Can parents force a child to work?

They can require that the child do chores and/or find a job. There is not a set of rules that children get to have the childhood of their choice. Summertime is a good time for kids to have responsibilities that suit their age. In mid to late highschool, a job can provide good experiences that will be useful later, including earning money and managing it properly. Most parents have their child's best interests at heart and so their views are usually right.