Activities to Keep Your Tween or Teen Busy During Summer Break

by Jessica Lieb

Summer break can be a challenge for parents of tweens and teens. Many tweens and teens have aged out of summer camps, and while crafts, games, and outings to the park will keep young children content, your teenager probably has other interests. Summer is a time for fun and adventure, especially for teenagers. While filling all those leisurely hours can be difficult, it's also an opportunity for them to explore new activities and hobbies.

Most kids' interests revolve around screens, so setting boundaries and establishing screen time rules is important. Consider screen-free activities that will help ignite their interests and create a balanced and engaging summer. It's also important to integrate time to socialize in person with their peers over the summer.

Activities to Keep Tweens & Teens Busy

Summer Reading Challenge

Many local libraries offer summer reading programs for people of all ages. If your local library doesn't have a summer reading program, you can create your own reading challenge. Summer learning loss is a significant issue for many children. Encourage children to stay engaged in reading by participating in a summer reading challenge or joining a book club.

Learn Something New

During the summer, children can stay engaged by learning a new skill. Many online apps or classes are available for technology, sports, crafting or education. Encourage them to partner with a friend or family member and consider taking an online course, learning coding or photography, or learning a new language.

Go to the Movies

Beat the heat and spend quality time with your teenager by attending a mid-day movie (even if it requires taking a little time off of work). Numerous movie theaters provide summer movie programs for families, offering discounted or even free admission to daytime showings. Your teenager can also invite a friend to make it a social outing.

Plant a Garden

Encourage your tween to create their own garden. Accompany them to a local nursery to buy plants or encourage them to grow from seeds or kitchen scraps. Some simple plants to regrow from kitchen cuttings are celery, scallions, onions, lettuce and potatoes. Remember, spending time outdoors not only aids in stress reduction and mood enhancement, but also instills a sense of responsibility and patience in your tween.

Learn to Cook

Teach your teens how to make their favorite foods themselves. This is an excellent opportunity for them to gain essential kitchen knowledge, which can help them make better food choices in the future and feel more self-reliant. They can learn new recipes via cookbooks or online cooking tutorials. You may even find a local in-person cooking class available for teens.

Create Something New

Not every summer day will be sunny, but that doesn't mean you have to give up on reducing your teenager's screen time. Get creative and consider activities such as crafting, painting, knitting or woodworking. Summer is a great time to explore your creative side. You can purchase art supplies online, sign up for an online course, or watch a tutorial on YouTube.

Summer Bible Study

Gather with families from your church or community to organize a summer Bible study for teenagers. Encourage the teenagers to delve into the Word of God and cultivate relationships centered around Christ. Take turns hosting the study and provide snacks and ample space for the teenagers to connect.

Play Games

You probably have a collection of board games, but how often do they get played? Board games and outdoor games are great ways to keep kids entertained and off screens. Let them invite a few friends to play board games or games like Minute-to-Win-It.

Scavenger Hunt

Who doesn’t love a scavenger hunt? Create a unique scavenger hunt like a nature, photo, neighborhood or mall scavenger hunt. You can often find premade scavenger hunts on Pinterest or other educational websites.

Go Bowling

Sign up for Kids Bowl Free Programs at your local bowling alley. This hassle-free process allows your family to enjoy 2 free games per day. The only additional cost is for shoe rental. Note that some of these programs are only available for kids 16 and under.

Build a Time Capsule

Find a sturdy, airtight container that can withstand being buried. Fill the container with meaningful items, such as photos, trinkets, or notes, that represent the significant moments and experiences of the current year. Choose a spot in your yard where you can bury the container safely and securely, away from any potential construction or landscaping activities. Once buried, take note of its precise location by marking it on a map or making note of nearby landmarks. This way, when you decide to unearth the container in the future, you'll be able to quickly locate it and revisit the memories from this time in your life.

Create a Game

Instead of playing games, create your own. Join an online class and learn to code or design video games. Creating video games can be a fantastic way to do so. Imagine the next family favorite game waiting to be brought to life from your child's imagination. The process of making a game together can be a fun family activity and a source of inspiration and bonding. Step into a world of new adventures with a custom board game-maker kit.

Volunteer

Teens and tweens may be interested in using their free time to help those in need. This could be a significant opportunity for their personal growth and development. Encourage your child to volunteer at a local nonprofit organization, help with Vacation Bible School at your church, or assist a neighbor. This opportunity could spark a new interest and a sense of purpose in our children and positively impact our community.

Be a Tourist in Your Town

Pretend to be a tourist in your town or neighboring community. Visit a local museum, visit a new park, or take a guided tour of a historical site. You and your family may learn something new about the place you live. 

Plan a Family Activity

Let your tween or teen plan a family activity, such as a family movie night, family dinner or family game night. Ask them to include activities that your older and younger kids can do together, even if the whole family isn't participating, like when mom and dad are at work. Guiding siblings to discover similar interests is a powerful way for them to build and maintain a strong relationship as they grow older.

Create a Bucket List

Encourage your child to create a list of activities they would like to do over the summer. Help them make a summer bucket list and challenge them to check off at least one item from the list each week. Include simple activities such as having a picnic, making ice cream, exploring a new park, or trying a new restaurant. By the end of the summer, you and your child won't be asking where the time went.