Since the pandemic has thrown a monkey wrench in our summer program, we need to look for other alternatives to keep our children occupied and engaged. If you have teens at home, these might be great activities for them to engage in.
Keep Your Teens Engaged and Productive with These 10 Summertime Activities
1. Music Classes
One of the best gifts that you can give to your children, especially your teens, is the gift of music. If your kid has a natural inclination to music, then perhaps now would be a great time to sign them up for guitar training or violin lessons or whatever aspect of music they’re into.
2. Art Classes
Art, just like music, is a great outlet for expression especially at this time in your teenager’s life. Provide an avenue for them to get creative in their self-expression. Painting, sketching, sculpting, and other similar arts classes are available online.
3. Dance Classes
Dance is a great way to improve body coordination and get exercise in a fun manner. Whether your child is a beginner or a natural-born dancer, adding on to their skills will help boost their self-esteem.
4. Neighborhood Odd Jobs
Work may not seem like a fun thing to do to a teenager, but if you make it worth their while, they might look at it from a different perspective. It’s a great way to teach them responsibility and managing finances.
5. Learning a New Language
Have you ever wanted to learn a new language but never had the opportunity to do so? Things were different before. Now, languages can be taught online making the opportunity easily accessible to your teens. Besides, fluency in another language is a great way of adding value to yourself.
6. Getting into a New Hobby
It might be difficult to tear them away from their handheld devices, but if you can connect with them on a more intimate level and find out what interests them, maybe you can give them the chance to explore different outlets for their interests. Let them experience discovering the joys of getting into a hobby.
7. Engaging in Sports
Sports are another great outlet for kids to enjoy summer and stay fit and healthy. Like dance, it gives them the exercise they need while they are having fun. Nothing beats being productive and enjoying it at the same time.
8. Cooking
Cooking is a life skill that everyone needs to learn. You don’t have to be a master chef. At least just learn and master a handful of dishes to help get you by. Teaching your children this life skill will be valuable to them especially when they move out of the house in a few years and start living independently. After all, you wouldn’t want them stuffing themselves with fast food all the time, right?
9. Enjoying the Great Outdoors
For nature lovers, nothing beats the feeling of going outdoors and basking in all its magnificence. Go hiking with your teens. Spend a weekend with them camping in the wilderness. Enjoy the great outdoors. This teaches them to appreciate the simple things in life.
10. Getting Bored
Getting bored isn’t exactly a bad thing. Most of us got bored when we were younger. We just knew how to deal with it with no digital devices. Boredom teaches your kids to be innovative and creative with whatever it is that they have on hand at the time. It fosters strategic thinking and sharpens their critical problem-solving skills as they find ways to entertain themselves.
There is a lot of other fun and productive activities that your teenagers can do this summer. You just need to match their personalities and preferences with the right activities. Despite the health crisis we’re in right now, one can still enjoy summertime.
