A nine-year-old boy wrote a brilliant letter to his local sweet shop asking for a job to "help people find tasty sweets".
Ryan Dobson, applied to Sweets and Treats in South Shields after his mum, Lea Dobson, informed him that school holiday activities cost money.
A staff member from the shop, although regrettably admitting they couldn't employ Ryan, called his letter the "best application form ever".
"Sadly Ryan is just that little bit too young for us to employ - but we thought he had great initiative and he will definitely go far when he grows up," owner Danielle Jaggers said.
"He will be coming along to judge our sundae competition, which we have been running."
Open Image Modal
SWNS.com
Ryan Dobson wanted to earn some pennies for activities in the school holidays
In the letter Ryan explained why he would be the perfect employee.
He suggested he would drum up business by standing outside with free samples to lure customers in.
The Mortimer Primary School pupil wrote: "I could even work at the till because I am good with money and I am in top maths at school."
Jaggers said she shared the letter on the shop's Facebook page and said 22,000 people had viewed it within a week.
"It's amazing, it was a very good letter," she said.
Ryan's letter in full:
Dear Sweets and Treats,
I would like to inform you that I would like a job at Sweets and Treats. But not a full-time one as I am only nine (nearly ten). I would love to have a job in your store because it is probably fun meeting happy cheerful people and helping them find tasty sweets.
My idea is to get Sweets and Treats more customers because more customers means more business. I could stand outside of the door giving free samples of sweets and if they like the sweets then they can buy them. I could even work at the till because I am good with money and I am in top maths set at school.
I hope you employ me because I would like a job and would enjoy a job.
Yours sincerely, Ryan.
Since posting the letter, Ryan has been given the chance to serve ice cream and measure out sweets.
"It was really exciting and amazing that I got the chance to have a try at working in the sweet shop," he said.
His mum said she is delighted by her son's work ethic, although he still has his heart set on being a footballer.
Open Image Modal
SWNS.com
"All of this came about because I was mainly telling his sister that school holidays don't come cheap and she should think about how she could earn some extra pounds," Ryan's mum said.
"Then the next thing Ryan went off into his bedroom and came back with this application letter.
"I was secretly quite pleased because it meant he was practicing his English during the school holidays - but then he said he wanted to drop it off at the shop, so I let him go through with it.
"Ryan was told that they really need delivery drivers more than anything else, and he seemed fine with that as he knew he wasn't old enough to drive.
"But for now he's back to dreaming about becoming a footballer when he grows up, just like every other nine-year-old."
Making paper chains is a great activity to do with young children. All you need is some brightly coloured A4 paper, a pair of scissors and some glue. Start by cutting the paper into strips (a width of about 2cm is perfect) and then create a loop with the paper, sticking it with glue on one side. Once it’s dry, feed the next strip through the loop and glue the end of that one too. Keep going until you have you desired length of chain. You could even think about drawing your own designs on the paper before you cut them up. (credit:D. Sharon Pruitt Pink Sherbet Photography via Getty Images)
Potato print making(02 of05)
Open Image Modal
Potato print making or relief printing, to give it its proper name is a brilliantly cheap and effective way of creating artwork. Grab a selection of potatoes (big or small and any type) and cut them in half. Then draw on your design to the flat surface of the potato and carefully cut round the shape. A good tip is to blot the potato with some kitchen roll, so it’s not too wet. Next, choose your colours (poster paints work well). Paint on a very thin layer and print onto the paper to make your own homemade birthday cards or wrapping paper. (credit:Michaela Gunter via Getty Images)
Decorated biscuits(03 of05)
Open Image Modal
Everyone loves a homemade biscuit, especially when it has your own design iced onto it. First up, there’s the baking (a light butter biscuit is ideal). They can be any shape you like round, heart or even star-shaped. Then it’s time for the icing, make up a thick, glossy paste with icing sugar and water and split the mixture evenly into different bowls, mixing a different gel food colour into each one. Scoop the icing into separate piping bags and you’re ready to go. Don’t forget to wear an apron. (credit:Donald Iain Smith via Getty Images)
Homemade glitter globes(04 of05)
Open Image Modal
Glitter globes are a lovely idea to try out with children. There’s a few things you’ll need before you begin, a couple of empty glass jars with lids (make sure you wash them out first), a tube of glitter, some strong glue, a jug of water and a figurine of your choice. Open up the jar and glue your figurine to the lid (make sure its stuck fast), then fill up the jar with water and shake in your glitter (you can add a few teaspoons of glycerine if you want the glitter to shake better, but that is optional), then just screw on the lid. To make a really personal gift you could laminate a photo of yourself or a loved one and pop that in the jar instead of a figurine. (credit:Flickr CC-BY Amy Gizienski)
Bunting(05 of05)
Open Image Modal
A variation on the paper chain idea is making bunting. Start by getting colourful or patterned paper and folding it in half, this way the design will be on both sides. Then cut out a cardboard triangle template so all of your bunting will be the same size. Carefully cut out all the triangles you need from the paper (they will look like a diamond shape if you open them out fully). Then lay out a length of string. Open up the triangle and hang it over the string and dot a little bit of glue at the point of the triangle, so it stays together. It’s a simple but effective decoration. (credit:journeyswithasimplegirl ~ Angela Hendrix Petry via Getty Images)