10 Things for Teens To Do Instead of TV

Being a teenager is like that old saying of being stuck between a rock and a hard place: teens think that they have the wisdom to be unleashed upon this earth unsupervised, but their parents think otherwise and restrict their options. For many teens, this means taking on an apathetic attitude and turning to “easy” things to occupy their time – namely the television.

There is no question that teenagers watch far too much television these days. 94% to 96% of teens watch television to pass their time (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percentage_of_teens_watch_TV_daily). That's not all; those kids aren't only watching a program or two on the TV per night; they are watching on average 4 hours a day (and that's outside of school work and the other 2 hours that they will spend in front of their computer screen!) (http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child.html). Television interferes with a lot of activities that teenagers could otherwise productively be doing, such as:

Enterprise

All teens need money; why not get them working for it? By having your child think up of or set up his or her own business (such as lawn mowing, pet sitting, or tutoring) you are allowing them the satisfaction of making their own 'dough rather than letting them treat your wallet like it's an ATM! By having them put their entrepreneurial skills to work now is also a great way of encouraging their future career and business endeavors.

Exercise

Okay, you don't need to send your child out to run 10 laps around the yard. But perhaps by encouraging him or her to play sports with their school or another organized league, or even suggesting that they go swimming, skiing or play tennis with their buddies will help him or her get outside and get moving.

Socialize

Many parents strictly enforce that their child come home immediately after school, but that extra 30 minutes after the last bell rings can be an important time for your child to network and build necessary social skills he or she will need later in life. Encourage friends to stop by your home and stay for dinner if you want your child to come home shortly after school closes – and try not to eavesdrop TOO much...

Explore

Ever heard of a “Stay-cation”? This is a new catch phrase that is all about exploring what you have right in your immediate area rather than jetting out to Mexico or Paris for a vacation. Have your child research and check out places within an hour or two of your home online and plan a daytrip for you all to go on together.

Game Night

Your teen may whine; your teen may wallow. But a couple rounds in to a good game of Monopoly will have their spirits high and their mind working. Try to have a game night once or twice a week for full-on family bonding.

Talents

What does your teen like to do? Find a talent that your teen has that you yourself cannot do and learn it! Yes, they will probably groan and complain about you invading their space – at first. But give it a few minutes and they'll get right in to teaching you all they know. Hey, maybe they'll want to learn one of mom or dad's many talents, too!

Homework

The sad truth is that every child out there has homework to do on a regular basis. Actively participating in their homework rather than sending them to their room to do it “quietly” not only moves the homework along more quickly, but it also increases both their satisfaction and knowledge. As much as you yourself may want to unwind in front of the TV after a long day at work, take that hour and invest it in your teenager.

Culture

You can involve your whole family in this one. Take a random week out of each month to learn about a different culture. Focus on the language of that culture, the clothing, and the food and try to “live” as you all imagine that culture would (i.e. speak their language, cook their foods for dinner, etc).

Volunteer

Have your teen – and yourself – volunteer at something you are interested it, whether it is a daycare, a homeless shelter, an animal shelter, or even a senior's home. Stick to it every week for at least 6 weeks.

Shop

Though I personally am not one for cracking open my wallet for my teenager (especially if they are a little entrepreneur and making their on cash) I do enjoy going shopping with my teens – regardless as to whether they are a boy or a girl. Even if you are not going store-to-store with your child, being in the area while they are making purchases allows you to see what they've bought, ask them why they've bought it, and to return it should it be inappropriate.

photo by Sanja Gjenero