Summer jobs are a great way to teach your kids about responsibility, presenting themselves to others, handling money – and the importance of work.

Start by making a list of tasks that are appropriate to your child’s age, skills and self-assurance. The underlying goal: to build confidence by setting up a situation where your child can succeed.

Require your child to save a hefty chunk of the summer’s earnings, but be sure to allocate a reasonable amount as mad money. There has to be a reward for all that sweat. This will teach your child how to spend wisely by setting priorities and balancing short-term pleasure with long-term goals.

If your child goes door-to-door in search of work, make sure the kid understands that presentation and politeness count. (If you have any safety concerns, keep door-to-door solicitation to people you know in the neighborhood.)

The kid is selling responsibility as much as a service. If turned down initially, tell your child that making a good impression may lead to a job in the future.

With a little thought, your child will discover there’s more to summer than lemonade stands. Someday you may have another  Bill Gates of Microsoft (MSFT), Steve Jobs of Apple (AAPL), David Neeleman of JetBlue (JBLU), or Martha Stewart of Martha Stewart Omnimedia (MSO) on your hands.

Here are some jobs to consider for kids aged 12 and under:

Yard work – Sharpen the blades on a push-mower and your kid is ready to go to work. (Power mowers aren’t suitable for children, especially when working on their own.) Your kid will need a rake and a broom for touchup work. The job will teach your child about plant care, watering and conservation. Then comes the important stuff: attention to detail and understanding special instructions. With luck, your child will have some regular customers and this will teach the importance of devising a schedule and sticking to it.

Pet Sitting – If your child is good with small animals, taking care of others’ critters while they’re away can work. Tell your child to show a lot of affection with the animal, call it by name and take the time to play, because the dog or cat will be bored if left alone all day. Feeding pets soon makes them into friends. Your child will have to visit the animal at least once a day. Those who don’t need care for their animal when out-of-town may need to have the dog walked each day. This allows your child to offer what marketers call a “menu of services.” Your budding entrepreneur will learn time management skills.

Animal pictures – If your child has an interest in photography, a digital camera can be the basis of a summer business. Your kid should start by taking pictures of the family pet to develop a flyer that can be distributed in your neighborhood. Who knows, some neighbors might be interested in informal pictures of their kids? Don’t expect portraits, but what could be more fun than kids mugging for a camera held by a kid? Expenses will be low because your child can store the digital shots on a computer and print out only the ones that sell.

Computer services – A kid who’s good with all things electronic will be surprised to learn that others, especially adults, are sometimes a little clunk-headed with computers. Your child can start with basic skills and Internet searches. Make a list of Web sites appropriate for kids, starting with Minyanland.com. Kids need to know the rules so make it clear what type of things are out-of-bounds on the Internet.

Washing cars – Folks always need the old bucket of bolts cleaned and many would rather pay a kid to do it than a commercial car wash. Have your child develop a specific list of tasks to be completed with each car wash – clean windows, vacuum the interior, wash the floor mats and clean out the trunk for starters. Front your child money for detergent and glass cleaner, grab that flannel shirt left over from your school days, and your kid is ready for business.

Wrap gifts – If your child is clever with paper, tape and scissors, there may be a demand for artfully wrapped birthday presents and other gifts. Your child will learn about marketing. Community bulletin boards might be a good place to start. The work flow is likely to be uneven so this could easily be combined with babysitting or caring for others’ pets.

Tutoring – If your child is a good student, younger kids who need help with reading or math might benefit. This will show younger children who are struggling that schoolwork isn’t an adult fixation and that slightly older kids can master it. Tutoring will build confidence in your child and teach the kid how to see the world as others do. Your child will learn that abilities and interests vary and what’s easy for some is hard for others. This is a valuable lesson because your child is bound to hit some bumps in the future.

Ask around to determine what other kids charge for these services in your town. Don’t price yourself out of the market, but don’t underprice, either.

Before your child starts knocking on doors, sit down with the kid and make a “tips for success” checklist. Here are some basic points to start the discussion:

• Always be courteous.
• Always do your best.
• Be neat.
• Consistency is the key to success. 
•  Dress appropriately.
• Work hard.
• Don’t whine.
• Remember that a job well done may get you referrals for additional work.
• Building a business is a numbers game so visit as many houses as possible and put up flyers at supermarkets, public buildings, the church bulletin board – you name it.
• Rejection is part of building a business. Some days will be better than others. Keep at it.

There is nothing menial about the lessons to be learned from a summer job. The sense of independence and accomplishment provide a solid foundation for your child’s development.

Save your child’s notes, receipts, flyers – whatever – because the kid will graduate from college before you know it.