Ideas for summer - not achievement oriented

[Anonymous]

Is there Nextdoor in your neighborhood where you can search for opportunities?

[Anonymous]

I have many things to suggest but they all involve transport. If she doesn't have transport, the only thing I can suggest is an online enrichment workshop in some non-academic area (art?). Or a non-academic or low stakes sleep away camp on a theme that is fun for her. Is there anything at all within walking distance of your house? Babysitting in the neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

Volunteer at a horse farm

[Anonymous]

Have her take lifeguard training. I did it at her age and then was a lifeguard and swim instructor every summer through college. I made good money but also got to interact with kids and be outside everyday.

[Anonymous]

Has she ever done a sleepaway camp?

[Anonymous]

Take a pottery class with one of your parents (If they are up for it)

See if there is a neighbor willing to teach her how to knit or crochet.

During COVID one summer my teens made a bunch of Tie blankets and donated them to Project Linus. Once again - do this with your parents.

Purchase an eclectic bicycle to support her independence.

[Anonymous]

it sounds like it might be good for her to have something less “curated” if you really want to change things up.

Things like: a mother’s helper gig she can walk to, snack shop at the local pool, pay her to power wash the house or paint the shutters or something, buy her sewing machine and she can learn to sew if that would appeal, let her putter around and read junky teen books.

Even though something like NOLS is great it’s not really giving her a break from being “on.”

[Anonymous]

Agree with mother’s helper gig. Or maybe there’s an elderly lady she could do some light cleaning/cooking for or maybe read out loud to, etc? (I say woman only gecausecinfrotunately there was an elderly man in my neighborhood who moelsted a teen boy providing help….)

Another idea is to find or start an online book club for teens or just do a book club with her. Pick some fun things like Jane Austen and read together then go out for ice cream to discuss.

Buy some craft supplies and have her watch YouTube videos. During the lockdown my teen daughter got very into jewelry making and learned to make gorgeous earrings with seed beads and also fun stuff with embedded in resin or made with sculpey. She gave a lot away as presents. Ask her if there’s something she’d like to learn along those lines and then get her some supplies.

Another idea is get her a fun cookbook and have her try a new recipe per day or week or whatever. There are also places that collect things like premade casseroles or soups to give to food insecure. My teen and I did a few big days of cooking and made soup for dozens each day to package up and bring for distribution. That’s great life skills, fun and you really feel like you did something nice.

[Anonymous]

Sleepaway camp