Independence is always a good thing and parents should encourage their teenage children to earn some pocket money themselves. This will not only inculcate them with a sense of responsibility and teach them the value of money, but also keep themselves occupied so that they do not get distracted to other vices such as drugs and the likes.
However, going overboard in the quest to make money is also bad, for it would distract them from studies and healthy socialization, two things indispensable for a teenagers personal growth. The parents should ensure that the teenagers know they do not have to work for their living and their requirements will be met by them even if they run out of a job. The teenagers job in short should not be an end in itself, but only preparation for future challenges.
The jobs ideally suited for teenagers include tasks such as pet care, baby sitting, elderly care, and routine domestic sores. A more advanced level would be working as a part time clerk in the supermarket or at the gas filling station. The more enterprising of the lot could start selling some items such as old toys, comics or school books, mostly to their own family members and extended circle of friends.