Summer Vacations give Youth Time to Explore

Summer vacations from school can be challenging for families. With so many households now having both parents (or the only parent) working during the day, and many holding a second job in the evening, youth are often left to fend for themselves and this can present a multitude of potential problems.

School has ended and summer vacation has begun. It’s a good time to engage youth in projects that they might not be able to participate in during a busy school year.  Church groups, youth groups, even some schools all have activities planned for youth that need to become involved in summer activities and need the supervision of adults while parents may not be home to care and interact with them. Summer is a great time to encourage youth to participate in creative activities such as the arts, that guitar or piano lesson they have longed to take and now have time for, and even a writing class or two that can be very stimulating for the one that likes to tell stories.

On the flip side, the detriment for those that are left to themselves is that there are some in today’s culture that are waiting for an opportunity to prey upon their vulnerability and lonesome state. Human traffickers look for any opening they can during seasons of opportunity and the summer months are just that. Some extra precautions to take include but are not limited to going to the mall in groups, place extra fire wall protections on home computers (the #1 playground for traffickers and manipulators), plan family and group events as often as possible, put an emergency phone number in speed dial on your youth’s cell phone, know where children are at all times and who they are with, and above all keep open communication with them.

Parents, guardians, even educators that volunteer with youth have a  special challenge during June, July, and August. Become educated and work to inspire youth to take advantage of their time off to be productive in activities that they would love to engage in if given that open door. If we don’t, someone else will.