According to research by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, June and July are the most popular months for teens to try smoking pot for the first time. The study indicates there is a 40 percent first time use not only smoking pot, but there’s a spike in the number of underage drinkers and cigarette smokers. There’s also a high rate of teen pregnancies during the summer months as well.
As far as I am concerned, summer time is the toughest time of year for our teens. While summer tends to be less stressful for both teens and adults, teens get bored without a structured school day and some teens wander down the wrong path.
Summer isn’t the time for easing up on parent expectations and teen accountability. If we are managing our teen’s lives with consistency, be it spring, summer, winter or fall, we will hold our teens accountable for household chores and responsibilities, curfews, family and moral values.
Unfortunately, the very nature of summer leaves most teens these days without supervision. Most experts agree that a bored teenager is more likely to engage in risky behavior. So here are some ideas for keeping your teen busy this summer.
Even teenagers enjoy summer camps and it’s not too late sign up for a teen summer camp. Summer is great time for a teen to start a hobby. Volunteering is a great way to keep teens busy and volunteering provides them with work experience. Babysitting, lawn care and dog walking are perfect jobs for teens.
Santa Clarita’s newest free teen center, the Action Family Zone is a center for teens and families in Santa Clarita that is focused on personal development and relationships, with the motto “It Takes a Village” as its foundation. There are a variety of activities including a music and art studio, pool tables, video games, and a computer center. Teens are supervised and must be clean and sober to participate in Action Family Zone Activities. For more information about the Action Family Zone call 661-467-2714.
Cary Quashen is a high-risk teen counselor and certified addiction specialist. He is the founder and president of Action Parent & Teen Support Group Programs, Action Family Counseling, and the Action Zone Teen Center in the Santa Clarita Valley. Quashen may be reached by calling 661-297-8691.