Helping Students Manage Holiday Stress
by Julie Hersum
7 Tips for Scheduling Free Time for Teens
byEmily Ewen
4 min to read
When the school week is complete, it can be tempting to forget about the books and lessons until the following Monday. But while your students need time to rest and recuperate after a week of learning, the weekends can also be time to work toward new goals and prioritize learning outside of the classroom.
Enter: The Free Time Schedule. By helping students map out their free time, you can give them the freedom to relax while also instilling the importance of using your time wisely.
Let’s explore some ideas for making the most of your student’s free time.
7 Tips for Productivity Outside the Classroom
1. Complete chores together
Assigning home tasks and chores for your kids can help them understand the importance of taking care of their space and belongings as well as being part of a team. When scheduling your free time, you can choose to assign each family member a certain chore or rotate who does what each week. Start with simple chores like cleaning or feeding pets and move to more advanced tasks like laundry and cooking as your student gets older. Set aside a few hours each week when everyone works on their individual chores. Put on some upbeat music to make it fun, and you can even make a game out of it to see who can finish their list the fastest.
2. Set a reading goal for outside school hours
Kids who read for fun show fewer signs of stress, improved attention, and fewer behavioral problems, according to recent studies. Make sure your child has the opportunity to read books that interest them outside of what’s already assigned for school. Visit the library or your local bookstore to browse for fun and then set a simple goal of reading for 15 or more minutes each day during your teen’s free time.
3. Inspire a creative hobby
Hobbies help build your child’s personal identity and sense of accomplishment—and there are limitless activities for them to explore in their free time schedule. Whether your child is interested in music, art, games, science, technology, or taking care of animals, the list can go on and on. Follow their lead and make sure they have time to explore the topics that interest them on the weekends.
4. Prioritize family time
Spending time as a family strengthens your bond with one another, so make sure to schedule your free time together. Whether you come together to watch a TV show or movie on Sunday night—or plan an entire day outing, family time helps you check in with your teen, connect with them, and really learn what’s going on in their lives. Plus, if you have multiple children, sibling time can help strengthen their relationships with each other for built-in support through the rest of their lives.
5. Encourage social time with friends
No matter your age, friends make life easier and more enjoyable. In your teen’s free time, encourage them to plan activities with friends or reach out and make new ones. The teen years can be tough with school and developmental transitions, and a core group of friends can help your child move more smoothly through this stage of life.
6. Get time away from screens
With such abundant access to screens and social media these days, it's important to set some boundaries when it comes to scheduling free time for your child. Too much screen time can interfere with schoolwork, social and family time, getting enough movement, and more—as well as cause attention and sleep problems. As a rule of thumb, aim for device-free mealtimes and put phones away at least an hour before bedtime.
7. Emphasize the importance of physical activity.
The CDC recommends middle and high school students get at least 60 minutes of physical movement per day—and there are so many ways to fit that block of time into free time for kids. Take a family walk, practice your child's favorite sport, play a game of hoops in the driveway, find a yoga video online—the possibilities are seemingly endless, and you may find something new to enjoy together.
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