Staying inside and playing video games sounds appealing, but only for a week or two. After the initial stages of "Hurray, it is summer time, and I don't have to do anything" wears off of your student, the truth of summer boredom starts setting in.
If the whines of "I'm bored" are driving you a bit nutty yourself, take charge. Give your learner fun, educational activities to do that will keep him learning and help you keep your sanity. Here are a few ideas to give your student. He could:
1. Do summer sports – Go beyond visiting the pool. Check out the local teams and get your student exercising, developing teamwork skills, and having fun playing a new sport.
2. Sign up for a reading program – Make the library your student's air-conditioned retreat. Encourage him to participate not only in reading books, but also periodicals, and news.
3. Volunteer in the local community – Everyone needs a little help. Volunteer to assist local non-profit groups or charities such as veteran support, elderly care, homeless shelters, food pantries, and animal rescue are all causes to consider.
4. Enroll in a summer course – Does your student need challenges? Enroll him in an online summer school course or elective he's interested in like art, world language, history, or music.
5. Shadow a career – Plan ahead and schedule a job shadowing for a week or so in several areas of your student's interest so they can see what daily duties are really like.
6. Attend a camp – Camps can give your student a break from home and present the opportunity to see a new place and make new friends. Consider educational camps or theme camps.
7. Go on vacation – OK, so this is the obvious. But your learner doesn't have to go on vacation with your family. Vacations can be with friends or close relatives too.
8. Prepare for next school year – Gear up for fall and choose student groups, school activities, and classes to enroll in so you're one step ahead when the calendar turns.
9. Apply for a summer job – Employers often hire high schoolers in the summer for contract work or service/labor type jobs. This is a way for your student to fill the hours, learn responsibility, and make money. (Too late in the summer to apply? Pay your teen for chores around the house.)
How do you fill your student's summer days? Tell us!