What’s the best way for your teen to spend their summer?
Are you looking for ideas to help your teen have a prosperous summer and prepare for college?
Do you wonder if it’s still possible for your child to relax, hang out with friends, earn some money with a summer job and get into a good college?
I know those are questions I ponder, and for someone who likes to know what’s ahead on the horizon, I was curious to read the Summer Planning Guide by Collegewise, a private college-counseling company that helps students find, apply, and get into college.
Given the competitive nature of college admissions, I was eager to hear what they had to say. The guide provides a lot of good information, including ideas, about how a teen can best spend their summer. Although the guide is written for students, I think every parent should set aside time to read it.
The guide gives you a framework on how to have a conversation with your child about planning for summer. I like the approach they take– it’s positive, realistic, and always has the best interest of the student in mind. Their viewpoint is that summer shouldn’t be a time to “worry about what looks good but what you will enjoy and what will help you to grow, whether it’s intellectually, athletically, or artistically.”
Here’s the good news! I learned that summer vacation for teens is alive and well. For those students who take time to plan ahead and think about their interests and what they would like to explore, they’ll not only have a fun summer but they’ll also expand their knowledge, skills, and their life experiences. And, this doesn’t mean that your child has to be in a classroom all summer and that you have to spend a lot of money on classes and programs just so they can get into a good college.
If you read nothing else, take time to review the “Three Myths of Summer Planning:”
- Your summer must be impressive
- You need to spend a lot of money to have a productive summer
- You can’t have downtime during the summer
It’s easy to get caught up in the college admissions process, and in the guide, Collegewise dismisses the myths and the impact summer activities have on college admissions. Hopefully, you’ll breathe a sigh of relief (yes, your teen can still have fun!), and you will be armed with ideas and talking points when discussing summer plans with your teen.
To get the idea process started, check out their list of “50 Ways to Spend Your Summer.” I wanted to highlight three themes that were repeated throughout the list. They are straightforward and help to provide direction:
- Pursue your interests: Focus on things that really matter to you.
- Learn new skills and subject matters: Take classes, teach yourself, and work with others.
- Volunteer: Spend time helping or teaching others.
In addition to the list of 50 ideas, Collegewise highlights Summer Programs located around the country in categories that are popular with their student clients including Academic, Business, Leadership, Scholarship Programs, STEM, Language Immersion, Travel, and Visual and Performing Arts. They’ve provided links to the programs in the guide so students can investigate and learn more.
Reading this guide gave me insight into what a teen summer might look like, and it also reassured me that summer time can still be fun and relaxing. I hope that you and your child find value in reading the guide and use it as a platform to discuss summer plans and activities your teen will enjoy.
Image Source: Group08-032 by VISION Service Adventures
