8 Ways for Kids to Make Money During Winter Break

  • Brian Weisfeld
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Winter break is just around the corner, which means the kids will be home for a few weeks with plenty of free time to fill. This spells "opportunity"—either to spend some extra cash or, better yet, to make some. And these fun business ideas for kids might inspire her to keep going well after the break has ended.

Nurture your girl's inner entrepreneur by encouraging her to earn some extra coin with one of these eight money-making endeavors.

How to Make Money as a Kid During Winter Break

Pet Sitting

Getting paid to take care of pets without the commitment of having one? Sounds like a perfect way for an animal lover to make a few bucks during this time of year. A lot of families go out of town during winter break, either to spend the holidays with relatives, go skiing, or head south for a few days of warmer weather. A simple Facebook post and maybe some flyers around the neighborhood listing your daughter's availability and rates may be all it takes to drum up some pet-sitting business.

Wrapping Gifts

While many people are flexing their Amazon Prime memberships right now, they may find themselves needing a little support once all those gifts are delivered. If your daughter is a bit of a perfectionist and loves to make things look pretty, as a good way of making money she could offer her gift-wrapping services for friends, family, and neighbors, charging either per gift or per hour. Bonus points if she can make her own cute gift tags to sell to those who need them.

Helping Host a Party

'Tis the season for gatherings and parties, now through early January. If your daughter is either comfortable making her way around the kitchen or making small talk with strangers, she could offer her services to ear some extra coin as a behind-the-scenes mini hostess (helping prepare food, serve beverages, clean dishes, etc.) or offer to greet guests as they arrive and take their coats. She could also keep the little ones entertained and occupied in a playroom (if kids are invited) so the adults can enjoy their time together uninterrupted. Have her advertise her hosting skills via social media, email, and through word of mouth (that means you, Mom and Dad).

Making and Selling Candy (or other DIY products)

Nothing says "holiday season" better than delicious, mouthwatering sweet treats. You and your daughter can take advantage of this time of year by learning how to make some simple candies and selling them via social media. In fact, you can let your friends try them first for free, and then ask them to spread the word that you're making more and taking orders.

Teaching Other Kids

Does your daughter have a hobby she's especially good at? Or a subject in school that she excels in? Tutoring is a great way to make some extra money as well as new friends, connections, and teaching skills that may come in handy down the road. Learning doesn't have to be confined to the walls of a classroom, and during a school break, parents may be especially interested in taking advantage of the downtime by hiring a tutor.

Host a Parent's Night Out/Babysitting

Whether they're holiday gift shopping, attending a party, or just spending time at home decorating/cooking for upcoming festivities (and wish to be uninterrupted), many parents might appreciate having a time and place they can drop their kids off without having to call a babysitter. You and your daughter can advertise a Parent's Night Out via social media and take reservations for parents to bring their kids to your place for an evening of good old-fashioned kid-centric fun, including games, special treats, and maybe a holiday classic like Elf or Frosty the Snowman. This is also a great way to drum up potential babysitting business for the years to come.

Hot Cocoa Stand

Who says lemonade is the only beverage that deserves a stand? Another good way of making some extra money as a kid is setting up an outdoor hot cocoa stand with thermoses full of chocolatey goodness, to-go cups with lids, and assorted toppings, like marshmallows, crushed candy canes, and whipped cream. She can advertise it via social media, but if you live in a fairly high-trafficked area, she may get quite a few customers and earn some extra money just based on the appeal and ingenuity of the idea.

Household Helper

From shoveling snow to taking down holiday decorations, from de-icing sidewalks to cleaning up after a New Year's Eve party, your daughter can advertise an hourly rate for her services to help other families "get stuff done" during what's typically a chaotic time of year. She could list the types of chores she's willing to take on, the dates she's available to help, maybe partner up with a friend or two and create a fun name for their little cleaning crew—there are all kinds of ways to make a "handy girl" service work. And busy parents may line up to pay for the much-needed extra pairs of hands.

Bonus tip: Parents, do you like using or want to use coupons, but lack the time to clip them? Employ your daughter! 'Tis the season of spending, and she can help you find coupons and offers that you may not have the time to look for. Let her help you save some money (there are both apps and websites with significant savings) and pay her 10 percent of your savings back in cash.

Like these ideas? Inspire your kid to get started with their own copy of The Startup Squad books. We have more ideas in this article with ideas for young entrepreneurs for summer as well as our other lists here and here. Also, check out these girls who've turned their money-making ideas into business opportunities. No matter what her age, she can start her own business!