What can young teens do in the summer in the afternoons
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Anonymous
I don’t know, am I? I am not controlling in many other ways. My kids go to sleepovers, have a lot of independence getting around the neighborhood, on public transportation, etc. I don’t track their every move or read their phones. I’m not controlling about food or what classes they have to take, I don’t push constant activity. It’s really the screens I worry about. And it’s the sheer amount that upsets me. And yes I realize the irony as I’ve responded to this repeatedly from my phone…I’m a hypocrite for sure. But maybe because I know how addictive it is and I want to help my kids avoid that trap, at least for now while their brains are still growing. Does it not worry you? Serious question. |
Anonymous
| He can mow lawns in the neighborhood. He can go to the nearest church or temple that has an on-site daycare and offer to help. He can reach out to senior centers nearby and spend time with them. Play cards with them, talk sports, etc. He can be a dog walker. |
Anonymous
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I’m the PP with the daughter and I’m
With you OP. Call me controlling if you want, but if I don’t control the screens or give her an actual list of stuff to do, she would live on her phone or iPad. She’s just not motivated to do anything else, period. She won’t look for it on her own. Maybe part of that is the ADHD but it’s everyday life. I’m Hoping she grows out of it eventually. |
Anonymous
| Similar situation here - though my kid will play pick up basketball or occasionally make other plans with friends (though more often than not even when he wants to it’s hard to pull friends away from their video games!). I would sign him up for the online PE health class and possibly also look for another online enrichment class (writing, typing, art, piano, chess) that is once or twice a week. We also put my kids in charge of 1 family dinner each a week (hello fresh or something of their choice). Sometimes they’d get creative with other cooking projects. I’d also look for ways to make money - mowing yards, taking younger kids out to practice sports, walking dogs. This year my 15 year old will have an actual job 10hrs/wk. with swim and a few other productive things, it’s easier to let the rest of time vegging on screens go. Most of August is family trips and sleep away camp. |
Anonymous
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Boys at our swim club who aren’t old enough to lifeguard or don’t work usually go to the gym there (open to ages 14 and up) and spend the afternoon lifting, posing, and listening to music, or they play basketball on the nearby court. Older people work out in the mornings so no one seems to mind their takeover. Then they usually rinse off and do goofy stuff off the diving board once dive practice wraps up. Girls are more likely to lifeguard, work at the snack bar, teach private lessons, help coach tennis, and work at day camps. Unfortunately I think that a lot of these jobs are seen as “girl’s jobs” and/or boys are given more free reign and downtime, because the ratio of girl:boy employees is easily 4:1.
A lot of teens by me bank service hours over the summer if their school requires it. That would be a great way to stay busy and knock out a requirement. |
Anonymous
| Volunteer, camps, health ed. Get health out of the way. |
Anonymous
| 8 hours is insane, screen free summer is needed. |
Anonymous
Absolutely! Screens aren't bad, but that much screen time is. Don't male him constantly work either, he's a kid let him have fun. |
Anonymous
OP you sound very reasonable and it's good to think of ideas! Some people just feel judged bc their own kids are on screens all day. |
Anonymous
Kids have fun working and earning money. Maybe not if they have to like, put up drywall or pour concrete on a rooftop in July in the Deep South, but in general, they like it. |
Anonymous
All I'm saying is don't forget to let them be kids. If they like working great, they should also have non work fun too |
Anonymous
| Our pool also has questionable management, but my kids have managed to work for them for the last 3y. It has taught them to advocate for themselves and what they want/don't want in a supervisor and how they want to be as a co-worker. |
Anonymous
| He should offer private swim lessons in the afternoons -- TONS of families will pay him $25 a lesson. |
Anonymous
Easier said then done unless you're a lifeguard at the pool. No pool is going to let random people give lessons there. DD was a lifeguard who gave lessons but only the pool she worked at would let her do it there. |
Anonymous
DD was a lifeguard for years and it really opened her eyes to what a bad manager can do to staff morale. |