Indulging in productive activities for teenagers can be an ideal way to spend their holidays. Vacation is the most awaited time of the year. There is usually no mention of study, but rather just play and have a good time. They have plenty of time to pursue their interests. Why not make the most of their time when they have so much on their hands?
Instead of vegging out and watching TV, teens can engage in beneficial activities that would help them explore new skills. If you are still unsure what kind of activities your teen may want to engage in, look at this list of productive activities for teenagers.
10 Best Productive Activities For Teenagers
1. Volunteer work
Volunteer work always gives a sense of contentment and achievement. Selfless acts make one understand the importance of human life. Giving time for teen volunteer opportunities such as helping at an animal shelter, teaching underprivileged children, cleaning the local park, or spending time at an old age home makes children feel grateful for every little thing in their life. It widens their perspective and helps develop a sense of responsibility towards society.
Quick Tip2. Sports camp
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Children who are sports fanatics will love to spend time in a sports camp. Not only do they get to play their favorite sport, but also exercise and stay fit. Sports camp teaches team building and helps develop organizational and leadership skills. Having a good sports background enables your child to get scholarships for college. Children who are exceptionally good at sports can also pursue a career in the field of sports.
3. Internship
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Some children like to be independent and wish to work during free time. If your child has a dream of working with a certain company or pursuing a certain profession, then he can look for an internship in that company or field. Many companies offer teenagers internship and at times even absorb them as full-time employees. Even if your child does not get a full-time offer, the experience gained working is worthwhile. Your child will have a clear idea of how things go about in a corporate environment.
4. Create a portfolio
Teens with a creative streak can develop a sample of their work that can be used for future reference when looking for a job.
For example, those who enjoy photography can organize and manage a portfolio of the images clicked by them and upload the images on official websites supporting budding photographers. This will help build self-confidence. Sometimes, good work gets noticed and prominent professionals invite young students to intern with them.
5. Learn A New Language
What can be a better time to learn a new language? Your child can take online lessons or join a language institute to learn how to communicate in a new language. Learning a new language can never go waste especially if your teen dreams of traveling and exploring new places in the future. He can also earn some income by teaching foreign languages.
Quick Tip6. Experiment
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If your child has not decided on which career to pursue, then this is the best age to experiment and innovate to see where his or her interests lie. For example, if your child enjoys making funny videos, then you can ask him to start a YouTube channel and upload videos. Your teen will not only learn about his interest in video production but also understand more about content development. Furthermore, he can indulge in activities that will hone his video making skills.
7. Reading
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Studious children are always greedy for knowledge. You can get your teen a membership with the local library. Reading books, journals, or magazines is a good way to improve concentration. Books are also a valuable tool that helps one self-improve. Books are the cheapest ways to discover various things in life. Reading books inspires teens in positive ways and makes them understand about human behavior.
8. Summer Job
It is one of the most productive social skills activities for teens to do over the summer. It is the best way to make kids understand the value of money is to make them earn it. Teenagers are often enthused with the idea of earning money. They have the energy and time to take up small jobs like making fliers, working at a grocery store, or even walking dogs. When they put in hard work to earn some money, they understand how to plan and prioritize money management and also wish to aim higher in life.
Rehman Iqbal, a blogger, shares his insights into the advantages of teenage employment. He shares, “Working as a teenager was not always easy. I had to balance my job with school, sports, and other activities, which sometimes left me feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. But I always reminded myself of my goals and the bigger picture. I knew that every experience and lesson I learned on the job was helping me build my future.
“Eventually, I decided to leave the retail store to pursue other opportunities, but I will always be grateful for the experience and skills I gained during my time there. Working as a teenager taught me the value of hard work, perseverance, and teamwork. It also gave me a taste of what it means to be a responsible adult and prepared me for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead (i).”
9. Computer Course
Having the knowledge of a computer language, coding, or designing always adds to your resume. Computer courses are useful only for those interested in pursuing a career in IT but also help you in daily operations. In the future, if your teen wants to set up his own website he need not look for a computer designer if he already knows how to create and design a website.
Trivia10. Learn New Things
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Encourage your child to try new things that interest them. It need not be an educational course or sport but anything that will keep your kid active. For example, several educational channels conduct science experiments to help kids understand science safely and interestingly. Your child can try some experiments himself and you never know he might discover something new.
11. Write a journal
Journaling is one of the best productive and therapeutic activities for teens as it provides a constructive outlet for self-expression and self-reflection.Through the act of putting thoughts and emotions on paper, teens can gain clarity on their feelings, track personal growth, and navigate challenges. Journaling serves as a self-care practice to focus on their thoughts. Engaging in self-awareness enables teens to revisit moments in their lives, facilitating reflection and a deeper understanding of their role in challenging situations (2). Additionally, journaling promotes effective communication skills, enhancing the ability to find solutions. This practice empowers teens to better understand themselves, manage stress, and develop a valuable tool for self-care, contributing to their overall well-being and personal development.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a productive hobby?
Productive hobbies teach you different life skills and improve your life. They also enhance a person’s analytical, critical, communication, and creative skills.
2. What are the benefits of productive hobbies?
Productive hobbies improve the physical and mental health of a person. Hobbies, such as sewing, painting, and meditation, help push the stressful thoughts away and declutter your mind. Sports activities improve physical strength and keep sedentary life at bay. A few hobbies might also improve your career (3).
3. How can teachers motivate teenagers to engage in productive activities?
Communicate the objectives and expectations for each activity. Connect the activities with real-life situations to make them more relatable. Give students some autonomy by allowing them to do the activity they like. Use technology, simulations, hands-on, and group activities for teenagers to make learning more engaging and practical.
4. What are the long-term effects of engaging in productive activities for teenagers?
Indulging in productive activities, such as extracurricular activities, can help teens learn skills essential for personal and professional domains. They can also help teens develop discipline, focus, and effective study habits, improving their academic performance. Productive activities often involve collaboration, teamwork, and interactions with peers and mentors, which can help a teenager develop strong interpersonal skills and contribute to increased self-esteem and resilience.
5. What strategies help teenagers stay motivated to engage in productive activities?
Set clear and meaningful goals and ensure that the teenager understands the purpose and relevance of these goals. Allow them to make choices and decisions to give them a sense of autonomy. Help them break down tasks into small, manageable steps to make the activities less overwhelming. Create a positive and supportive atmosphere where teens feel safe to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them. Most importantly, help them relate the activities to their passions so that they may stay motivated and engaged.
As teenagers are full of energy and passion, proper guidance can allow them to channel their energy into doing things that will benefit them in more ways than one. Their only motivation is to get up from the couch and indulge in productive activities for teenagers that will stimulate their brains enough to pump in the much-needed fervor of doing something beneficial and fun. Ensure your teen maintains a balance between screen time and teenage hobbies. They can also focus on things that will shape their personality and help them succeed later in life.
Infographic: Engaging Your Teenagers In Productive Activities
You can see teens on mobile watching something or sitting in a corner. If you are worried about this, there are several practical activities you can suggest to them. The infographic below has some productive activities to engage your teens and help them grow.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Instead of watching TV, children can engage in productive activities during their holidays to learn new life skills.
- Introduce your child to various activities such as volunteer work, sports camp, internships, and learning a new language.
- It can give them a sense of contentment, achievement, and independence.
- Engaging in productive activities can improve a person’s physical and mental health by pushing away stressful thoughts and decluttering the mind.
- Sports activities can also help keep a person physically active.
Illustration: Productive Activities For Teenagers
Image: Dalle E/MomJunction Design Team
Summer is here! Let’s make the most of it with 101 fun and productive things to do instead of scrolling. Get creative, explore, and make memories!
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Work as a teenager;https://medium.com/@rehmaniqbal500/work-as-a-teenager-c2dab77957cd
References
- Five benefits of teen volunteering
https://www.unitedwayhelps.org/blog/5-benefits-of-teen-volunteering - The (seemingly endless) mental health benefits of journaling for teens
https://tillyslifecenter.org/2022/10/25/journaling-for-teens-mental-health-resources/#:~:text=Journaling%20is%20a%20form%20of,they%20played%20in%20difficult%20situations - Five benefits of having a hobby;
https://www.cae.edu.au/news/five-benefits-of-having-a-hobby/
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