Excellent observation. Once upon a time, kids started work beside their parents, on the farm, ranch, family restaurant, corner store, Mom’s ironing, baking, sewing or house cleaning business, Dad’s auto shop, construction company, etc. and so on and on. Farmworkers kids working beside them in the fields was so common, even California had agricultural labour laws for children as late as 2005 (and maybe still does).

In kindergarten, my kids started working in my company and worked their way up. By junior high, my kids were managing projects (which required good reading comprehension and math skills). With years of solid work experience behind them, they had their choice of jobs after college.