How To Get Young Adolescents Through the Second Half of Summer Break
CHICAGO (PRWEB) July 12, 2018 -- With about six weeks of summer break left, parents and caregivers of young adolescents, ages 10-14, face the challenge of keeping them interested, having fun and learning while knowing that their interests are changing, i.e. homemade playdough no longer provides hours of amusement. Virginia Jagla, Ph.D., chair of the Middle Grades Education program at National Louis University’s (NLU) National College of Education, offered 17 tips for parents and caregivers to keep tweens and young teens happy as we head into the hot home stretch of summer.
Jagla advised checking in with your young adolescents about their interests. “The most important first step is to ask young adolescents what activities they’d like to do,” said Jagla, who earlier in her career also taught middle-grade students and now instructs teacher candidates at NLU who are pursuing their education degree. “These young people’s tastes likely are changing, and they value the opportunity to contribute their opinions and preferences.”
She says that many kids within this age group still want to spend time with their parents. “Many parents think that their young adolescents need more independence, and they do,” said Jagla. “However, they still want a strong adult presence in their lives, so taking a class together is a good option.”
Jagla also noted that young adolescents are experiencing major physical, intellectual, emotional and social developmental changes and adults should be mindful of these shifts. For example, she said that this age group is more conscious of their bodies, so activities that include wearing less clothing, like swimming, might make some young adolescents uncomfortable. Also, as adolescents are becoming more sensitive about their social groups, let them invite a friend to come along on family outings.
With these guidelines in mind, the following are some suggested fun summer activities for parents and caregivers to explore with young adolescents:
- Organize a book group, let the young adolescent select the book, and invite friends to discuss it. Make the group fun and include snacks, music and games after the discussion.
- Block out one day each week to walk and/or run together at a designated time. Leave cell phones and other distractions behind and focus on hearing what’s on your child’s mind.
- Explore some of the smaller museums in your area. For example, in Chicago there is the National Museum of Mexican Art, DuSable Museum of African American History, and the Money Museum, where you can hold a briefcase stuffed with $1 million. In Tampa, there’s La Casita House Museum. Be sure to have lunch, and go for ice cream.
- Learn about and tour the different neighborhoods in your city. For example, Chicago has Pilsen, Little Village, Little Italy, Chinatown, etc. Find time to visit the neighborhoods, taste the cuisine and experience the different cultures.
- Develop a menu and put the young adolescent in charge of cooking a meal. For parents who would like to be more involved, facilitate a cooking class with your child and some of his/her friends.
For more suggestions for summertime tips tailored to young adolescents, visit https://www.nl.edu/mediaresources/gettingtweensthroughsummerbreak/.
About National Louis University
National Louis is a nonprofit, non-denominational University offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in the fields of education, management, human services, counseling, public policy, and others concerned with career and professional development. National Louis’ roots date back to 1886 when it first began providing educational access to adult, immigrant and minority populations. Our mission to provide innovative and superior and supportive educational experience for students of all ages and backgrounds continues today through progressive and professionally focused programs. National Louis, well-known for an exceptional history in teacher training, is committed to the preparation of professionals who serve their communities and provide leadership to improve urban environments. In 2015, NLU launched the Pathways program which offers students – especially low-income and minority students – wraparound support services to overcome real-life barriers to college success. The program is designed affordably to address cost barriers and helps students attain the college degrees employers will require in the future. NLU works hard to improve schools and businesses through community partnerships and applied research. The University serves more than 7,000 students at six locations in Illinois and Florida, and we are proud of the 65,000 living alumni who are using their NLU education to serve others. For more information visit http://www.NL.edu.
Kellie Kennedy, The Harbinger Group, +1 312-933-4903, [email protected]
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