Coping with bored teens

It's hot, it's supposed to be Autumn yet the temperature has reached the magic 40 degrees, and will stay there for the next 3 or so days. Thanks in part to the High Pressure system sitting in the Bight (southern part of Australia - the bit that looks like a shark has taken a chunk out of the bottom of the country) and the hot winds from the East which will keep the HIgh stuck there.

It's also a bank holiday today - which is both a good and a bad thing. Good because the kids can stay home withut getting fried going to and from school, bad because they are bored. Every suggestion has been treated with derision, so much so - the two girls (my daughter has a freind over) walked round to the shops (about 20 minutes) to buy cake mix - so they could do some baking. Why when we have the ingredients at home is beyond me, but - it has kept them amused for the past hour and a bit. But unfortunately my house is now the same temperature as the oven.

Thankfully the forecasters tell us that it will drop to a mere 35 by Thursday and then dip under the 30 on Friday. But there are positives. The local kids are not outside causing havoc, the cats are sleeping and the kids are going through the DVD collection, so I get time to write....there are always positives no matter what the situation.

So how do you cope with bored teens? Easy, let them get on with it. Offer them suggestions and alternatives by all means, but like the rest of us, they will only do what they want to do, especially if their brains are being fried.

Comments

[Henry Tan]

I've a 15 years ago son. Actually he is quite an intelligence boy, but I think he is quite lazy. He has been doing badly in his school exam. I suspect it is due to lack self-motivation. I've tried to motivate him by words of encouragement. I've also tried teaching him to have the right attitude in study, memorizing skills and some time also threaten him with punishment. Nothing seem to work, his result has gotten worst. What shall I do? Any tip?