What is my dd going to do with 11 weeks holiday?

[Tolivebythesea]

GCSE's are finished, back to school in September. What on earth is my dd going to do to fill her time. We don't have any holidays planned due to elderly parents needing daily support. She has a few friends but they are mostly away on holiday. Boyfriend is away for 6 weeks and he is usually quite busy anyway. No job, would quite like one but we live in a rural area and transport is sparse to get into the local town. She is quite independent and likes to be busy so don't know what she is going to do. Was thinking work experience could be a possibility. Or some sort of activity trip but she wouldn't want to go alone. Any suggestions?

[confusedaboutthis]

How about the National Citizen Service programme?

www.ncsyes.co.uk/?gclid=CNvRq-KixdQCFaoy0wodJ_8A2A&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Millipedewithherfeetup]

Dog walking ?, babysitting ?

[TheSecondOfHerName]

If DS1 and his friends are anything to go by, then this type of thing:

Learn to play an instrument
Camp out with friends
Do some voluntary work
Start a band with some friends
Binge-watch Netflix
Go to a festival

[TwitterQueen1]

I second NCS - it's a brilliant scheme!

[Tolivebythesea]

I hadn't heard of the NCS, I'll mention it to her, thanks. Do you know when or why it was set up? Do you have any first hand experience of it?

We live in a small hamlet so little chance of babysitting or dog walking. The binge-watching TV is what I'm afraid of its just such a waste of time. Camp out and maybe a festival if she can find one when friends are around are good ideas.

[Spottytop1]

Could she get some seasonal work?

[limonade2]

What does she want to do?

[dalmatianmad]

We have the same dilemma, as do thousands of parents up and down the country.
My dd is doing the NCS, were going to Gran Canaria for a week, she's getting train to grandparents for a week. I'm also hoping she will find a part time job

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Ds is volunteering in a charity shop to get work experience,looking for a part time job, going to the gym most days, and generally having a rest after gsces

[Tolivebythesea]

Work difficult due to transport, village 3 miles away has a pub she could ask there but would have to cycle there.

limonade2

I don't really know, she just doesn't want to be bored. I guess she would like to go on holidays/ travel/ have fun/ earn some money/ maybe try some work experience as she's not sure what she would like to do in the future.

[Lancelottie]

My niece and nephew did NCS and were very enthusiastic about it.

DS was more of the 'chill, play guitar, go swimming' school of thought.

[Lancelottie]

Small hamlet surrounded by what? Is there any seasonal fruit-picking, for instance, or gardening to be done?

[Tolivebythesea]

The NCS idea sounds good. No fruit picking that I know of, a few gardens may be worth a try.

[TwitterQueen1]

Yes, 1st hand experience (well, my DD did it) of NCS. A week of outdoor activities, a week in student accommodation, a week doing social projects. What's not to like about it? At £50 (though I paid £35 - can't remember why, I think because I paid online rather than via the school?) it's a bargain.

They learn so much and make so many friends.

[thesandwich]

There are some good groupon on line courses. Which might be worth a look? Photography, website design, etc? V good value.

[illegitimateMortificadospawn]

Do you have relatives or family friends with same age/situation teenagers where you could run an informal exchange scheme over the summer? Eg your DD goes there for a week, then their teen comes to you - they each have company for 2 weeks & a change of scene for one of the weeks.

[2014newme]

National citizen service
Or get a job

[Ginfiend]

Friend is a teacher who does NCS in the school hols for extra money.
She said what the kids get out of it is great, and really helps with confidence, meeting new people, trying different things, bit of independence, trust etc.

[illegitimateMortificadospawn]

I spent one summer when lived in the arse end of nowhere as a teen doing people's ironing, mowing lawns or cleaning. If you have neighbours, they may be willing to farm out odd jobs. Ironing - if dropped off to you - is also compatible with box set binges, so long as they are not subtitled.

[Puzzledmum]

Language camp abroad for 4-6weeks

[Changemysocks]

Another vote for NCS. Both mine were encouraged bullied into doing it but really enjoyed the experience and it was really useful to put on a CV when applying for 6th form jobs.

[Deux]

Do you have a car and drive? Just wondering if you make regular journeys at set times on set days if your DD could get a job in those hours.

Care home? Does your county have a volunteer bureau? It sounds as though transport is the limiting factor.

I was ina similar situation to your DD as a teen as we lived rurally and nearest town was 4 miles away. I did manage to work though by either getting a regularl lift from my parents or with someone else or walking the 4 miles.

I also spent hours experimenting with cooking and making things like bread, pastry etc. I worked my way through various cook books.

[Deux]

Some other thoughts. Pet sitting/ cat feeding and watering gardens when occupants on holiday. A local teen will be doing that for us this summer (he's saving for a new guitar).

[londonfeather]

How adventurous is she? Would she enjoy heading over to Europe for a few weeks to find a job or do a short language programme. Or is she good with kids? Summer nannying job in Europe. There are lots of adventures to be had at that age...

[leonardthelemming]

would have to cycle there.

If she has a bike, and can find at least one friend, (and assuming she is 16) they could go on a cycle trip for a few days at least. Camping perhaps, or Youth Hostels will accept bookings from 16-year-olds as long as there are at least two of them.