Teen jobs are scarce this summer. Unless they already had a job during the school year, the chances of having a job this summer are slim. This leaves parents with bored, broke, jobless teens. It is a sad sight to behold for sure.
Before you resign to watching them laze away the summer playing video games, eating everything in sight and complaining, look for ways to keep them active and productive this summer. Here are some ideas you can use.
Study: Realizing that this is the last thing you want to say to a teen during the summer for fear of their reaction, spending just an hour a day studying in the summer will help them to start the school year stronger and to even help them prepare for important standardized tests like the SAT or ACT. They may moan at first, but a smart teen knows the value of study. Adding a reward incentive will help the reluctant teen to crack the books.
Enrichment projects: If your teen knows that he or she wants to become a film maker or webmaster, for example, challenge them to create a product this summer. This will help them hone their skills, and to have a good portfolio item for their college application.
Contests: Many websites hold contests for the best video, or best entrepreneurial idea. Plug your teens into these contests and get their creative juices flowing.
Volunteering: Have your teens do something for others this summer. Connect them with a local church that needs painting and repair. Contact the local food bank to see if they need help. Call the local nursing home to arrange for your teens to visit with the elderly. Sign them up as candy-stripers at the local hospital. They may not make any money, but they will earn valuable work experience and stay out of trouble.
Solicit odd jobs: Just because Old Navy and Abercrombie & Fitch are not hiring does not mean that your teen cannot find work. Have them make flyers for services they can provide and distribute them to neighbors and friends. They can provide lawncare, cleaning, childcare, and pet walking, and even vacation house sitting services. The work may not be steady, but they will find work and it will be better than nothing.
Have some fun: Provide one or two fun activities that your teen can do with their friends. Perhaps it will be a party in your basement, or perhaps a Saturday Cookout. Maybe you can just drive a bunch of them to the mall. Hopefully the idea will rub off and other parents will plan activities also. This way your teens can have a few fun events to look forward to during the summer to make it a bit more exciting.
If you liked this you should also read my other posts at the home blog, the homeschooling blog, the parents blog, and the frugal blog. You can read my recent posts here.
You should also read:
Avoiding obesity in the teen years
Early Sexual Activity in Children and Teens Linked to TV Viewing