3 Fun Summer Activities That Will Teach Your Tween Some Responsibility

If your tween is like most, they're ready for more independence, but they could use some help in the responsibility department. Here are three fun summer activities your tween can do to learn some responsibility and increase their chance of proving themselves worthy of a more independent lifestyle:

Going to Day Camp

Summer day camp offers an exciting way to learn about responsibility, gain self-esteem, and practice getting along with people from all walks of life. Day camp isn't about sitting around telling stories or swimming in a lake all day without any structure. At day camp you can expect your tween to take part in team building exercises, leadership projects, and various activities that are designed to teach them more about taking responsibility for their actions in life. Some activities that are likely to be available to your tween during summer camp include the following:

• Movie Making

• Tech Labs

• Horseback Riding

• Garden-to-Table Cooking

• Creative Writing

• Obstacle Courses

• Team Water Sports

While your tween is having fun meeting new friends and partaking in a variety of exciting activities, they'll learn important like skills and lessons that they can use throughout their adulthood.

Caring for Animals

Volunteering at a humane society or another animal rescue center is a fun way to learn some responsibility and how to take care of others. Get your tween involved with a facility of their choice and let them volunteer a couple of days a week walking dogs, feeding animals, grooming horses, and cleaning out stalls. Taking care of animals in need will help your tween better understand compassion and learn patience, which are both things that can come in handy in their everyday life.

Before your tween starts their volunteer stint, they should have a clear understanding of how their chosen facility works to ensure that they'll be comfortable with all their procedures. Schedule a consultation appointment with the facility before scheduling any volunteer hours so you can check the place out with your tween.

Creating a Kids' Group

Encourage your tween to start a kids' group in your neighborhood so they can make some money while learning some responsibility. Help them come up with a small business plan that encompasses hosting a kids' play group in your backyard a few days a week that will function similar to daycare or camp. Fill a few plastic tubs with board games, coloring books, paint sets, puzzles, and other activities that encourage learning and fun. Then keep the tubs on the porch so they can easily be brought out on gathering days.

Let your tween set the rates since they'll be doing most of the work during each group date – recommend at least ten dollars per child per session as a starting point. Parents in the neighborhood are sure to appreciate the opportunity to send their kids to "camp" once or twice week, so they can get some alone time or to run errands they haven't had time to do.

Any one of these summer activity ideas will give your tween the opportunity to experience a multitude of activities and responsibilities throughout the summer.