 |
||||
The Cure for Summertime Blues For a safe, rewarding summer, they key is to keep teens busy 
Jobs are as hard to come by as cheap concert tickets for teens this summer, so you may be inclined to cut your teen some slack. Why not let your son or daughter relax? As tempting as that sounds, you�re not doing your offspring any favors, say psychologists. Hanging around the house can be risky, according to psychologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In a study of 42 homes with teen family members, the UAB researchers found that close to one third had firearms that weren�t locked away. In addition, about the same percentage of households had accessible alcohol. Keeping teens busy may help them avoid accidents and dangerous behavior. However, certain types of activities are more beneficial. Although your teen wants to have fun, getting involved in activities that require some sacrifice and deferred pleasure have greater advantages. �If you look at people who became more responsible, they�d say they had to do boring things to become more responsible,� says Dustin Wood, assistant professor of psychology at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C. All drudgery isn�t the solution either. Instead, look for programs that have �an enjoyable component� and are worthwhile, perhaps promoting a broader goal, says Wood, lead author of a recent study on how teens develop responsibility, in the journal Child Development. Being in a play, even if it means having a bit part or working as a member of the crew or raising an animal provides a positive outcome, Wood says. (A lot of the teens in the study were active in rural programs.). Perhaps you can give your teen a job. Maybe you need someone to do yard work or remodel the garage. As the employer, encourage your teen to be involved in the decision-making, said Rob Baller in an e-mail. If your son or daughter is helping build something, he can play an active design and execution role, writes Baller, associate professor of Sociology at the University of Iowa. �Psychologists call independent chores such as these �distancing demands.� Distancing demands are good for all kids as they teach organizational skills, use of memory and problem solving,� Baller writes. In exchange you should reward a job that has been well done, according to Baller.
|
||||
|
||||
Bev Bennett, a veteran food writer and editor, is the author of "Dinner for Two: A Cookbook for Couples" and "30-Minute Meals for Dummies"
