A.K.A. "Put 'em to Work!"
Summer is here! School is out! Are the kids driving you a little crazy yet? If you remember my article from back in February, the littles will benefit from some unstructured outdoor time, to continue to grow their curiosity even outside of school. But… What about those big kids? The teens? The ones that are too cool for playing outside? Well, you put ‘em to work!
That might sound a little harsh. Aren’t we supposed to be encouraging them to be kids? To have fun and not grow up too fast? Yes and no. As teens mature and get ready to move on to the next stage after high school—be it university, community college, trade school, or directly into the workforce—having some real life skills under their belt sooner rather than later will help them out substantially in the long run.
Now, this can come from a couple of different places. It can be part time employment, seasonal work, or even volunteering. All of these options build those critical hard and soft skills applications look for, and build up interest and connection to their communities. What are those magical skills? The top one is practice. Practice at interviewing, practice at job related skills, practice at rejection (yes, it is absolutely a skill to get rejected!), practice at financial literacy and maturity. Trust me, nothing gets spent faster than that first paycheck! Learning to budget even at 15 hours a week on minimum wage is arguably more important than when you strike that high paying full time gig. Nemours (1), Modestino, Nemours (2).
Now more than ever, it's important for all young people to have some practical experience to showcase. Job markets are getting more competitive, some places are hiring fewer and fewer teenagers, and if they move out (for college or career) having pre-existing job experience will make them more desirable as a candidate as they transition. Modestino, Wright, Martin, & Krieg.
So, no matter what your teen(s) get up to this summer, try to have it be something that can benefit them. Camp counselor; volunteering at the animal shelter or food pantry; interviewing for jobs to practice what to wear, how to speak, what questions to expect; or even educational activities. Have something they’re interested in as a possible career path? Find what online resources are available for that, check out SCC, WCU, or AB Tech for some summer classes on robotics or coding, on creative writing, or sewing. Modestino, Nemours (2).
Summer is a time for exploration, for fun, and also a time to gain skills that just aren’t feasible in a school year. 2 hours all summer or 20 hours a week, it doesn’t matter. Encourage your teenager to gain those skills this summer.
