Hello Bermuda, and welcome to the month of June. If summer really begins when schools are out, we are very close.

Last week we looked at the need for parents to find work and/or other things for their kids to do this summer. Because of the recession, many companies are hiring fewer summer students. In some cases it is hard for kids to find summer jobs. However, the topic of work ethic comes to mind. More on this after the top 20.

Rude Boy by Rihanna advances to #1. People are singing this song all over the place, playing it in cars, the radio loves it, it's a winner. Tumbling to #2 is Everything To Me by Monica, a former essential new tune. Improving to #3 is Hey Daddy, (Daddy's Home) by Usher featuring Plies. Falling to #4 is Hard by Rihanna, the Bajan Bombshell. It's like Rihanna is the hottest ticket around these days.

Up to #5 is Neighbors Know My Name by Trey Songz. I'm not in love with this track, but hey, others like it, so ... whatever. Slipping to #6 is Tik Tok by Ke$ha, a popular dance/club/pop sing along hit of the first half of the year. Stumbling to #7 is Sexy Chick by David Guetta featuring Akon, a monster house jam that I still like, simply because it kicks.

Holding at #8 is On To The Next One by Jay Z and Swizz Beats. Up to #9 is Say Something by Timbaland featuring Drake, a former essential new jam.Tumbling to #10 is Bedrock by Young Money featuring Lloyd. Falling to #11 is Snoop Dogg's I Wanna Rock.

Up to #12 is My Chick Bad by Ludacris featuring Nicki Minaj. Over, by Drake, improves to #13.

Improving to #14 is Alica Keys with Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready). Improving to #15 is Nothing On You by B.o.B. featuring Bruno Mars.

Tumbling to #16 is Why Don't You Love Me by Beyonce. Making its move up the chart to #17 is L'il Freak by Usher featuring Nicki Manj, a former essential new jam. Falling to #18 is How Low by Ludacris.

Now this week's essential new tune. In at #19 is There Goes My Baby by Usher. This one is doing well in the hip hop charts. New at #20 is Lose My Mind by Young Jeezy featuring Plies.

Now back to this week's word – keeping kids busy and instilling a positive work ethic in them at an early age.

I wish parents luck this summer. Here's a suggestion – if your children can't find a job, encourage them to start a business. They can go around the neighbourhood and offer to paint people's houses and roofs. They can also cut people's grass and trim hedges and do odd jobs around houses. They can also charge below market rates for these services and still make themselves a tidy sum of money, if they can get the work.

I cannot think of anything that will teach a child the ins and outs of business better than having their own business.

Obviously there is more security in them getting a job with an established company but for the right young entrepreneur, owning their own business would be an awesome opportunity.

I've seen some effective summer students and some not so effective. This is even true of adult workers. However, it takes a whole village to raise a child and train a child. So, the onus is on all of us to not only teach our young people good work habits but to model them also.

We all have a duty to mentor our young people, to show them what they should be doing and to help them to become better employees and better people. Let's hope that all of our young people who wish to work this summer can either find jobs or establish small businesses that can teach them even more than a summer job is likely to do.

But for those who cannot find work, courses, volunteering, extra classes towards your degree are other productive options. The most important thing is the hope and prayer that they all stay out of trouble and engage in positive, socially acceptable activities and behaviour, not just during the summer, but all year. Peace … DJLT