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Back in 2020, while everyone was figuring out how to survive during the COVID lockdowns, an idea took shape that changed the way teens gain work experience. It all started with my mom’s friends asking me if their kids could work for the company I was building. These parents saw me as an entrepreneur and thought their teenagers might benefit from doing something productive instead of spending all day on video games or scrolling TikTok. To be honest, the kids weren't exactly thrilled with their online Zoom classes either—they felt checked out and disconnected.
At first, I wasn’t sure if having teenagers work in my business was a good idea. I mean, what could they actually do? I didn’t have the time to train them or involve them with customers. It almost seemed impossible. But instead of saying no, I thought, why not create specific assignments that they could tackle? And just like that, the idea of a "family co-op" was born.
A family co-op is a structure that lets teens work on real assignments given by actual companies. It’s a collaborative arrangement where teenagers gain hands-on experience while companies get to guide and benefit from young talent. Think of it as a middle ground between a traditional job and educational training—where teens can grow by contributing meaningfully to real-world tasks.
Many families have embraced this idea, especially as an alternative to more typical teenage jobs like fast food, retail, or bagging groceries. Here’s why:
1. It’s Harder Than Ever for Teens to Get Traditional Jobs
In some areas, like California, rising minimum wages have made it tough for teens to get hired. Businesses are looking for more stability for the wages they pay, which often means hiring older workers with flexible availability. Unfortunately, that leaves many teenagers out of luck when it comes to finding part-time work. A co-op, however, offers a different kind of opportunity—one that doesn’t depend on punching a clock at the local store.
2. The Work is More Engaging for Teens
Let’s be honest—most teenagers would rather explore cool, up-and-coming trends than spend hours stacking shelves or flipping burgers. Co-ops offer work experiences that actually interest them. They can get involved in fields like game design, app development, digital marketing, fashion design, artificial intelligence, real estate, and much more. Teens gain exposure to meaningful projects, learn marketable skills, and discover what they’re passionate about—all while contributing to the company’s goals.
At Starter School, we’ve taken the family co-op idea and built a range of programs for teens. These co-ops let students dive deep into areas they love and might even want to turn into careers one day. Whether it’s working on AI projects, designing games, or learning the ins and outs of real estate, co-ops provide a head start on the skills that matter most in today’s world.
If this has sparked your interest and you want to learn more about how co-ops work and how they can benefit your teen, consider joining one of our live webinars: "How to Get Your Teenager Work Experience in Tech and Other High Impact Industries." It’s a great chance to see what these programs are all about and how they can set your teen up for future success.
Hope to see you there!
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