Moms Talk Q&A: Programs for Productive Teens

Moms Talk is a place to drop in to talk about the latest parenting hot topic or basic questions about your kids. Be sure to send suggestions for a Moms Talk topic or questions to steven.bartholow@patch.com.

This week the Santee Moms Council delves into the issue of keeping teens busy and engaged in productive, beneficial activities for them and the community. We want to hear your questions or comments about what Santee has to offer as far as outside-of-school activities, ideas for activities or programs that should be available, or anything else on the subject.

Two members of the Santee Moms Council discuss the issue below, please join in and leave a comment:

Jodi

How many of us can recall growing up in a neighborhood in which we all looked out for one another? It was a safe environment for children, teens, and seniors and no one was offended when Mrs. Jones on the corner reprimanded your teenager for tossing his can on the ground or using profanity. Those are the ideals of the past, but the goals of keeping our children safe existed then and still exist today.

Our tweens and teens face the challenge of keeping busy and we’ve all heard, “Why can’t you find something productive to do.”  We as a community need to come together to help shape our future by empowering our youth to make the right choices (and fulfill their community service requirements), which result in the desired effect of community strengthening. 

Here are a few ideas as to how we as a community can include our youth without a brick and mortar youth center, the need to expend additional funds to create things to keep them busy (out of trouble), or the need for an additional layer of supervision:

• Santee is full of retirees who could use a hand with yard work, in the garage, painting, cleaning.
• Working and stay at home moms could use a break and tween and teen babysitters/mothers’ helpers are a great fit.
• Younger children need role models and tutors, and what better tutor to teach a third grader algebra than a tween/teen who recently learned the subject himself.
• Walk a dog or two.

Kathy

While we have before and after school childcare programs available for ages 5 -12, what is available for ages 13-17?  Do teenagers really require adult supervision?

Absolutely, regardless of their maturity, the law states that your minor child is your responsibility and their actions, are also your responsibility. Unfortunately, for the past 20+ years, it has been necessary for both parents to be employed for the most part. 

When your teenager leaves school at the end of the day, what is their routine?  Does your teenager have chores assigned to them? Does your teenager complete their assigned homework, without your encouragement? Does your teenager have a part time job after school?  Does your teenager participate in team sports, such as baseball, soccer, football, basketball, etc?  Does your teenager go home and play video games or roam the internet?  Does your teenager get bored and say there’s nothing to do?

A bored teenager, just like a bored child, can become mischievous.  Our youths require structure and protection. The teen years can be exciting but can also be challenging. It is an age that is ready to test the waters of life. While we want our teenagers to experience life and learn lessons of life, we must steer them in the right direction. 

I suggest to take the time and sit down with your teenager and discuss what their interest are in life and what their goals are. In today’s busy schedule, we tend to think our teenagers are responsible enough to make wise decisions. While that may be true, it may not, and the consequences can be extreme. 

If you find your teenagers have free time after school, homework and their chores, suggest ways for them to use it wisely, in ways that will hold their interest. If your teenager has interest in dancing, enroll them in . Santee Recreation Center and have dance classes, and they usually will work on a sliding scale for those on a tight budget. 

If your teenager has interest in animals, have them volunteer for a local vet or one of the many horse ranches in Lakeside and El Cajon. If your teenager and their friends have interest in automotives, get together with the parents and buy a rundown car for them to rebuild, remodel, sell and share the profits.  If your teenager is interested in law enforcement, check into the cadet program at the .  Whatever, your teenager’s interest is, help them get connected with it. 

As far as night life in Santee for Teens, there really much, unfortunately.  There is a Billiards place on Cuyumaca, has country western dancing some nights for families and teens, till 10:00 p.m.  There is a in Santee where teens can get together and play games or just sit around and chat. The hours are 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., so this really isn’t a night time activity. 

I would love to see the City of Santee, develop a Teen Park, for things like paintball, bike and motocross tracks, several basketball courts for competition playing, RC racing tracks, Cheerleading Group for those who didn’t have the opportunity to be on the high school squad, Arts and Crafts, etc.  I know it would take money to build this Teen Park but we have plenty of land in Santee for it and I do believe that we would be able to get enough Adult Leads or Supervisory volunteers. This Center would be a place for our Teens to go there, socialize, have fun, exercise, build self esteem, be safe and hopefully would be free of cost, with enough donations.

I am not sure of the exact solution, but I do know that the Santee Community needs to take a serious interest in our teens and provide safe but interesting ways to keep them active.