that the work be real, beneficial to the business, within the child's capabilities, and properly documented. Pay must be reasonable for the work performed.

## 50+ Job Ideas by Age

### Ages 4-7: Simple Tasks

- Stamping documents
- Sorting mail
- Labeling items
- Stuffing envelopes
- Organizing supplies
- Shredding documents (with supervision)
- Modeling for photos
- Appearing in videos

### Ages 8-11: More Responsibility

- Filing paperwork
- Packaging orders
- Counting inventory
- Organizing stock
- Making copies
- Cleaning workspace
- Taking product photos
- Video assistance
- Quality checking items
- Unpacking deliveries

### Ages 12-14: Real Contributions

- Data entry
- Spreadsheet work
- Social media content creation
- Graphic design (Canva)
- Market research
- Taking messages
- Inventory tracking
- Creating product listings
- Thumbnail creation
- Survey collection

### Ages 15+: Near-Employee Level

- Customer service chat
- Answering phones
- Scheduling appointments
- Email management
- Website updates
- Video editing
- Copywriting
- Bookkeeping assistance
- CRM data entry
- Tech support

## Industry-Specific Ideas

### Real Estate Business

- Placing/retrieving yard signs
- Property photography
- Open house setup
- Property cleaning

### E-Commerce Business

- Product packaging
- Order verification
- Product photography
- Returns processing
- Listing creation

### Restaurant/Food Business

- Rolling silverware
- Folding napkins
- Menu assembly
- Cleaning dining area
- Bussing tables

### Professional Services (Medical, Dental, Legal)

- Waiting room tidying
- Restocking supplies
- File organization
- Appointment confirmations

## What Makes Work "Legitimate"

For the IRS to accept child employment, the work must be:

1. **Real:** Actually performed, not just on paper
2. **Beneficial:** Helps you or your business in a tangible way
3. **Age-appropriate:** Within the child's capabilities
4. **Documented:** Recorded when performed, with details
5. **Reasonably compensated:** Paid at fair market rates

For the complete list with 100+ ideas, see our [Task Ideas by Age](/content/resources/task-ideas-by-age/index.html) resource.

Learn more: [How to Hire Your Kids: The Complete Guide](/content/guides/hire-your-kids/index.html)

## Sources

- [IRS Family Help](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/family-help): Employing Family Members
- [DOL Fact Sheet #43](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture): Child Labor Provisions