U.S. Department of Labor
FLSA - Child Labor Rules
When your parents are the sole owners of the business where you do or will work, the Federal child labor rules are eased with respect to your employment. This exemption, however, is limited. It does not allow your parents to employ you in occupations declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor. (18 is the minimum legal age for such employment.) And, it does not permit parents to employ you in manufacturing or mining.
Except for the hazardous occupations, your parents may employ you at any time of day, for any number of hours, and in any occupation other than manufacturing or mining. But remember, in most cases, working for your parents will not excuse you from state laws that you attend school. The occupations declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor are listed on the following page.
