How to Keep Teens Productive During Summer

The teens are home for the summer and you're climbing the walls. It's challenging for both parents and teens to stay busy, upbeat and productive during summer vacation. Here are ways to stay positive and not get too restless. Chances are that you'll all feel better trying one or more of these suggestions.

Things You'll Need

• A sense of humor.

Instructions

1. Send them off to camp. Camp is a perfect getaway for teens. They'll have the joy of being on their own and making new friends. They'll practice social skills while being exposed to group living. They can participate in crafts, play sports, learn to swim or ride a horse. All while letting off steam. Since they're under supervision, you don't have to worry. They might even get homesick, which means they'll appreciate family life more when they return. Halfway through the summer you and your teen might feel the urge for a break from each other, so begin early researching possible camps. With a few years of camping under their belt, they may even want to become a camp counselor.

2. Sign up for classes. There are plenty of options for summer classes. From academic and catch-up courses to the arts, music and sports, summer is an opportunity to explore interests that they didn't have time for during the school year. What might your teen be interested in? If they don't want to take a class, then you join instead.

3. Encourage cooking. Sooner than you know it your kids will move out of the house and be stuck with cooking their own meals. You'll feel better about the transition if you've introduced cooking basics. Teens are experts at ordering fast food, but they aren't adept at making sandwiches, cooking oatmeal or fixing a delicious dinner. Get started this summer by encouraging cooking experiments. Let them take charge of the barbecue. Suggest that your teen choose a recipe, plan a menu and shop for ingredients. Let them loose in the kitchen, but stand by. Volunteer to be their sous-chef or let them be yours.

4. Organize and clean up. OK, so this may not be top on their priority list. You might have to do some bribing on this one. Good-naturedly give a pep talk about how good they'll feel starting back to school with an organized and clean room. Have them clean up other stuff too. Well, we can dream can't we?

5. Choose fun. Once your teen is grown and gone, you may not miss the wet towels on the bathroom floor, but you're likely to miss the excitement that comes with teens around the house. There's never a dull moment with teens bopping in and out. Join in the fun. Laugh and be silly. Invite their friends to join you on an outing. Hanging out with teens once in awhile is educational. You can eaves drop on their conversations and find out what they're up too.

6. Do a garage sale. Let them sell the stuff that they no longer use or love. Allow them to pocket the money.

7. Sleep in. According to studies, teens have received enough sleep and will wake up rested if they are allowed to wake up on their own accord. It's beneficial to allow them to sleep in. When they are fully rested they're better able to pay attention and concentrate. Parents want teens to go to bed earlier so they can wake up earlier, but that is contrary to natural body rhythms. Let your teen sleep in this summer. Don't wake them up. Don't set an alarm. Let them set their own sleep schedule and see what happens. Consider it a social experiment.

8. Lounge around. Let them get bored. Teens need free time to veg out. They need to unwind from the hectic school year. Open space is good for daydreaming and contemplating. Getting comfortable being alone allows teens to discover how to entertain themselves. Be aware that there's a fine line between too much lounging time and getting lazy. So keep your eyes and ears open. Balance downtime with healthy doses of activities.

9. Get a job. Whether walking dogs for an elderly neighbor or filing papers at an office, there are countless jobs that teens can do and enjoy. They will need your encouragement and backing to get started. One mom pointed out the cute boys working at the car wash and said to her daughter, "Hey, I bet it would be fun to work there." Planting that seed of suggestion was enough to motivate her 16-year-old into applying. Hanging around the boys, washing cars and getting paid was exciting. The boss soon noticed how dedicated she was and before summer ended, she was promoted to cashier.

10. Drop kids at grandparents. When they are safely at grandparents, you can take a vacation, go out with friends or be alone in your quiet, clean house. Don't worry or feel guilty. Parents deserve a break. Besides, teens and grandparents understand each other better when parents aren't around. Let them enjoy togetherness while you do your own thing for a while.

Tips & Warnings

• Read "Wonderful Ways to Love a Teen: Even When it Seems Impossible" by me (see Resources below).

Resources

• Wonderful Ways to Love a Teen: Even When it Seems Impossible