I used to stress about planning my kids’ summers. The years I worked, they went to summer camps, and it was easy as long as they enjoyed them. I became an at-home parent some years ago, and the summers have slowly gotten harder and harder to plan. This will be my eighth summer with teenagers in my house.
While they no longer need my constant attention or a strict schedule, I still need to make sure these teenagers are somewhat busy. This is harder than it sounds! Here is how I’ve dealt with summers with teens.
1. Chilling Out
If I don’t intervene, my kids would sit on their butts all summer long and have the ultimate chill-out session of their lives. While that sounds like teenage heaven, it’s not. I’ve had many summer weeks where I’ve let them chill out and be vegetables. While there is a time and place for simplicity, it can go too far if I don’t intervene. With that said, I do think the very first week of summer break can be all about chilling out. Especially with high schoolers coming off finals week, they need to decompress. We start our summer break on a well-rested note.
2. Camp / CERT Certification
My youngest participated in our town’s park and recreation summer camp many summers of her youth. She was able to be a camper up until last summer, at age 14. She still loved it! Early teens can still partake. Here is our list of summer camps to check out. Now that my daughter will be 15 this summer, she is eligible to become CERT-certified and serve as an assistant for the camp. This can be a path to becoming a summer camp counselor in the future. I’m all for this route because it’s what I did as a teen! I loved working at my town’s summer camp.
3. Babysitting
Watching local young kids is also a great way to ease into part-time jobs for teens. I used to hire local help when my kids were little and provided references to those teens and college kids later on when they were looking for employment. It’s a great way to earn some money, take on more responsibility, and foster that sense of community.
4. Part-Time Jobs
Once they are 16, I highly encourage you to push your kids to get a part-time job. My oldest did this and worked even into the school year. He worked in a kitchen at a local nursing home. I know teens who have worked at restaurants and grocery stores. The competition is a bit fierce, especially if you live in a small town! Start looking as early as possible, as in, two months before summer.
5. Summer Schoolwork
My middle child is on the autism spectrum, and getting a job isn’t quite in the books for her right now. The last two summers, I’ve had her do summer schoolwork at home. I can hear her saying “BOO” in my ear. It’s lighthearted schoolwork! I made all my kids pick a book to read and create a book report. I even joined in and made a poster about my book. Use Teachers Pay Teachers and print out work for them based on their grade level (even great to use for younger kids!). Most schools have sections of their websites with summer work for the kids. I make sure my teens start working on it fairly early in the summer, so it doesn’t get left to the last minute.
6. Libraries
Let’s talk about our local libraries! Amazing spaces for kids of all ages. Our Monroe library has a teen space. Every summer, I often take the teens (like once a week), and we have “quiet” time when they can do anything they want. The maker space is fantastic and opens up creative avenues. Our library, as I assume many do, offers summer reading programs with prizes, as well as classes and free tickets to museums and other local places. Go check out the library!
7. Get Away
Obviously, if you can, get away! Take a vacation, somewhere fun, doesn’t even need to be anywhere crazy or expensive. We’ve done long weekends at the Cape, at Lake Winnipesaukee, in the Catskills. Day trips are fantastic, such as Watch Hill, RI, Mystic, CT, or a professional baseball game (go Yankees!). I’ve spent the last six summers checking off Connecticut’s State Parks with my kids. We’ve done about 45 of the over 100. There are so many! Fresh air does a body good, especially for teens.
8. Sports
Speaking of fresh air, lots of teens benefit from summer sports. My kids have not been the type to be on sports teams, although my youngest does taekwondo weekly, even in the summer. I’ve known many teenagers who participate in their sport of choice for the summer. A great way to continue to keep them busy!
