We are in the heart of leisurely summertime. Some of us may feel that our stressors hibernate during the season. However, parents with teens may suffer a stressor that arises in the summer. That is, “What is my teen doing?”
We have been hearing clients express their concerns about their teens “getting into trouble” during the summertime, which puts stress on them as parents. It makes sense. Teens have less supervision and structure in the summer. Rather, they have more independent free time on their hands to partake in the activities of their choice – good or bad.
Teens want a sense of autonomy, but they also need guidance for choosing healthy activities and developing a routine to satisfy their parents wants – safety.
Find a Balance Between Autonomy vs Structure
There is a way to incorporate autonomy and routine. That is, collaborate with your teen while planning a summer routine and offer them choices. Honor your teen’s wants and goals for the summer. Share with them your (i.e., the parent) wants and goals for them as well. Have a respectful conversation with your teen about both points of view and use the five suggestions below to plan with your teen a safe, enjoyable summer.
Five Activities to Keep Your Teens “Out of Trouble” this Summer:
- Volunteer and/or Work a Summer Job
Add volunteer or paid work to your teen’s summer routine. Inquire about their interests. Help them find an organization they can connect with and volunteer/work for. Summertime is a great season to introduce your teen to this type of responsibility. Additionally, it can help them make new friends, network for opportunities beyond high school graduation, reflect on their future goals, and help them save up money if they choose to work a job.
Volunteer opportunities in Savannah: https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/orgs.jsp?r=20.0&l=Savannah%2C+GA%2C+USA
- Study, Reflect, and Prepare for the Future
With required schoolwork out of mind, summer is a great time for teens to take on other studious or vocational work. Reflect with your teen about what their plans are and how they can get there. Collaborate with your teen to schedule those action steps into their summer routine. For example, you and your teen agreed that they will study for the ACT/SAT on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Other activities may include reading, journaling, and researching and/or touring post-secondary education programs. You and your teen could even research internships or meetings with professionals in the field of work they are interested in. Parents could even ask the teen’s school if they know of any summer programs in their teen’s field of interest.
Conversations to have with your teen about their future: https://blog.collegevine.com/6-questions-to-get-your-high-schooler-thinking-about-the-future
- Join an Activity Club
To further satisfy your teen’s social needs, have a conversation with them about enrolling in a social activity club. This could be a sports club, or if they have a specific hobby they enjoy, you could find a local hobby group (e.g., a book club at the library).
Savannah Sports Organizations: https://www.savannahsportscouncil.com/community/clubs-organizations/
- Safe Downtime
Just like adults, teens need a day off too. However, you can have a collaborative discussion about what can and cannot be done during unsupervised downtime. Topics that you may want to cover in this conversation can include (1) the friends that will be involved, (2) the activities that will be done, (3) the allowed locations, (4) the allotted days and times, and (5) the agreed-upon consequences for breaking rules. Also remember to discuss bedtimes, eating times, and hygiene times. These can often be overlooked in the summer. You know your teen better than anyone, so you will know the right questions to ask.
- Therapy
The teen years are full of self-discovery, identity exploration, and many abrupt changes. These factors can seriously motivate our behaviors (good or bad), so enrolling your teen in therapy could be an excellent way for them to process their internal and external changes, learn coping skills, and thrive as they enter adulthood. Here at Waters Edge Counseling, we have an excellent team of therapists who help teens every day. Add to your teen’s summer routine a Waters Edge Counseling appointment today! Schedule with Waters Edge: https://watersedgecounseling.com/schedule-online-2/
Start Receiving Support From Therapists in Savannah, GA
Looking for more ways to connect with your teenager? Consider seeking help from a therapist or counselor. A licensed therapist or counselor can provide guidance, validation, and coping strategies tailored to your unique needs and circumstances. Therapy can offer a safe space to explore your feelings, fears, and uncertainties, as well as develop practical skills for managing stress, anxiety, and depression. Our team would be honored to offer support from our Savannah, GA-based practice. You can start your therapy journey by giving us a call at 912.319.5552 or emailing us at [email protected].
Other Services Offered With Waters Edge Counseling
We understand that you may experience issues with more than one mental health concern at a time. This is why we are happy to offer support with a variety of mental health services. Our team is happy to offer support with multiple mental health services including online counseling, clinical supervision, coping after a cancer diagnosis, and SCAD student counseling. We are also happy to offer therapy for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, teen substance abuse, and counseling for men. In addition, we also offer counseling for teens, child counseling, family counseling, Christian counseling, grief counseling, and marriage counseling.
Please note: While this blog is designed to help people achieve their goals, the information within each post is not a substitute for therapy or medical advice given by a licensed professional.