Fun summer activities that teenagers will actually want to do

With smartphone in hand, the siren call of the TV just can’t be ignored. Your teenager’s eyes dart from one screen to the next, yet he is surprisingly still. Rather than explore the outdoors, he’s spending the dog days of summer in a virtual world where he is almost completely motionless. You’re starting to be concerned there’s going to be a permanent indentation of his body shape in the couch.

All joking aside, it can be difficult to keep teenagers busy during the summer months. No longer amused by the activities that capture the attention of their younger siblings, teens can be a tough crowd to please. Being the engaged parent you are, you scramble for ideas to fill the voids of a dull, lifeless summer.

Fortunately, teens can use summer vacation in numerous engaging and educational ways. These three ideas for fun summer activities for teenagers are guaranteed to inspire couch potatoes and smartphone zombies alike.

fun-summer

Volunteer
Young teens may not be old enough to get a job, but that doesn’t mean they can’t start working. Have a conversation about areas of interest and explore opportunities nearby. Take care of animals at the shelter. Play with babies at the local women’s care center. Help care for endangered trees at a public park. Become an intern at church. It’s all great experience and can be a lot of fun, plus it provides some structure to the weeks. You might also consider volunteering as a family or having your teen do so with a best friend.

Classes and camps
Summer camps aren’t just for kids. Teens have access to plentiful age-appropriate camp options if you do a little research. Bricks 4 Kidz, for example, has classes for ages 13+. Of particular interest for teens is the Mindstorm® EV3 robotics classes. These technologies are used to program unique robot models and introduce teens to EV3 graphic programming language, equipping them with knowledge to help them succeed in an increasingly technology-based world. STEM concepts and teamwork are combined in this action-packed program guaranteed to intrigue your teen and produce memories to last a lifetime.

completing-goalCompleting a goal
Summer is the perfect time to try new things or work toward a goal, but you may need to help your teenager figure out what to set his sights on. For example, has he always wanted to learn to code, read the entire Harry Potter series or build a fort in the backyard? No time better than the present to try a new hobby or set a timeline for completing a goal before school starts again. The key is to stop saying “some day” and start asking “how can we get this done?” If you share a mutual goal, pursue it together! There’s no better feeling than accomplishing a goal or learning something new with your teen.

What else works for getting teens up and at it during the lazy days of summer? Please share your thoughts on what works and what doesn’t.

Our Valued Customers

"My son learned how to make his favorite dinosaur as a LEGO® robot at a party! He loves to go to Bricks 4 Kidz after-school classes now"

— Miranda K.Jacksonville, FL

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