Bored Teenagers!!!

I don't know where you live but look for a boys and Girls club close by. the one by me was $10 for the year and they are open all summer. In AZ it was a lot more expensive, more like a daycare. It's a place that they can hang out and make some friends, play ball. If they don't like it you've only lost $20.

As for during the day: Does your daughters day care "need help"? Let them earn some Summer Cash, or at least a valueable lesson in community service. (If the day care won't pay them, make the job part of their allowance.) If her day care doesn't need the help, I'm sure a local church/ sinagog (sp?) does. Do you know any of the neighbors with kids their age? In a few weeks, this will be a great option, especially if any of those kids have stay home moms.

As for at night: have a TV free night in. Take out your favorite board games, print mad libs from http://www.madglibs.com/ or make up a new version of an old game. For example: before Balderdash exsisted my fam. would open the dictionary and read a word. Then everyone would guess what it ment. OR- We'd tell them what letter it started with and give them the meaning, then they'd try to guess the word. It sound lame, but we used to have a lot of fun. Another easy one to copy is Scatagories. Have everyone 1 or 2 "things", like "boys names" or "Type of Sandwich" and everyone writes them down. Then take turns choosing the letter that starts each one (for the 2 examples, using the letter B: Bryan, Bologna) and set a timer for 2 minute (more or less depending on skill). Make sure everyone has the same list before you start. The object is to stump the others or come up with something SO obscur that no one else could posibly guess it. They can dispute it and kick it out if it's not real. (Like a Burboned banana and brown sugar sandwich. Might exsist SOMEWHERE, but probably not real.)

Be creative and have fun. BTW: I love doing "pizza picnics" at the beach. Something fun I did with some high school chums that was inexpensive but also fun: draw names, go to the Good Will, or other second hand store, and by the person you drew an entire outfit, the more hideous (sp?) the better. Now, EVERYONE has to wear their "new" outfit as you go out for the night. Take Pictures of the adventure. You WILL laugh, you WILL be embarassed, and you WILL always remember it fondly!

Enjoy your summer~ J.

I suggest you allow the teenagers to volunteer somewhere during the day. The Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, local parks, churches and non-profit organizations are always looking for help. This may or may not be feasible, depending on where you live, transportation and how comfortable you are with it. However, if the teenagers are out of the house at least part of the day, you may not feel so compelled to leave the house from 6-8 p.m.

Don't feel bad if "all you do" is walk on the beach each day. Make the most of it and enjoy your family. Sometimes it's not where you go, but who you are with and your feelings about each other.

Good luck and Take Care!

C.,
Have you ever had a family game night? Any games will work and this is a great way to get your family to interact and have fun together. There is a new company called SimplyFun that has games for all ages (including teenagers) that only take thirty minutes or less. The nice thing are that the games are simple to learn and fun to play. Also, these are new games that may catch your teenagers' interest. The games can be played with two or more people. Let me know if you want more info. Good luck.

Get the teenagers involved in some volunteer work in the community to occupy them during the day. My daughter has been an aid at the city pool, taught dance lessons at a summer camp, visited a senior home once a week - - - anything they might enjoy.... during the day...

Relax your bedtime for the 4yo over the summer - it's hard on you, but will give your BF more time to enjoy his kids since his time with them is limited.

Family Game night - BBQ in the back yard - water fights - bake a cake or cookies together - give the kids some cooking lessons while you prepare dinner - take a class together at the Park and Rec or get a swim pass for the local Public school - find basketball hoops or tennis courts in the area that are free to the public - usually any HS campus or Jr. College campus are okay to use when school is not in session.

any summer day camps you can sign them up for in your area. The YMCA has good programs if they arent full already. Check around it might do them a lot of good!

Ask them if there is anything that they would like to have to keep them occupied. Maybe they would like an art project or some board games or even cards. Books are very entertaining when you are bored, so the library can be somewhere that the kids can get books and even movies or craft books. Maybe you could assign projects. My biggest worry would be the trouble that they might find out of bordom. Asking them what they do at home when they are bored can shed some light, but also setting some new projects out can be an untapped resource. Maybe they would like to paint and draw. I know that you have a budget, but craft paints cost about .75c a bottle, and 5 basic colors can be mixed to create a rainbow of colors. Also, sculpty is great for teenagers because it can be sculpted into what they want and baked at a low temp and painted. I hope this helps. By the way, the beach and the picnics were my first ideas for suggestions, so as far as I can see you are on the right track.

the city usually has programs for the summer. and they are usually low cost. i know around where i live there is something called teen unity for $10 for the summer plus other events are a little more. but my kids were able to go to six flags for $10. but there are other programs out there. if there is a ymca, a local church group, and its not too early for them to learn the importance of volunteer work. the can learn a world of experience. hope this helps.

C.,

I know that this can be pretty boring for teenagers. Is there a rec center or anything like that near your house? They could sign up for summer classes there. If you have any way to get them there. They have summer camps at any locale church. alot of them hve vacation bible school.. sounds like it wouldn't be fun but it was so much fun for me to teach it and o attend it when I was younger. Those usually last a week they are local you drop them off for the day and pick them up after work. They will be to tired to do anything after though. it is usuallly pretty active and alotof fun.

As for after work where do you live? We usually find out if there are any outdor festivals, concerts in the park or find a pool at the rec center. The Rec center is our familiesavior.

Good Luck,
T.

Where are you located?

I'm not sure about boys ( I only have girls), but the 13 year old may enjoy scrapbooking. buy her some paper, stickers, glue and give her some photos to get her started. this will keep her from watching TV al day. Also, do they enjoy reading? Take them to the library to stock up on books. Do they have friends that live near by? Maybe they can arrange days to meet up with them.

At this point in the summer some teenagers actually might want to start reinforcing their studies. I recommend www.referralco-op.com, an affiliate landing page for online, on demand (24/7) tutoring......from your own computer - no driving required. It is for students 4th through 12th grades and has a 25 minute free tutoring trial. An interested student could actually study ahead for subjects they will have this fall, as well as review what they studied last semester to be ready for the 2008-09 school year which is quickly approaching. You have your hands full, especially with the range of ages of kids you have in your life, but 13 and 15 year-olds are always grateful for the efforts you make, especially to help them excel in their education (even though they may not always show it!). Best of everything to you and yours!