Parents Talk: What's a Teenager to Do?
In this week's Parents Talk, we help one dad out by giving a few suggestions for things his teen can do on summer break.
Normally I would come up with a topic for Parents Talk but this week, a loyal Patch reader we'll call "Mark" posed a question we just couldn't pass up.
Mark (names have been changed to protect him from the wrath of his teenage son) wanted to know what teenagers do in the summer time. Summer break just started and he wants to know, "Where do 13-15 year-olds hang out? What do they do for the summer? My kid lays in his room all day and watches TV. He goes nowhere and it drives me nuts. I'm looking for ideas."
So, Patch parents, can you help Mark out? What can a non-driving teenager do this summer? Any and all suggestions are welcome.
Deb Belt
11:00 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
Volunteer in the community -- the Waukee Food Pantry, the library, his church, the senior center? Not what a teen wants to spend the summer doing, perhaps, but it would get him out of the house and could be more gratifying than playing XBox.
Jessica Miller
11:11 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
I think most non driving kids in Ames just get rides to the Water Park.
Jody Gifford
11:53 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
I'm not sure how old your son is but if he's 14, he can get a job. I bussed tables, detassled corn, worked at the YMCA helping with day camps, etc. at 14. I loved that I was earning my own money.
Devon Murphy-Petersen
12:11 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Earn his Silver Cord hours at Waukee Public Library! Have the teen call Erin or Devon for more info and to get started. 987-1280.
Ashlee Kieler
12:14 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
The Johnston High School announcements page put out a call for volunteers recently:
The Johnston Clothes Closet/Food Pantry still needs volunteers for a couple hours on the Saturdays that they are open. Contact Shawna at johnstonphc@gmail.com if you are interested or would like more information.
Deb Thornton
12:57 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
He can go to Boy Scout Camp, Church camp, and visit the Grandparents. Teach vacation Bible School, supervise at Cub Scout camp, tutor younger kids, teach sports lessons, mow your grass, do his laundry, paint his room, do the dishes, clean out the garage, plan, shop for and cook dinner, read good books. Go ride his bike, practice his band instrument. Definitely get a job. Mine designed and built a summer ski jump last year and "snowskied" all summer. Send him to local museums and ask for reports on what he saw.
And what ever else - YOU must be the parent and make him turn off the computer trash. And take the TV out of his bedroom - one of the worst possible things a parent can do, put a TV in the child's bedroom. It's been well documented.
Joe
1:58 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Ideas:
-Waukee Police Teen Academy
-Waukee YMCA Summer Camps/Free Gym activities
-Waukee Community Education Summer Classes
-Waukee Parks and Rec activities
-Waukee Theatre Camps
-Sports teams
-Music Lessons
-Living History Farms Junior Counselor Program
-Iowa Gold Star Museum youth camps
-Des Moines Arts Center Classes
-Blank Park Zoo youth zookeeper program
-Waukee Schools sports and music camps
-Weight lifting at the HS
-Mock Trial camp at Drake
-Des Moines Playhouse theatre camps
-Boy Scout activities