All year long, your teen is attached to some sort of device. Whether it’s a cell phone, computer, laptop, or other portable device, wouldn’t it be nice if they could just tune out of all that social buzz for awhile and tune into summer?
Of course, as with anything else involving teens, if you insist or coerce you will not get very far. However, if you encourage and inspire, you may have a little more luck.
Related: How to Better Understand Your Teen
Explore the Options
With any child, but most especially with teens, it is never a good idea to be too forceful. Negotiating, compromising, talking calmly, and offering choices are all excellent ways to agree on something that works for both parent and teen.
As far as social media and electronics go, have your teen explore on his or her own the things they wish to pursue over the summer. Give them the opportunity to try something new and see where that leads them. Let them be the ones who are inspired by their choice as opposed to you offering suggestions and making arrangements without their say in the matter.
Set Some Rules
While it’s important to give teens some freedom of choice, they still need a set of guidelines and a few rules. Limit the amount of time on television and computer, plus the amount of data allowed on their cell phones.
Once they see that they are limited, they may wish to seek out other options on their own.
Get Them Involved in Real Life
There is never a shortage of work to be done around the home for pay or job opportunities or even volunteer work in the community. Encourage them to start their own volunteer project over the summer to add to their college resume.
Colleges love to see initiative over academics alone. The more a student gives back, the more appealing and well-rounded they will appear to future and potential colleges.
Encourage Reading
No matter how old your child is, he or she is never too old to make reading a habit. Have them go to the library and seek out just one book to read over the summer, maybe while lying on the beach or for the quiet days when no one is around. This encourages them to tune out social media business and tune in to reading.
Be a good role model as well. Let your child see you reading the news in the morning and reading a book at night, or anytime in between. Children will almost always model what they see and if growing up reading is what they see, then chances are they will gain a lifetime love of reading.
Teach Them a Lesson
Have your teen take lessons in swimming, golf, volleyball, or any outdoor activity that promotes nature and being outdoors rather than being plugged in. Because, let’s face it, you cannot be on social media while you are swimming laps!
So, there you have it – some great ways to have your teen unplug over summer.