By planning ahead and being prepared, parents can keep their adolescents out of trouble and out of their hair during summer vacation. Don’t make a big deal about it or they may reject the parent's ideas. Instead, pull up Websites and leave brochures and clippings around for them to discover. Make plans early in the summer. Once boredom sets in, it’s harder to shake.
Free Local Activities
Many communities have a pool where kids can swim and hang out safely for free or for a small fee. Community concerts, sporting events, festivals, and fairs are great places for teens and tweens to meet up with friends for an afternoon or evening. Some community centers have special events for kids, such as movies or dances.
Libraries often have summer programs for kids. Make a habit of stopping at the library once a week to foster a love for reading. But don’t stop with books. Kids can also borrow music, videos, and games from many libraries. Be sure to check out all that the local library offers.
Summer Jobs
A job at a local business teaches responsibility and puts some extra money in kids’ pockets. When getting a “real” job isn’t possible because of age or other circumstances, have kids look for other opportunities, such as babysitting and mowing lawns. Or make a list of odd jobs around the house that need to be done. Offer to buy a new CD or concert ticket in exchange for work.
No matter what the job, working helps kids feel a sense of worth for their contribution. It also helps them value the work that their parents and other adults do. It keeps them busy, which was the original point of it all. And they have some money to spend to entertain themselves when they aren’t working!
Volunteering Opportunities for Tweens and Teens
Keep tweens and teens busy by engaging them in volunteer activities. There are plenty of organizations that would appreciate help. Have the kids take charge of identifying places where they might volunteer, such as the Red Cross, food banks, soup kitchens, nursing homes, or hospitals. Some churches have lists of shut-ins who would enjoy a visit from a young person. Helping others helps kids appreciate a world beyond MTV and Facebook.
Creative Activities for Summer Vacation
The idle days of summer are a great time to learn to do something new. Ask kids to think of something they’d like to learn, and then have them research and plan how to do it. Look for art or woodworking classes, karate schools, or fly fishing workshops. Let their imagination roll, but be sure to talk about budget first!
Kids who like to work with arts and crafts can make gifts to put away for friends and family as occasions arise. Some craft shops and fabric stores schedule how-to activities for customers. These are beneficial on several counts: the kids spend time learning to do something new; after the workshop, they can spend time practicing at home; then they spend time using their new skill to create things.
Summer vacation allows for time to get into projects, like redecorating a bedroom or tearing apart an old car. Again, it’s important for parents to set boundaries on how much of their time and money they will invest. Challenging kids to work on their own with a limited budget forces them to be resourceful and gives them a sense of accomplishment. And – it keeps them busy!
Following these tips will banish boredom, help kids enjoy their summer, and enrich their lives in the process.
Read more about summer activities for teens or for tweens.
Elayne Masters - My life’s journey took me on a long, winding path, eventually bringing me to my career as a freelance writer/editor. After working ...
