HOLIDAYING WITH TEENS

This month and through the next six weeks, we’ll be running a special series on “Holidaying with Teens”. The long holiday (June-September) is that time of the year when most teenagers have just concluded a school year and are preparing to commence another session. Some others are exiting the high school level and preparing to proceed to the university. And some others may not further their education due to poverty, lack of such desire or in pursuit of other interests. All of these will play out during the holidays.

The holiday period is usually characterized by families’ travelling to different locations to spend time with family and friends, at home and abroad; some teenagers and youth engage in vacation jobs/volunteer activities; participation in holiday camping activities; but mostly, there’s a lot of idle time that teenagers will spend loitering around the neighbourhood, watching television, excessive food consumption, and involvement in local troubles, mischief and crime.

This Series will highlight the activities that teenagers can/cannot engage in during the holidays and how they can fit Christ right through the whole time… Trust me, we are going to need Him!

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

It may look like a time of rest from tiresome school work and teenagers are sure to find house chores and parental intrusion burdensome and choking but being reactive instead of proactive can make your holiday a very miserable one. So, be proactive like;

1.   Going to your parents/guardians and asking them (instead of waiting for them to tell you) what they’d want you to do for them during the holidays. The look on their faces… priceless!!!

2.   Thinking deeply about what you’d like to do during this period – vocational skill, vacation job, volunteer work, camping, travel, etc. Ask around, look around, read the papers, get information and knowledge… this will be like you are in charge of your life instead of having people make their own plans for you because they see you as idle.

3.   Make plans for the future. Yes, the holidays will end and you don’t want to be shocked into reality. Therefore, see about saving some money during this period; keep fit and healthy; make new friends; and plan for your new class, new school, new vocation. Share your academic and career desires with your mentor (and that means, get one) so you are better prepared for life after the holidays.

There are lots more to share the next few weeks and if you have something to share with other teenagers, please feel free to do so, right here. God bless you.