I'm BORED!
If your teen is anything like mine, you hear this all the time. That whining two-word sentence that makes you want to run your fingers down a chalkboard just to show them what it sounds like to you when they utter it! By the end of the summer, you may be ready to send them off to school by shooting them out of a rocket!
Kids (even older ones), have a short attention span and need constant stimulation to keep them interested. It can be quite a challenge to keep them occupied during the summer, especially if you view those months as a time of relaxation.
In an attempt to keep the teenage boredom away, here are some ideas to help you avoid hearing those words this summer:
* Have a talk with your teen. Find out what they are interested in and what they would rather chew off their own hand than do during the summer. What kind of hobbies do they have or would they like to start? This will at least give you a starting point in order to find some acceptable activities that they will be happy participating in during the summer months. Make a list of things that you and your child feel that they would enjoy doing.
* Make sure you set some boundaries! My DD14 would stay up all night raiding the fridge and watching questionable cable television shows and then sleep until 3:00 pm if I would let her. (Trust me, I actually did let her for about a week when I had the flu.)
Let your child know that they will not be spending the summer sitting on the couch, watching t.v. or playing video games all summer. Give them a minimum of activities to choose from the list you created during your talk. Now they will stay occupied all summer with some scheduled downtime.
* Volunteering is an excellent way for your child to stay occupied during the summer months. Most high schools require a certain amount of volunteer hours in order to graduate anyway, so why not use the summer months to get that done? My DD14 volunteered all summer between 8th and 9th grade at a Thrift Store / Food Pantry. She logged over 100 hours and has a certificate to prove that she has already met her graduation requirement. She also learned how to deal with a variety of situations and gained experience that she can use when applying for a 'real' job down the line. Your local paper should have a list of volunteer opportunities. Just be sure to choose something that compliments your child's interests.
* Playing summer sports is a fun way to pass the summer. Especially if your child was already involved in sports during the school year. It is a great way to hone their skills in a more relaxed environment where they don't have to worry about their school's record being at stake. On that note, there are also sport camps, however they can be pretty pricey.
* Maybe your son or daughter would be more happy finding a job and earning some extra cash of their own. During the summer months, there are many babysitting jobs available since many parents work while their children are in school.
* Look into the classes that are held at your local rec. center or library. Perhaps your teen would be interested in learning a new skill, such as acting, gardening or art.
* If your child is considering college, there are many local universities and colleges that offer summer programs that span a variety of career disciplines. Some even offer on-campus housing for the duration of the program. You will most likely have to fill out an application before the end of the school year to participate.
* Summer is also a great time to get the kids to help around the house. While I believe chores should be part of a child's every day routine, I do keep them at a minimum during the school year so my children can concentrate more on their school work. But, during summer vacation why not help them learn more of the household responsibilities that are normally not on their chore list?
While not an all-inclusive list, you should be able to get some ideas from those listed above to help your son or daughter stave off the boredom this summer.
Have any ideas of your own? I'd love to hear them!
If your teen is anything like mine, you hear this all the time. That whining two-word sentence that makes you want to run your fingers down a chalkboard just to show them what it sounds like to you when they utter it! By the end of the summer, you may be ready to send them off to school by shooting them out of a rocket!
Kids (even older ones), have a short attention span and need constant stimulation to keep them interested. It can be quite a challenge to keep them occupied during the summer, especially if you view those months as a time of relaxation.
In an attempt to keep the teenage boredom away, here are some ideas to help you avoid hearing those words this summer:
* Have a talk with your teen. Find out what they are interested in and what they would rather chew off their own hand than do during the summer. What kind of hobbies do they have or would they like to start? This will at least give you a starting point in order to find some acceptable activities that they will be happy participating in during the summer months. Make a list of things that you and your child feel that they would enjoy doing.
* Make sure you set some boundaries! My DD14 would stay up all night raiding the fridge and watching questionable cable television shows and then sleep until 3:00 pm if I would let her. (Trust me, I actually did let her for about a week when I had the flu.)
Let your child know that they will not be spending the summer sitting on the couch, watching t.v. or playing video games all summer. Give them a minimum of activities to choose from the list you created during your talk. Now they will stay occupied all summer with some scheduled downtime.
* Volunteering is an excellent way for your child to stay occupied during the summer months. Most high schools require a certain amount of volunteer hours in order to graduate anyway, so why not use the summer months to get that done? My DD14 volunteered all summer between 8th and 9th grade at a Thrift Store / Food Pantry. She logged over 100 hours and has a certificate to prove that she has already met her graduation requirement. She also learned how to deal with a variety of situations and gained experience that she can use when applying for a 'real' job down the line. Your local paper should have a list of volunteer opportunities. Just be sure to choose something that compliments your child's interests.
* Playing summer sports is a fun way to pass the summer. Especially if your child was already involved in sports during the school year. It is a great way to hone their skills in a more relaxed environment where they don't have to worry about their school's record being at stake. On that note, there are also sport camps, however they can be pretty pricey.
* Maybe your son or daughter would be more happy finding a job and earning some extra cash of their own. During the summer months, there are many babysitting jobs available since many parents work while their children are in school.
* Look into the classes that are held at your local rec. center or library. Perhaps your teen would be interested in learning a new skill, such as acting, gardening or art.
* If your child is considering college, there are many local universities and colleges that offer summer programs that span a variety of career disciplines. Some even offer on-campus housing for the duration of the program. You will most likely have to fill out an application before the end of the school year to participate.
* Summer is also a great time to get the kids to help around the house. While I believe chores should be part of a child's every day routine, I do keep them at a minimum during the school year so my children can concentrate more on their school work. But, during summer vacation why not help them learn more of the household responsibilities that are normally not on their chore list?
While not an all-inclusive list, you should be able to get some ideas from those listed above to help your son or daughter stave off the boredom this summer.
Have any ideas of your own? I'd love to hear them!
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