Finding entertainment ideas for your teen and their friends shouldn’t cost a small fortune. If you’re looking for fun and free activities, here is a list that should keep young adults and teens busy for quite some time.
1. Frisbee golf.
Most communities now have Frisbee golf courses set up at nearby parks. Don’t have a park with a Frisbee golf course? Make your own. You just need a Frisbee and a few targets. This is fun, can be played year around with proper outer wear, and is absolutely 100% free, if you have a Frisbee. If not, collect the change in your couch and head to the local market to get one.
2. Scavenger hunt.
This is a great activity that can take a few hours or an entire month depending on how difficult the items are to find. You can also stipulate the rules that no items can be purchased on the list. This ensures the game is equally challenging and cost effective for all participants. Make the scavenger hunt more interesting by giving it a theme.
3. Visit local museums on their free days.
Most community facilities - whether it’s a botanical garden, zoo or museum - offer free days throughout the year. Find when their free days are and schedule a trip.
4. Movie night.
In addition to the free movies available on campus, you can rent a movie for a dollar at your local Red Box or you can stream them on your computer via many online movie sites. Have someone bring the popcorn and you’re good to go.
5. Go to the park.
Parks are always free, unless they’re State or National Parks. Grab a blanket, pack a lunch and just go hang out and people watch. A little music, a good book or two and you can spend the day outside having fun.
6. Look for outdoor events.
Many communities, particularly during the warmer months, host outdoor movies and concerts for free. Check your local listings to see what’s going on in your community.
7. Fairs and festivals.
There are fairs and festivals going on somewhere almost year around. They’re free, they’re fun and they can be a great way to get out and experience something new. Find out what’s happening in your community.
8. Host a cooking party.
Have everyone bring one ingredient for a recipe and make the meal together in your apartment or dorm.
9. Have a theme party.
Choose a theme and host a party. Have everyone dress up and bring something to serve.
10. Window shop.
Shopping, particularly if there is a nice downtown or cool antique stores and flea markets, can be a fun event even if you don’t spend a dime. It’s fun, it’s free and it’s a great way to spend time with friends.
Showing posts with label Teens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teens. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Great Authors Teens Love
Many parents have problems getting their teenagers to read and do their homework. However, there are many great authors teens love to read. If you're looking for a gift, you may want to consider purchasing a book from one of these authors.
One author that has been a favorite with teenagers and adults alike for decades is Clive Staples Lewis, known as Jack to his friends and family. He is the celebrated author of The Chronicles of Narnia series. He also wrote scholarly works while he was a Fellow of Magdalene College, Oxford, and later Magdalene College, Cambridge. Lewis also wrote the science fiction work Space Trilogy. However, it is for his fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia that he is most well known.
A contemporary of C.S. Lewis was J.R.R. Tolkien. Just as is the case with many authors, Tolkien’s story The Hobbit was written for his own children. The story, however, has also become popular with adult readers as well as teenagers. Following on the success of The Hobbit, Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings. After his death, Tolkien’s son released The Simarillion to the joy of his father’s faithful readers.
Elwyn Brooks “E.B.” White is another author teens love to read. He was an American writer who began his career writing for The New Yorker magazine in 1925. It wasn’t until the late 1930s that White started writing children’s fiction for his niece, Janice Hart White. White’s novels include Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web, and The Trumpet of the Swan. He is also known for editing and updating the William Strunk, Jr. handbook of grammar and style, The Elements of Style.
Judy Blume may be best known for her book, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. However, she has also written other books well loved by teens such as the stories about Fudge, Blubber and Just as Long as We’re Together. Blume is known as a champion for authors whose literary works have been censored. Despite the writing she has done for adults, it seems Blume also enjoys writing for young readers; she in the process of creating another series of books for them.
Roald Dahl, like Tolkien and Lewis, was a British writer despite the fact he was not born in Great Britain. Of all the works Dahl created, his most popular books are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and Matilda, all of which have been made into movies that children all over the world have enjoyed.
If you’re struggling to get your teenager to read for pleasure, you may want to check out some of the books by the above authors. These are great authors many teens love, and it’s quite possible your teen will love them, too.
One author that has been a favorite with teenagers and adults alike for decades is Clive Staples Lewis, known as Jack to his friends and family. He is the celebrated author of The Chronicles of Narnia series. He also wrote scholarly works while he was a Fellow of Magdalene College, Oxford, and later Magdalene College, Cambridge. Lewis also wrote the science fiction work Space Trilogy. However, it is for his fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia that he is most well known.
A contemporary of C.S. Lewis was J.R.R. Tolkien. Just as is the case with many authors, Tolkien’s story The Hobbit was written for his own children. The story, however, has also become popular with adult readers as well as teenagers. Following on the success of The Hobbit, Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings. After his death, Tolkien’s son released The Simarillion to the joy of his father’s faithful readers.
Elwyn Brooks “E.B.” White is another author teens love to read. He was an American writer who began his career writing for The New Yorker magazine in 1925. It wasn’t until the late 1930s that White started writing children’s fiction for his niece, Janice Hart White. White’s novels include Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web, and The Trumpet of the Swan. He is also known for editing and updating the William Strunk, Jr. handbook of grammar and style, The Elements of Style.
Judy Blume may be best known for her book, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. However, she has also written other books well loved by teens such as the stories about Fudge, Blubber and Just as Long as We’re Together. Blume is known as a champion for authors whose literary works have been censored. Despite the writing she has done for adults, it seems Blume also enjoys writing for young readers; she in the process of creating another series of books for them.
Roald Dahl, like Tolkien and Lewis, was a British writer despite the fact he was not born in Great Britain. Of all the works Dahl created, his most popular books are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and Matilda, all of which have been made into movies that children all over the world have enjoyed.
If you’re struggling to get your teenager to read for pleasure, you may want to check out some of the books by the above authors. These are great authors many teens love, and it’s quite possible your teen will love them, too.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Loan Out Your Teen to Friends In Need
Do you have friends who are empty nesters? Maybe they can't get around like they used to. Why not loan out your teen to friends in need?
There are a lot of things that teenagers can do to help neighbors. They could:
* Mow the lawn in the summer – Elderly neighbors or single mothers may not be able to get out and mow their lawn as often as it needs it. A teenager could do this task whether the neighbor has a push or riding lawn mower. If they’ve been trained, they could also help with edging and trimming bushes.
* Gardening – If neighbors have a garden, you could loan out your teen to help friends and neighbors till, plant, weed, and harvest their garden. They may learn enough to help you plant your own garden the next growing season.
* Shovel snow in the winter – In the winter people aren’t so concerned about their lawns, but they are interested in keeping their driveway and sidewalks free of snow. This is another activity that older friends and neighbors may have problems completing. Single mothers, unless they have older children of their own, would also appreciate any teen providing the muscle for this job.
* Help decorate for the holidays – Did you notice a neighbor that didn’t decorate for the holidays last year? Is it because they didn’t want to or because they couldn’t? Quite often older neighbors aren’t interested in celebrating because they’ve lost a loved one or their children don’t live nearby. Your teen could offer to decorate, even if only minimally, and then invite your neighbor to spend part of the holidays with you and your family.
* Care for pets if their neighbor has to be away from home – If your teen loves animals, they may want to help care for a neighbor’s pets while they’re away. They may also be willing to go over and take their dog for a walk every day to let it get exercise.
* Baby-sit – Of course, any working parents would be glad for an opportunity to go out without their children. Baby-sitting is generally thought of as a teenage girl’s job, but if your teenage son likes children, why shouldn’t he be able to baby-sit? Most new mothers would jump at the chance to have someone come keep an eye on a newborn while Mom takes a much-needed shower and nap.
* Offer to do housework for a new mother – Speaking of baby-sitting; are there any new mothers in your neighborhood? Any new mother would love it if your teenager came over to help with the housework. They would probably appreciate your teen’s help with cooking, as well.
Senior adult neighbors aren’t the only ones that need help, although that’s who most people think of when offering to help. Single mothers with small children and new mothers would also love to be the benefit of your teen’s efforts, should you decide to loan out your teen.
There are a lot of things that teenagers can do to help neighbors. They could:
* Mow the lawn in the summer – Elderly neighbors or single mothers may not be able to get out and mow their lawn as often as it needs it. A teenager could do this task whether the neighbor has a push or riding lawn mower. If they’ve been trained, they could also help with edging and trimming bushes.
* Gardening – If neighbors have a garden, you could loan out your teen to help friends and neighbors till, plant, weed, and harvest their garden. They may learn enough to help you plant your own garden the next growing season.
* Shovel snow in the winter – In the winter people aren’t so concerned about their lawns, but they are interested in keeping their driveway and sidewalks free of snow. This is another activity that older friends and neighbors may have problems completing. Single mothers, unless they have older children of their own, would also appreciate any teen providing the muscle for this job.
* Help decorate for the holidays – Did you notice a neighbor that didn’t decorate for the holidays last year? Is it because they didn’t want to or because they couldn’t? Quite often older neighbors aren’t interested in celebrating because they’ve lost a loved one or their children don’t live nearby. Your teen could offer to decorate, even if only minimally, and then invite your neighbor to spend part of the holidays with you and your family.
* Care for pets if their neighbor has to be away from home – If your teen loves animals, they may want to help care for a neighbor’s pets while they’re away. They may also be willing to go over and take their dog for a walk every day to let it get exercise.
* Baby-sit – Of course, any working parents would be glad for an opportunity to go out without their children. Baby-sitting is generally thought of as a teenage girl’s job, but if your teenage son likes children, why shouldn’t he be able to baby-sit? Most new mothers would jump at the chance to have someone come keep an eye on a newborn while Mom takes a much-needed shower and nap.
* Offer to do housework for a new mother – Speaking of baby-sitting; are there any new mothers in your neighborhood? Any new mother would love it if your teenager came over to help with the housework. They would probably appreciate your teen’s help with cooking, as well.
Senior adult neighbors aren’t the only ones that need help, although that’s who most people think of when offering to help. Single mothers with small children and new mothers would also love to be the benefit of your teen’s efforts, should you decide to loan out your teen.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Get Rid of Acne – Simple Solutions That Really Work
Acne is the bane of life for millions of teenagers and even some adults. And when you suffer from acne and breakouts it can have a negative effect on your confidence. The good news is to get rid of acne, there are simple solutions that really work.
#1 Cut back on sugar.
There are both good and bad bacteria that live in our bodies. And some bacteria, the kind that can cause acne, thrive on sugar. Additionally, sugar affects your hormone levels and blood sugar levels both of which can cause a strain on your body. This strain makes it difficult for your body to fight any kind of infection, even a small pimple.
Cutting back on sugar helps balance your body’s systems and it eliminates the food bacteria thrive on. If your diet is particularly high in sugar and starchy carbohydrates (think white bread and baked goods) then going on a sugar elimination diet will show dramatic improvements in your skin.
There’s a reason chocolate is so often linked to acne, because it’s high in sugar. It’s also high in dairy and if you have a dairy sensitivity, which many people do, it can cause acne. Additionally, dairy is often full of hormones added to the cows to help them produce more milk. These hormones can wreak havoc on your system. Common foods that can cause acne include sugary foods, dairy, alcoholic beverages, fried foods, meat treated with hormones, and common allergy causing foods like nuts.
#2 Exfoliate and moisturize.
Exfoliation of your skin keeps the pores from being clogged. Clogged pores are the precursor to a blemish. However, beware of harsh abrasives. Many facial scrubs are just too abrasive for sensitive skin. Instead, use products with alpha hydroxy acids, retinols and salicylic acids to remove dead skin and debris from your face gently and consistently.
A common protocol might be to use a cleanser with salicylic acid and a night cream with retinol or alpha hydroxy acids or AHAs. Some skin care protocols for teens with acne contain benzoyl peroxide which can work quite well if you have particularly oily skin. However, for adults and those prone to dry skin, it can worsen the acne problem.
#3 Watch what you put on your face and when.
Makeup can clog pores. If you wear makeup choose a non-comedogenic versions. Don’t wear makeup when you exercise or when you’re going to be outside in the sun for extended periods of time.
#4 Avoid too much stress.
Easier said than done, right? Stress has an effect on our hormones and can cause breakouts. If you’re going to be dealing with stress, say you have a big project coming up, up the vitamin B complex and get some sunshine or vitamin D. Vitamin B helps your body manage stress and it helps protect your skin. Vitamin D, which our body makes when we get about 20 minutes of sunlight each day, helps promote healthy skin.
#5 Try not to touch your skin.
This goes beyond not squeezing or picking at your acne. Our fingers are full of bacteria. If you’re prone to acne much of it may be from simply transferring the bacteria on your hands to your face.
Overall, take good care of yourself. Get plenty of sleep, exercise, fresh air and a good healthy diet. Good overall health helps your skin stay healthy and acne free. It helps your body manage obstacles, like stress and hormones, without suffering a breakout.
#1 Cut back on sugar.
There are both good and bad bacteria that live in our bodies. And some bacteria, the kind that can cause acne, thrive on sugar. Additionally, sugar affects your hormone levels and blood sugar levels both of which can cause a strain on your body. This strain makes it difficult for your body to fight any kind of infection, even a small pimple.
Cutting back on sugar helps balance your body’s systems and it eliminates the food bacteria thrive on. If your diet is particularly high in sugar and starchy carbohydrates (think white bread and baked goods) then going on a sugar elimination diet will show dramatic improvements in your skin.
There’s a reason chocolate is so often linked to acne, because it’s high in sugar. It’s also high in dairy and if you have a dairy sensitivity, which many people do, it can cause acne. Additionally, dairy is often full of hormones added to the cows to help them produce more milk. These hormones can wreak havoc on your system. Common foods that can cause acne include sugary foods, dairy, alcoholic beverages, fried foods, meat treated with hormones, and common allergy causing foods like nuts.
#2 Exfoliate and moisturize.
Exfoliation of your skin keeps the pores from being clogged. Clogged pores are the precursor to a blemish. However, beware of harsh abrasives. Many facial scrubs are just too abrasive for sensitive skin. Instead, use products with alpha hydroxy acids, retinols and salicylic acids to remove dead skin and debris from your face gently and consistently.
A common protocol might be to use a cleanser with salicylic acid and a night cream with retinol or alpha hydroxy acids or AHAs. Some skin care protocols for teens with acne contain benzoyl peroxide which can work quite well if you have particularly oily skin. However, for adults and those prone to dry skin, it can worsen the acne problem.
#3 Watch what you put on your face and when.
Makeup can clog pores. If you wear makeup choose a non-comedogenic versions. Don’t wear makeup when you exercise or when you’re going to be outside in the sun for extended periods of time.
#4 Avoid too much stress.
Easier said than done, right? Stress has an effect on our hormones and can cause breakouts. If you’re going to be dealing with stress, say you have a big project coming up, up the vitamin B complex and get some sunshine or vitamin D. Vitamin B helps your body manage stress and it helps protect your skin. Vitamin D, which our body makes when we get about 20 minutes of sunlight each day, helps promote healthy skin.
#5 Try not to touch your skin.
This goes beyond not squeezing or picking at your acne. Our fingers are full of bacteria. If you’re prone to acne much of it may be from simply transferring the bacteria on your hands to your face.
Overall, take good care of yourself. Get plenty of sleep, exercise, fresh air and a good healthy diet. Good overall health helps your skin stay healthy and acne free. It helps your body manage obstacles, like stress and hormones, without suffering a breakout.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Dinner with the Family: It’s More Important Than You Might Think
When was the last time you had dinner with your family? It is the meal we often skip because we work late, the kids have sporting events, or we get tired from daily activities. But skipping dinner with the family can be detrimental to the family dynamic.
Family dinners are more than just a meal. It is about the only time that families have to share time through the week. Whether you sit down to the dinner table or enjoy a meal on tray tables and a movie in the family room, the important thing is that you are together.
There are some interesting facts surrounding family dinner time. For instance, teens who spend dinner time eating with their family are less likely to get involved in drug- or alcohol-abuse or other illicit activities. This is a point many parents will find interesting. Out of all of the things you do to try to keep your kids away from bad influences the one thing that is the greatest influence is still the event that we skip routinely.
Why is dinner so important? For one thing, it is a time to share thoughts and feelings. All day kids are influenced by teachers, friends, and the outside world. At the dinner table they get a chance to connect with their parents on tough issues like schoolwork, peer pressure, and friendships. They can each share and help one another with helpful suggestions. Parents can even talk about work or family finances over a meal.
The main point is that conversation is taking place. The average parent spends less than an hour a week talking to their child. It takes a second to say “Hi” when you come in at night, but that isn’t effective communication. When dinner is shared by the family you spend a period of time chatting; even just observing their parents' conversation is good for children's developing communication skills and awareness of other people. Even watching a television programme can prompt engaging questions or an opportunity to share a related experience.
Young children learn how to communicate with their siblings and parents. They are the center of attention with questions about their day and it makes them feel happy. You know that kids always want to be in the limelight when they are a certain age and this helps them learn to share the spot with others.
Body image is important to teenagers. Learning to prepare and eat healthy meals with their families is a good habit to develop that will keep their bodies in shape and give them a healthy relationship with food and their bodies. Teens are less likely to become the victim of an eating disorder when they eat dinner with their families.
There are many benefits to eating dinner with the family. It is a time for meaningful communication that leads children to develop stronger self-images and an ability to resist destructive behaviors.
Family dinners are more than just a meal. It is about the only time that families have to share time through the week. Whether you sit down to the dinner table or enjoy a meal on tray tables and a movie in the family room, the important thing is that you are together.
There are some interesting facts surrounding family dinner time. For instance, teens who spend dinner time eating with their family are less likely to get involved in drug- or alcohol-abuse or other illicit activities. This is a point many parents will find interesting. Out of all of the things you do to try to keep your kids away from bad influences the one thing that is the greatest influence is still the event that we skip routinely.Why is dinner so important? For one thing, it is a time to share thoughts and feelings. All day kids are influenced by teachers, friends, and the outside world. At the dinner table they get a chance to connect with their parents on tough issues like schoolwork, peer pressure, and friendships. They can each share and help one another with helpful suggestions. Parents can even talk about work or family finances over a meal.
The main point is that conversation is taking place. The average parent spends less than an hour a week talking to their child. It takes a second to say “Hi” when you come in at night, but that isn’t effective communication. When dinner is shared by the family you spend a period of time chatting; even just observing their parents' conversation is good for children's developing communication skills and awareness of other people. Even watching a television programme can prompt engaging questions or an opportunity to share a related experience. Young children learn how to communicate with their siblings and parents. They are the center of attention with questions about their day and it makes them feel happy. You know that kids always want to be in the limelight when they are a certain age and this helps them learn to share the spot with others.
Body image is important to teenagers. Learning to prepare and eat healthy meals with their families is a good habit to develop that will keep their bodies in shape and give them a healthy relationship with food and their bodies. Teens are less likely to become the victim of an eating disorder when they eat dinner with their families.There are many benefits to eating dinner with the family. It is a time for meaningful communication that leads children to develop stronger self-images and an ability to resist destructive behaviors.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
How to Build Communication Bridges with Your Teen
Raising a child doesn’t come with a book of instructions. If it did, the task would be much easier. Facing the teenage years with your son or daughter is not something most parents look forward to. This article will help you take the experience one day at a time and learn how to bridge the communication gap.
As your child goes from toddler to youngster to tween to teenager, something in what you say gets lost in translation. They can give you that blank stare as if the words that are coming out of your mouth sound like the unseen teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons.
It’s not easy to improve the communication bridges with a teen but it’s important to try to get through as these years and the choices they make now will have a vital impact on their future.
Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1. Watch your body language.
How you move says a lot about you. When a person is tired, they tend to slump. When angered, your jaw muscles tighten and your eyes narrow into slits. Believe it or not, teenagers are good at interpreting body language. Yours will betray you when you are talking to them. Keep it open and honest. Avoid sitting with your arms crossed, eyes looking away from them or squirming in your seat.
2. Make eye contact.
When you don’t look at the person you are talking to it says that you are either hiding something or you are not at all interested in what they have to say. Your teenager will shut down emotionally when they suspect that you are not “tuned in” to them. Sit comfortably and give your teen undivided attention with consistent eye contact. It lets them know that you care.
3. Keep your emotions in check.
Remember back to when you were a teenager. Some of the things you said to your parents were aimed at freaking them out. Teenagers will push your buttons if they can. Don’t go overboard and get upset. Their target is the situations they know make you mad. Instead, take a deep breath and ignore the taunt. Do the opposite of what they expect because really, they want you to see through their ploy and find out the real problem.
4. Ask them about their day.
This technique works with spouses also. Even if your teen only grunts or says the obligatory, “It was okay,” ask anyway. Your show of caring will go a long way to convince them that you are interested in the things that they do and how they feel.
5. Be honest with them.
If you don’t understand the situation they are talking about then say so. Kids know when you are being insincere. Discuss the situation until you get an idea of where they are coming from. Your teen won’t mind explaining as long as they know you are listening.
6. Allow them their privacy.
This one is tricky and since you know your child better than anyone else, you can draw the line. Teens value their time alone. While the policy in your home may be that there are no locks on the doors, always show respect by knocking before entering. If they don’t want to be pressed about a situation in school, wait until they are ready (if it’s not urgent) and then talk about it.
Parenting a teenager takes a tough skin, a willingness to be vulnerable and lots of love. You will make mistakes but whatever you do, don’t ever stop talking.
As your child goes from toddler to youngster to tween to teenager, something in what you say gets lost in translation. They can give you that blank stare as if the words that are coming out of your mouth sound like the unseen teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons.It’s not easy to improve the communication bridges with a teen but it’s important to try to get through as these years and the choices they make now will have a vital impact on their future.
Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1. Watch your body language.
How you move says a lot about you. When a person is tired, they tend to slump. When angered, your jaw muscles tighten and your eyes narrow into slits. Believe it or not, teenagers are good at interpreting body language. Yours will betray you when you are talking to them. Keep it open and honest. Avoid sitting with your arms crossed, eyes looking away from them or squirming in your seat.
2. Make eye contact.
When you don’t look at the person you are talking to it says that you are either hiding something or you are not at all interested in what they have to say. Your teenager will shut down emotionally when they suspect that you are not “tuned in” to them. Sit comfortably and give your teen undivided attention with consistent eye contact. It lets them know that you care.
3. Keep your emotions in check.
Remember back to when you were a teenager. Some of the things you said to your parents were aimed at freaking them out. Teenagers will push your buttons if they can. Don’t go overboard and get upset. Their target is the situations they know make you mad. Instead, take a deep breath and ignore the taunt. Do the opposite of what they expect because really, they want you to see through their ploy and find out the real problem.
4. Ask them about their day.This technique works with spouses also. Even if your teen only grunts or says the obligatory, “It was okay,” ask anyway. Your show of caring will go a long way to convince them that you are interested in the things that they do and how they feel.
5. Be honest with them.
If you don’t understand the situation they are talking about then say so. Kids know when you are being insincere. Discuss the situation until you get an idea of where they are coming from. Your teen won’t mind explaining as long as they know you are listening.
6. Allow them their privacy.This one is tricky and since you know your child better than anyone else, you can draw the line. Teens value their time alone. While the policy in your home may be that there are no locks on the doors, always show respect by knocking before entering. If they don’t want to be pressed about a situation in school, wait until they are ready (if it’s not urgent) and then talk about it.
Parenting a teenager takes a tough skin, a willingness to be vulnerable and lots of love. You will make mistakes but whatever you do, don’t ever stop talking.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)