Do younger teens really do nothing all summer?

[Anonymous]

My 14 year old is doing three separate 5 day sleep over speciality camps, summer school for health, swim team, and in august band camp. It’s a weird age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many of you are clearly so uncomfortable with the idea of just letting your kids be. Exist. They have to always be busy, busy, busy with some outside structured activity. Then you can pat yourselves on the back for being such great parents without ever actually having to parent.

The DMV is a sick area. 14 years olds don’t need jobs or volun(told) hours. Just let them be kids for awhile.

What are your screentime rules PP?

[Anonymous]

Totally different experience here. Pretty much all the 11-13 yrs olds in our neighborhood are in some sort of camp most of the summer--sports, sleep away, theater, art, etc. Almost no kid is "doing nothing," which makes it hard when my kids do have a week off: no other kids to hang out with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess a benefit of living in DC is they have the MYSEP program which guarantees a paid job to anyone 14+ that applies to the program.

When my kid was 14 they did this with friends and all were assigned to the same day camp as counselors.

Others managed to find either paid or volunteer work with various sports camps (that they often attended themselves when they were 6-12) for the sport they play.

I would not want to send my little kid to a camp staffed by 14 year olds who didn't even have to meet any standards or criteria to be hired. SERIOUS YIKES.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many of you are clearly so uncomfortable with the idea of just letting your kids be. Exist. They have to always be busy, busy, busy with some outside structured activity. Then you can pat yourselves on the back for being such great parents without ever actually having to parent.

The DMV is a sick area. 14 years olds don’t need jobs or volun(told) hours. Just let them be kids for awhile.

I don’t want mine hanging out on video games and it’s a good time to explore their interests.

[Anonymous]

My 15yr. old is doing 2hr. Football camp everyday.

Occasionally, he will meet up with friends for ice cream, soccer at the field or pool.

But pretty much video games the rest of the day. I hear him screaming and talking so I know he's playing with friends who are obviously at home as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t allow it. My young teens volunteered many hrs a week age 11-13 then worked 14 yo on. Preparation for the working world.

Where do you find that much volunteer and paid work for a 14 yo? I used to babysit, but we don't know that many families with young kids that would want a 14 yo sitter now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many of you are clearly so uncomfortable with the idea of just letting your kids be. Exist. They have to always be busy, busy, busy with some outside structured activity. Then you can pat yourselves on the back for being such great parents without ever actually having to parent.

The DMV is a sick area. 14 years olds don’t need jobs or volun(told) hours. Just let them be kids for awhile.[/quote

Maybe you live in the past. But in 2024 a young teen would be sucked into the addictive internet all day. They don't live in Mayberry where they can jump on their bikes and find an adventure. No one is saying they need to be busy, busy, busy. But to have a physically healthy teen with normal friendships, some structure is required and is a gift to young teens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t allow it. My young teens volunteered many hrs a week age 11-13 then worked 14 yo on. Preparation for the working world.

I haven’t found anywhere kids under 14 can volunteer without a parent present. No company/organization wants to babysit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess a benefit of living in DC is they have the MYSEP program which guarantees a paid job to anyone 14+ that applies to the program.

When my kid was 14 they did this with friends and all were assigned to the same day camp as counselors.

Others managed to find either paid or volunteer work with various sports camps (that they often attended themselves when they were 6-12) for the sport they play.

I would not want to send my little kid to a camp staffed by 14 year olds who didn't even have to meet any standards or criteria to be hired. SERIOUS YIKES.

It's not "staffed by 14 year olds"...vs. maybe 10% of the staffers are 14 & 15. None of the day-to-day teens working the camp meet any standards...it's a multi-sport day camp. The 18/19 year old managers and FT staff are of course meeting standards and there is tons of coverage.

Give me a break if you think a multi-sport day camp anywhere (including the Headfirst camps at Sidwell....which also hire some 14/15 year olds) has much in the way of standards other than show up on time and be responsible.

[Anonymous]

My kids have to do SOMETHING. I don't care if it's a job or sleepaway camp or a part day sports program. There can be some off weeks here and there but most weeks they need to have something. Friends are also busy or away and they wouldn't have much to fill their time.

[Anonymous]

My 14yo (almost 15) is basically feral.

We don't have any structured activities for him. He spends his time sleeping, cooking, eating, gaming, running errands with me, hanging with friends once or twice a week, and he will be traveling for 3 weeks starting this weekend. Actually I take it back he will be doing online drivers ed to get his permit but that is not really 'structured'.

He is my youngest of 3 and we are all over the grinding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many of you are clearly so uncomfortable with the idea of just letting your kids be. Exist. They have to always be busy, busy, busy with some outside structured activity. Then you can pat yourselves on the back for being such great parents without ever actually having to parent.

The DMV is a sick area. 14 years olds don’t need jobs or volun(told) hours. Just let them be kids for awhile.

I don’t want mine hanging out on video games and it’s a good time to explore their interests.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with video games. And most of you mean it’s a good time for your kids to explore YOUR interests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 14yo (almost 15) is basically feral.

We don't have any structured activities for him. He spends his time sleeping, cooking, eating, gaming, running errands with me, hanging with friends once or twice a week, and he will be traveling for 3 weeks starting this weekend. Actually I take it back he will be doing online drivers ed to get his permit but that is not really 'structured'.

He is my youngest of 3 and we are all over the grinding.

^ Oh yeah and he also is working out in the garage and working on his 'gains'.

But basically 90% of his time is his own to choose how to use it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t allow it. My young teens volunteered many hrs a week age 11-13 then worked 14 yo on. Preparation for the working world.

Where do you find that much volunteer and paid work for a 14 yo? I used to babysit, but we don't know that many families with young kids that would want a 14 yo sitter now.

At 13-14 years old, my kid babysat during the days for WAH parents whose preschool-elementary age kids weren't in camp certain weeks or days.