what to do with bored teenager post GCSE long summer before 6th form

[offlikearocket]

1 week in and costs are mounting up already, all her friends gone to a festival this week and she thinks I should be her source of entertainment. I suggest ringing local eateries to find a job.....she's stomped to her room after giving me a look of utter betrayal (mine). Any suggestions gratefully recieved.

Dry up the money, and let her sort out a job

Sit down and discuss with her what she's going to do. Work out exactly how much money you are able/want to give her and what she has to do to get it, and how much taxi driving you are prepared to do. And stick to that. Can she have friends round? If so how often and how much can they eat(!)

My dd ( but she is a bit strange that way!) has made herself a wall chart of the summer and filled in the days she's already doing something- parties, trips, family things, baby sitting and so on. She has a week's work child minding and another in a circus (long story!).she's given me a copy so I know if she can babysit if my friends ask.

I realise this is VERY bizarre behaviour- I think she is reacting against being the child of a couple of ageing hippies!

I was just thinking about the list of jobs for payment that DD can do, whilst DH and I are at work!

She has printed off a pile of CV's and is busy filling in application forms online for everything she can find, so with a bit of luck, she can find something to do.

I do think Seekers dd has the right idea though. A bit of organisation wouldn't go amiss. It's a long time until September and if they get too far out of a routine, it won't make for a happy start to 6th form.

I expect my idle teens to basically run the house when they have nothing else to do.

If they can't find a job, there is probably some opportunities for volunteering.

The other thing that is quite important is to start thinking about universities, and maybe schedule a couple of visits to nearby open days.

Can she find some work experience even if unpaid? I gave my DD an allowance while she was on unpaid work experience so she could feel like a paid worker.

Then once she was on hols again money went down to a basic level so she came up with a few money making schemes. She makes jewellery as a hobby so I gave her a float to get her started to buy supplies and she made loads of stuff and sold to friends and a local gift shop.( and paid me back the float).

This summer ( inbetween AS levels and A level) she will do the same- 2 weeks of work experience (one of the weeks she is getting a small sum to cover transport, lunches and they have told me they will give her a shop voucher at the end too) and then odd jobs here and some more craft/jewellery making.

A paid job if you can find one.
Failing that, how about helping in a local primary/nursery school?
Working in a charity shop?

She should learn a language. Or decorate her room.

Well a job is the first thing to try then volunteering. DD2 has two weeks sorted out at a local kennels/cattery walking dogs and fussing over cats .

Then there are the personal projects type thing - catch up on reading, redecorate room, creative stuff that there is no time for normally. DD1 is a keen photographer and she takes photographs for stock photography websites.

Seeker both DD's plan their summers on a wall chart as well .

Newquay.

Reading Festival.

Drunken stupors at beach parties.

Or is that just my ds

My ds has still got weeks of exams .

Last year my DS1 had an absolute ball. We didn't fund it, though, as we can't afford it. He went to Reading Festival, and before that went out with friends, hung about in the park, the weather was pretty good so he and his friends played football, caught buses to the coast, slept in - all those things he won't be able to do again.

That's not a bad shout actually. Just let them be, if everyone can afford it of course. It's true, there will never be another time in their lives, where they can just be.

Had to laugh at DD though. She and I were sitting in the garden earlier and due to an arm injury, I can't cut the grass at the moment. She suddenly said, 'tut, the grass needs cutting again. I'll do that in the week!' Whatever it is DD plans to do until September, I am very happy that she's taking the grass cutting into consideration!

My DDs school have the right idea-rather than taking time out to do work experience during school time they are expected to do this after they have finished their exams. So DD is off to work with DH for a week then for a week with me.

I also expect her to become my slave help more around the house in the in-between times.

how about the National Citizen Service? Dont know much about it other than its open to teens, involves a residential, doesn't cost much - about £40 I think and they get alot out of it. Should be able to google it.

Dd has a list. Mostly barbecues and lying in the sun.

But also painting her bedroom and shes just applied for a second p/t job.

If all her friends have gone to a festival she could work at one, you get free entry and you get paid for your time (and only work a couple of shifts over the festival weekend) try Festaff as a good reputable website.

Or voluntary work is a good suggestion, it will look great on her CV, try V for volunteering near your house.