Okay, you know  the saying "no more pencils, no more books, no more teachers dirty looks," although some of you may have given your teachers cause to give you a "dirty" or disappointed look! 

What are you going to do for the summer?  Will you hang around the house and do nothing?  Will you antagonize your younger sibling(s)?  Maybe you'll hang out at the recreation center and swim all day long.  Whatever you do, make sure it's a productive and fun summer.

There's no excuse not to keep your mind sharp just because you don't have homework.  Read a couple of books to keep your mind engaged.  This way you'll be prepared when you go back in the fall.

You could play baseball or softball.  These two sports are big in the summer.  Being part of a team will be good for you.  You'll learn leadership skills, how to work together to achieve a common goal, and discipline.  Plus, it's a great way to stay in shape.

What to do over summer break

  1.  Volunteer at your favorite not-for-profit organization.
  2.  Read a couple of books.
  3.  Get a part-time job or start your own small business.
  4.  Join sports.
  5.  Go to camp.
  6.  Go to camp and become a camp counselor.
  7.  Create art.
  8.  Write.
  9.  Travel with the family or be an exchange student.
10.  Clean out the garage and or basement for your parents.
11.  Have a garage sale.
12.  Get in shape.
13.  Pickup litter around your neighborhood.

There's a lot you can do over the summer.  Lounging around the house and playing videos is one option but you may already do this.  Get off your butt and find something constructive to do such as take a few classes at your local recreation center.  Volunteer and give of your time.  Create a fundraiser for your favorite charity and donate the money.

You can do a lot over the summer.  It's your break from school, but you don't have to waste all of the time.  Help out more around the house or start looking at colleges and universities.  Put your "thinking cap" on and do something productive right now!

According to Gayle Kimball, Ph.D, author of The Teen Trip, "44% of all school-age children with employed parents are latchkey kids (refers to wearing a key around their neck to let themselves into their home)."  It's a fact that both parents work today.  Some work two and three jobs to make ends meet.  If you're a latchkey kid, remember your parents are doing their best to put food on the table, keep a roof over the family's head, and clothes on everyone's back. 

Some teens may not feel comfortable being home alone.  You may feel scared or very alone because you're not allowed to go outside when your parents aren't home.  Maybe you have older siblings who boss you around because they're bigger than you. 

It may suck to be home by yourself but you have options.  Instead of going home, maybe you can go to a youth center or library.  This way you'll be surrounded by people and feel more secure.  Maybe you can call a friend or hotline like PhoneFriend where you can speak to someone while your parents are gone.  It could help pass the time after you've finished your homework.

Some teens may find being at home without any parents liberating.  It gives them a chance to find their independence and to get a taste of what it's like to be on their own.  If they have siblings, it gives them a chance to develop and exercise their diplomatic, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills!

Being a latchkey kid doesn't give you a free pass to do whatever you want.  It doesn't mean you can have friends over and party!  Your parents will eventually find out what you've been up to and you'll face the consequences for your actions.  Think about that before you tell everyone your parents are not home.

As a latchkey kid you may develop resentment towards your parents.  Remember they're responsible for taking care of you and are doing the best they can.  Take it easy on them and do your part to help out.  Complete your homework, watch your younger siblings or listen to your older ones, help with chores, and be the best you can be!

Personal Experience:  I used to be a "latchkey kid" when I was growing up in the 1980s.  Both my parents worked and my older sister started working when she was 16-years-old (there's a 6 year gap between us).  I'd walk home from school or from the bus and let myself into the house.  Sometimes my sister was at home, but we didn't get along.  When she turned 16-years-old, she got a part-time job.  After that, it was me and the dog. 

When I was older I'd fix my own dinner which meant heating up what my mom cooked the night before on the stove or in the microwave.  I had to do my homework and whatever chores I had.  As a teen, I thought this arrangement sucked big time.  I resented my mom for some time because she wasn't at home when I got home from school like some of the other kids moms.

As an adult, I can see how being a latchkey kid  shaped my character, made me a strong person, and developed my independence.  It's amazing how you can find the gifts in the places you think are the darkest.

Links

PhoneFriend (check your area for the local number)

Most teens get their drivers license at the age of 16.  Driving is a major responsibility so make sure you're prepared for it.  Sign up for driver's education classes and get some practice time with mom and dad.  The more experience you have the better you'll be to handle a vehicle.

Driving is a privilege.  You're very lucky if you receive a car for your 16t birthday.  Having a car is a responsibility.  Your car needs gas, car insurance, routine maintenance and repairs, and washing.  If you're not ready for all of this responsibility then you may want to rethink getting your driver's license.

Practicing will help you to become a safe teen driver.  Remember, there are other drivers on the road who have more experience and insurance than you!  They know how to use their driving skills to their advantage so make sure you're a courteous driver on the road at all times.

Driving tips

1.  Do not drink and drive.
2.  Make sure you check your blind spot before you merge into traffic.
3.  Learn how to merge into traffic.
4.  Don't be a road hog -- you're not the only one the road.
5.  Make sure your windows are clean so you can see out of them.
6.  Drive the speed limit.
7.  Don't get involved in road rage, it's not worth it.
8.  Drive a vehicle that you can handle.
9.  Don't allow your gas to go past a half tank.
10.  Carry windshield wiper solution, oil, fix a flat, brake fluid, power steering fluid, antifreeze, fuel injector cleaner, water, jack, gloves, jumper cables, blankets, jacket, rags, and extra clothes in your trunk.
11.  Purchase car insurance.
12.  Don't blast the music when you drive because you may not be able to hear police, EMS, and fire sirens.

Teens become safe drivers today so tomorrow you can live a long life.  It's not worth it to drive fast because you can "crash and burn" in an instant.  Plus, you can harm others which could result in death and or a lawsuit.  Be safe on the roads.  Your destination is not going anywhere so drive the speed limit.  If you end up late than you're late.  Better late than dead!

Parents often pass their values to their teens.  Here are some definitions for values taken from Dictionary.com:

1.  Relative worth, merit, or importance: the value of a college education; the value of a queen in chess.

2.  Import or meaning; force; significance: the value of a word.

3.  Values, Sociology. The ideals, customs, institutions, etc., of a society toward which the people of the group have an affective regard. These values may be positive, as cleanliness, freedom, or education, or negative, as cruelty, crime, or blasphemy.

4. Ethics.  Any object or quality desirable as a means or as an end in itself.

5.  To consider with respect to worth, excellence, usefulness, or importance.

6.  To regard or esteem highly:  He values her friendship.

Values are a set of principles that you live your life.  What are your values?  Do you even have a values system?  Your values today will shape the person you'll be tomorrow.  They  will help you to focus on what is important in your life.  They'll help you to make clear decisions and take the right or inspired action steps.

If you don't have anyone in your life right now to show you what "values" are then take a look at the list of values on this post.  You may already have some of these values or may want to incorporate them into your life.

Examples of values

Integrity
Honesty
Intuition
Gratitude
Fairness
Trust
Loyalty
Respect
Dependability
Humility
Success
Unity
Warmth
Silence
Wealth
Simplicity
Recreation
Professionalism
Originality
Perseverance
Determination
Foresight
Ingenuity
Ambitious
Studious

Having a values system is important because it will help you to function in this world.  You'll encounter people throughout life who don't have your highest good in mind.  It's up to you to be able to spot those people a mile away and stop them in their tracks.  You can do this by relying on your values system.  If someone is deceptive and deception is not one of your values then don't allow that person into your mix.  Simply say "no thanks" and move forward with your life.  And, there's no reason to feel guilty about it!

Values can keep you on your path.  Do your best to avoid the fast talkers who may appear in your life.  Sooner or later, they'll burn out and fade away into the background.  Always do what is best according to your values system.  Forget about what others are doing because it doesn't concern you.  Focus on you and your values; you'll be just fine!

Unfortunately, teens deal with more than peer pressure these days.  They are subjected to horrific crimes such as a gunman or students opening fire on them before, during, or after school.  How do you cope with this?  Schools provide counseling for teens but it still doesn't make it easy to sleep at night.

Years ago teens never worried that much about going to school.  Fights did break out but it was never to the magnitude that it is today.  Kids were known to bring chains and switchblades to school.  Today, guns are brought onto school property which can alter your life in an instance. 

It's scary to think that a fellow student would want to do harm to his peers.  God only knows why a teen would want to harm others.  There's usually a "root cause" such as bullying, abuse at home, or some other issue that drives a teen to take drastic measures.

Tip:  Most teens say stuff they don't mean -- it's a way to vent emotions.  However, there could be some truth to what someone's says. 

When you're at school be aware of your surroundings.  Know where the exits are and get out.  Don't try to be a hero!  If you overhear a conversation about what can be a potential dangerous situation, tell a teacher or counselor.  It's better to be safe than sorry. 

Going to school these days can take a toll on you mentally, emotionally, and physically.  It's bad enough that you have peer pressure and are stressed about keeping up the grades; you shouldn't have to worry if someone is going to bring a gun to school. 

Do your best not to worry about whether or not someone is bringing a gun to school.  Remember you can't control what someone else does; you can only control what you do.  Be the best teen you can be and keep your chin up!