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Activities for Summer Vacation
How to Get Your Teenager Away from the Couch By Gwen Morrison
Getting your kids interested in something new this summer would be a great way to motivate them to move. Research has shown that adolescent girls are the least active of all boys and girls from 5 to 17 years old. If your daughter is not interested in sports, then offer some new ideas. Encourage physical exercise, such as walking or jogging at least three times a week and get out there and join her!
To find places where your teenager can spend some time helping out, check out Volunteer Match. By simply putting in your zip code, you will bring up many organizations in need of assistance.
"There is a certain kind of character building that happens only when we give of ourselves with no expectation of a financial reward," says Marilyn Brenden, a former junior high school teacher from Silverton, Ore. "I ran a homeless shelter after I left teaching. Young people could be helpful in many ways volunteering with the homeless. For example, they could read to the children, serve as extra chaperones on summer outings to the park. They could help with things like answering the telephone, sorting donations of clothing and food, writing handwritten thank you notes or helping with craft activities with the children."