What Will Your Teen Do This Summer?
By Kathleen A. Matchunis, President of Connecting, Inc.
What will your teen do with a little “down time” this summer? Will they veg out on the sofa as their brain cells slowly die off? Of course, kids need to unwind after a hectic school year. It’s when one day leads to another day of no structure and no productive activity that teens can slide into a summer of sloth.
What is a parent to do? Arguing about this issue is not effective or fun. It pays to do a little research to see what activities are available in your area. Give your teen options, and listen to their ideas as well. If your child is of age to have a job, consider practice interviewing skills with your teen. With so many teens reliant on technology for communication, teens often are uncomfortable with an interview in person. If you don’t feel that you can role-play an interview with your teen, ask a friend who has a business to help you out. Practicing interviewing builds confidence.
If a job doesn’t look like it is in your teen’s future, have them sign up to volunteer with your church, synagogue, or the city. An internet search of volunteer opportunities in your area will help guide you. Volunteering helps teens feel valued, builds confidence, and develops a work ethic as well as helps them reach beyond the world of “me, myself, and I”.
Encourage your child to read, so that they do not lose ground in that area. Set a good example by reading in front of your children. If they are not used to reading for pleasure, take them to a book store and let them choose a book that is part of a series that appeals to them. If you read some of the same books or articles as your teen, you can discuss them together. If you have a reluctant reader, you can encourage them to read a book and then invite them to a movie corresponding to the book and decide which was better. Teenagers love it when you ask their opinion on anything.
If you are planning a vacation, get your teen to research information to make the trip more enjoyable. Getting your teen involved with the planning phase of the vacation will lead to a more pleasant time together. Giving your teen an opportunity to choose vacation time activities will make it more enjoyable for your teen and the rest of the family.
One thing for sure, if you don’t encourage your teen to do something during the summer, they will most likely hibernate and not be very active, which will impact the retention of what they learned this past school year. Teens who are engaged in a job or volunteer activity are also less likely to use drugs or get into trouble with the law.
If your child is a “go-getter” there are online courses and courses at local community colleges. This is a great way to get ahead in preparation for college.
What do you do to motivate your teen to stay active during the summer? Please share your ideas. If you need sample interview questions, I would be happy to provide you with some great practice questions. Just e-mail me at kathy@connectinginc.net
Have a wonderful summer with your teen and take this opportunity to get to know them without the pressures of school!