Teenagers
British teenagers are not different from teenagers in Italy, in France or any other country in the western world. They like listening to music, watching TV, surfing the Internet and playing sports. They usually spend most of their money on clothes, snacks, mobile phones, cosmetics and video games.
But where do they get their money from? Unlike Italian teens who usually get money from their parents or relatives as a gift, most British teenagers have to earn their money. They help around the house or do part time jobs, depending on their age. Typically, younger children do the washing-up, work in the garden, wash the car or tidy their bedroom; whereas older children work as paper boys or girls, as sales assistants or shelf stackers in shops, or they help in sports centres. Others work as babysitters or dog-sitters.
Working to earn their money is a great opportunity for children to learn about the value of money and the value of the things they can get with money. Furthermore, the experience of work helps them become more responsible and self-confident.
All children go to school on workdays, but at weekends and in the afternoons they can choose among a variety of different activities. Some go to sports clubs where they can play sports; football, rugby and cricket are among the boys’ favourites while netball, hockey and volleyball are more popular with girls.
In families where both parents work and get home late, children go to homework clubs; they remain at school after the lessons and do their homework.
Teens also like meeting their friends in shopping malls where they can shop or window-shop and hang out together. Girls generally like shopping for clothes and cosmetics whereas boys are more interested in technology and games.