Extension Specialist Offers Summertime Plan for Early Teens
May 14, 1997
Greensboro, NC: With summer just around the corner, many children are anticipating a break from school. While summer might be a relief for children, some parents are caught wondering what to do with their children now that school is no longer a large part of the daily routine.
"Summer is a time when children should be encouraged to remain active," said
Jean Baldwin, a family life and human development specialist with the North Carolina
A&T Cooperative Extension Program. "Time away from school should not be time away
from learning and self-improvement."
As many parents know, however, as children grow older, fewer summer opportunities exist.
Opportunities are especially limited for those children who are too old for most summer
programs, yet too young for a driver's license and a summer job.
"Parents with children in the 13- to 15-year-old group often have a difficult time
finding appropriate activities to help their children remain active through the
summer," said Baldwin. "The situation is particularly troublesome when parents
work away from the home, because they are forced to decide between leaving the child home
alone or finding a program that is acceptable to both the child and the parent."
"The schedules required by many programs also present difficulties to parents. Since
most programs for this age group last only a week, several programs have to be scheduled
to cover the entire summer. Even then, program fees and transportation needs and costs may
be prohibitive."
Baldwin recommends that children in this age group be involved in decisions concerning
their summer plans. "Teens ages 13 to 15 often want freedom and responsibility,"
said Baldwin. "So they should be encouraged to explore different ideas and to share
responsibility for making this important decision."
Still, since many summer jobs are only available to applicants over the age of 16 who have
a driver's license, children in the 13- to 15-year-old group must often create their own
employment opportunities or volunteer their time to organizations.
"Many organizations would appreciate the services of a young person, and the
volunteering experience can certainly enrich a young person's life," said Baldwin.
For volunteering opportunities, Baldwin suggests checking the local newspaper and calling
local organizations.
For the aspiring entrepreneur, summer vacation can prove an ideal time to start a
business. "Children interested in making money during the summer should keep their
eyes open for money-making opportunities in their neighborhood," said Baldwin.
According to Baldwin, with parental support, those opportunities can be innovative and
need not be limited to yard work, painting, babysitting or home chores. However, issues
such as scheduling work that requires supervision from working parents and providing
activities for times when the child is not working need to be addressed.
Of course, as Baldwin indicates, the summer can also be used to start on schoolwork
assignments, such as science or research projects and reading lists, which inevitably are
due when time is scarce.
Due to a variety of circumstances, children ages 13 to 15 may find themselves home alone
in the summer. According to Baldwin, giving children in this age group the daily
responsibility of caring for younger children should be avoided. Parents should also keep
the time that these children spend alone and unsupervised at a minimum.
Baldwin offers the following additional suggestions for parents with children who will
spend time alone at home:
"When planning summer activities for teenagers in the 13- to 15-year-old age group, ensure that all activities provide adequate structure, safety, supervision and fun," said Baldwin.
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For more information, please contact Jean Baldwin, NC A&T's Cooperative Extension
Program, (336) 334-7956.