Summer activities:

• Research Family History

Encourage your teen to visit older family members and interview them, they could use tablet or smartphone to video some of the conversation. Things to ask about:

• What was it like when you were a teenager?
• Were your parents strict?
• Who was your favourite family member?
• What did you eat?
• What did you do to amuse yourselves?

2. Make a Music Video

We all know Lorde launched her career on YouTube. Your turn to create and produce a new music video.

3. Think of New Ways to Earn Some Extra Cash

As well as the standard cutting grass / washing cars / babysitting options to earn some extra cash, how about

• dog walking / pet sitting while the neighbours are away to save them kennel fees;
• digital photo sorting and printing;
• or offering to pick up and sort out all the lego for busy parents?

4. Write a Haiku

A Haiku should have seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five. This is not as easy as it sounds. A teen writing a haiku could be a challenge but you can do it.

5.  Clear Out Your Room

Not only will you make your parents extremely happy but you will find all those lost cds/books/must have items that are buried under the heap.

You can now have a car boot sale/sale of work/garage sale to get rid of the non-essential non-teen stuff you no longer want and make yourself some cash at the same time.

6.  Redecorate Your Room

Try a new colour if parents will allow. If not, try a furniture rearrange and appropriate some small furnishings from elsewhere in the house.

7. . Do a Summer Course or Camp

You might like to try out a course in something you might be interested in doing in college as a taster.

There are lots of engineering / IT / animation / acting / language courses for teens.If you’re in Ireland, check out our Summer Camps for Teens article.

8. Learn to Cook 3 New Meals Well

Here’s the rules:

• Create 3 new menus and practice them
• They must include starter, main + dessert
• They must be tried out on your family
• They must be of a high standard i.e. empty plates at the end.

9.  Sleep Under the Stars

Pick a night forecasted to be warm, clear and rain free and grab a sleeping bag, blanket and pillow and head out for a night outdoors.

Are you familiar with the constellations? See how many you can find in the night sky.

10. Plan a Trip Around the World

Make a Dream Destinations Board if you’re on Pinterest. Or hang out online on Lonelyplanet.com and create the best ever round the world itinerary.

• Where to go
• How to get there
• What to do
• Where to stay
• Where to eat