Fun Summer Activities to Teach Your Teenagers Life Skills

Most teenagers look forward to school being out so they can hang out with friends and rid themselves of the restraints of school and homework, leaving themselves free to enjoy the sunshine. However, to some parents this upcoming summer can be an opportunity to teach their children some very important life skills that will set their teenagers up for success in the future. The following are some great activities to get your teenager involved that can be both fun and rewarding this upcoming summer break.

Gardening

Time spent outside in the summer sunshine is good for anyone and keeps teenagers off their mobile devices — at least for a little while. Gardening is a wonderful way to spend time outside with your teenager while giving them a practical tool for growing their own food. They can practice their design and planning to become invested in their garden in the spring time before even planting their first seed.

Have them map out where each plant will go and teach them about how different plants interact with one another. Then, when the harvest season comes, there is an excellent opportunity to give your teenagers their first lessons in cooking something that doesn’t involve using the microwave. You can even have them try creating their own recipes and start to figure out what flavors work well together.

Camping

Has your teenager ever spent a night in the woods? If not, there are many avenues for learning new life skills by taking the chance to sleep under the stars. It doesn’t have to be an adventurous backpacking trip into the wilderness; just a simple car camping trip to a local lake can offer many teachable moments.

One important lesson to learn as you enter your teenage years is how to dress properly for the weather outdoors. Before even leaving the house, have your teenager look at the weather report for the upcoming trip and choose what items to bring with them to keep them comfortable. Allow them be independent while packing and give them a list of activities that you will be doing so they can adequately prepare.

If you go boating while camping, it can also be an opportunity to practice their leadership skills.  If you are going out to the local lake, you can practice boating safety and have them lead the safety talk before everyone gets on the boat for the day.

STEM Classes

During the summer break from school, there are many summer camp options to choose from. Helping your child choose one that will give them a leg-up in a trade or get them to think about their future career can be a very precious gift. See what peaks their interest and what avenue they may want to pursue — perhaps robotics, Photoshop, or InDesign classes? A couple of weekends throughout the summer will give them tools to get ahead in a field that is becoming of higher demand in the job market. Going to classes offered somewhere other than their own school will also have them further practicing social skills by meeting new people of varying ages and backgrounds.

Child Care and Babysitting

If your teenager is looking to make a little bit of money this summer, babysitting is a great option that is full of life lessons. Consider signing your teenager up to take a first aid course to amply prepare them for any small incidents that may occur before their first babysitting gig. It is wise to have them care for children who are close to home, where there is an adult, or in the same house as the parents of the child in case of an emergency.

Caring for small children offers many life lessons to more than just teenagers — patience, listening skills and time management, and there are many opportunities to get involved in child care. Have your teenager look for openings at the local recreation centers, churches and after-school programs or make their own flyers to spread around the neighborhood. After a summer of babysitting, you can walk them through the important steps of setting up a bank account and balancing their account after purchases.

Teenagers are not likely to seek out these experiences for themselves. Setting them up for success at a young age is one of the best gifts that a parent can give their children. This summer, make a plan with your teenager so they can make the most of their summer vacation.