My friend, and Mommy University reader, recently asked for help in coming up with fun and inexpensive ideas to keep her tweens and teens busy this summer. So I got to thinking!
The pre-teen and teen years are such important times in a person’s life. It is when we discover who we are and what kind of person we want to be. It is when we make right and wrong choices and hopefully learn from them. It is also a time when kids question and argue EVERYTHING their parents say! That is why it is so important to find a balance when engaging pre-teens and teens. I have come up with a list of activities that hopefully both parents and kids will enjoy!
Get Active, Get Outdoors and Make a Difference
Get Active!
It is so important for emerging young adults to stay active and be healthy. When kids are healthy, they have more energy and focus which makes them more available to learn. In addition, being active can improve someone’s mood which is so important especially during the teen years when kids often experience a variety of mood swings. Here are some ways to get active:
- Play golf
- Go to the batting cages
- Put together 2 teams and play baseball or soccer at a local field
- Learn to skateboard (or any new sport)
- Organize your own talent show with friends
- Create an obstacle course in your backyard then turn it into a competition
- Go on a mall scavenger hunt: Have your kids locate certain items throughout the mall as well as find their prices and store location.
Getting your teens outside and playing sports is a great way to pass the time over the summer!
Get Outdoors!
Being outside and a part of nature can be calming, therapeutic and rewarding! Here are some activities teens can enjoy outside:
- Go fishing
- Go camping in the backyard
- Take a hike
- Build a tree house
- Have a water balloon fight
- Join a swim team
- Learn to canoe or kayak
What a great way to build upper body strength while gaining an appreciation for nature!
Get Involved!
Being involved in your community has a wide variety of benefits for pre-teens and teens. Not only is it a way to make new friends, it is also a confidence builder and rewarding! Here are some ideas:
- Volunteer at an animal shelter or local hospital
- Become a camp counselor or counselor in training
- Join a health and fitness program at a local gym
- Join a library club
- Join your local 4-H club
Make a Difference!
Helping others can have a profound impact on teens! It exposes them to people and situations that give them a better understanding and appreciation about life. It can also steer them in the direction of a possible career path such as doctor, vet or social worker. Above all else, it is immensely rewarding. Here are some ways teens can make a difference:
- Become a mentor
- Read to children at a library or children’s hospital
- Write letters to soldiers
- Visit the elderly at a nursing home
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen
- Deliver food to the elderly
There is nothing more rewarding than mentoring a young child!