Parenting Teens and Tweens has partnered with iD Tech to offer an exclusive, limited-time discount for Parenting Teens and Tweens readers. Visit idtech.com and use code SUMMERBOOST for $125 off Online Academies*.
Summer is the time for fun, sun, self-discovery, and core memories.
And while summer is often a magical time, as parents, it can be difficult to help your teen find the right balance between relaxing and being productive.
On one hand, you don’t want them wasting every day sleeping until noon, only to wake up to scroll TikTok for three hours. On the other hand, you don’t want them sitting in SAT prep all day or working 40-hour weeks.
With college on the horizon, summer’s fleeting months are all about finding the right combination of fun and productivity. The solution lies in finding the perfect summer enrichment program for your teen.
Related: Five Simple Ideas for Summer Growth Activities for Teens and Tweens
Five benefits of summer enrichment programs
Summer is the best time for teens to hone passions and build confidence, but it’s also a beautiful time to envision the future, create goals, and take steps to craft a stand-out narrative for their dream college. Check out the big benefits summer enrichment programs bring.
1. Socializing with like-minded peers
While you might think of summer camp as rope swings and campfires, there are so many more options these days that combine our generation’s favorite pastimes with educational fun perfect for Gen Z. Socializing is such a huge part of high school, college, and beyond for your teen’s professional and personal life. There’s no better way to connect with others than over a common interest.
Take a minute to consider your teen’s interests. What are their hobbies? What is their favorite school subject? What do they love to do in their free time? There is a summer enrichment program out there for them.
If your teen loves tech, like video games, coding, AI, VR, and robotics, iD Tech, the leading youth STEM education company, offers summer camps to help them explore new relationships in a safe space and find their crew. They’ll work on projects and exciting team-based activities with like-minded people, learning essential collaborative life skills. With over 75 university locations across the US to choose from, attending an iD Tech summer camp is also an excellent way for your teen to experience campus life and get a head start preparing for college.
2. Future career readiness
Here’s a stat for you: in 2021, there were nearly 10 million STEM jobs, and this total is projected to grow 11% by 2031—over two times faster than the total for all occupations! Yet high schools across the country may not be adequately preparing teens for success in these fields.
Enrichment programs allow students to dive deep into vital topics not covered at most schools, such as AI and machine learning, VR & AR, coding and robotics.
STEM isn’t just science and tech; it offers something for everyone, from game developers to coders to creatives. And with the way the world is changing, STEM education is crucial because it is a part of every industry, now and forever. When considering summer enrichment programs for your teen, keep that stat in mind!
3. Meaningful mentorship
The more healthy, impactful adult relationships your teen has in their life, the more likely they are to thrive in all areas long after the program ends. One of the most significant factors to consider when looking for the perfect summer enrichment program is who will be in charge of your teen for the duration of it.
Summer enrichment program instructors are different from your average summer camp counselors because they are professional, positive, relatable experts who provide meaningful mentorship. They provide a real-life example of what your teen’s future could look like and will help your teen develop the confidence, self-esteem, and skills needed to be successful in school and in life.
4. Standout narratives for college apps
The clock starts ticking once kids enter high school because colleges look at transcripts and resumes from ninth to eleventh grade. And when it comes to college admissions, it’s no longer enough to be a well-rounded student with a high GPA and perfect test scores. Colleges also want a clear narrative that shows who your teen is through their extracurriculars and specialized skills.
What’s a clear narrative? A narrative means that your teen’s college resume paints a picture of their interests and goals. This includes how they’ve explored varying interests, what effort they’ve put into deepening that particular knowledge, and how they’ve prepared themselves to enter college as a student who can positively contribute.
Summer enrichment programs are an incredible way for your teen to craft their college narratives, develop new, in-demand skills in their fields of interest and get certified through top institutions. In addition to having fun learning more about what they love, these new skills and certificates can be listed on the Common App and help build a standout resume that impresses admissions officers.
5. Long-term benefits
After your teen’s summer enrichment program, you want them to feel like they’ve grown from it. No matter their age or grade, you want them to walk away feeling more equipped with the knowledge and soft skills than they were when they started. Summer enrichment programs provide your teen with new tools they can carry with them throughout life.
How to choose the right enrichment program
When choosing a summer program, it’s important to consider reputation, quality, and course offerings. Equally as important, you must consider how it aligns with your teen’s interests and how it can guide their future. What do they want to be when they grow up? What are their hobbies? What are their passions?
Search for programs built with teens in mind and courses that will equip your kids with skills to help build a robust resume for college applications. Instead of fighting your teen’s interests, it’s time to start embracing them and transforming those passions into skills for the future.
If your teen loves video games…
Sometimes it might feel like students are gaming more and learning less. But what if we told you that combining the two can spark success for their future? Your teen can transform their love of gaming into a future major in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Business, Animation, and more! This is the first stop on the way to a career as a Game Developer, Animator, Talent Manager, Data Analyst, Software Developer, Graphic Designer—the list goes on and on!
If your teen loves social media…
Instead of viewing social media as a waste of time, bolster that connection point to help your teen identify interests and strengthen passions. Whether they are into design, messaging, or the technology behind social media apps, those interests can be transformed into a major in Marketing, Graphic Design, Communications, Business, Analytics, Law, Journalism, and more! This path can lead your teen to a career as a Market Researcher, IP Lawyer, Journalist, Copywriter, Graphic Designer, Public Relations Specialist—the future is limitless!
If your teen has other interests…
This free Career Pathways Guide can be a valuable resource if your teen is looking for guidance on what to explore this summer. It provides a clear breakdown of what topics students should focus on, which majors they may want to consider, and what careers are most recommended based on their interests. This resource can serve as a great starting point to help your teen choose a summer enrichment program that aligns with their goals and aspirations.
The takeaway: turning passions into purpose
With so many different options out there, it can be overwhelming to motivate teens and help them follow the right path. You must find enrichment opportunities that meet teens where they are, speak to all types of passions, and ultimately guide them toward rewarding fields.
This summer, leverage your teen’s interests to help them have fun while identifying academic and career paths and encourage them to dig into topics that will create a compelling narrative for college applications. Instead of driving them away from their interests, lean in and make it a part of their journey. Equip your teen with transferable skills that will allow them to major in a topic they love so they can go on to thrive in a dream career.
This is a sponsored post by iD Tech. We’ve partnered with iD Tech to offer an exclusive, limited-time discount for Parenting Teens and Tweens readers. Visit idtech.com and use code SUMMERBOOST for $125 off Online Academies*. Ends June 30, 2023, at 11:59pm PT. $125 off applies to in-person programs and online academies. $100 off applies to virtual camps. $20 off applies to private lessons. Payment plans do not apply to private lessons. Promo code can be used once per child per program. Promo codes can not be applied to previous purchases.
Are you in the thick of raising your tweens and teens? You may like this book by Whitney Fleming, the co-owner of Parenting Teens & Tweens: Loving Hard When They’re Hard to Love: Essays about Raising Teens in Today’s Complex, Chaotic World.
Parenting teens and tweens is hard. Here are some other articles parents found useful:
Here’s How To Make Sure Your Teens Have Fun And Are Productive This Summer
Dear Moms, You Don’t Have to Count the Summers Left with Your Teens
5 Misconceptions About Scholarships, Where To Find Them And How Many Are Awarded
I’m Giving Permission for My Teens to Stay in Their Childhood for One More Summer
* This post contains affiliate links where we earn a small commission for sales made from our website.
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