Since schools are closed, our teenagers need learning opportunities and safe activities to keep them busy over the next few months. My top tip would be to get outside every day: to exercise, to have a picnic, or to read. If your family or teenager is planning on visiting a local park or hiking trail, make sure to adhere to the social distancing guidelines.
Here are a few ideas easy activities: 1. New Chores: Give your teenager new responsibilities around the house such as being in charge of a couple meals a week, taking care of the yard, or washing clothes. This is the perfect time to let them learn life skills, help their parents out, and prepare for life on their own in college. 2. Hikes: Since the weather is so nice and teenagers understand social distancing, families can enjoy hiking around our local parks and trails. There are so many places to walk around Richmond: The Potterfield Bridge, Belle Isle, Deep Run Park, The Capital Trail, Pony Pasture, Maymont, and Pocahontas State Park. 3. Bike Rides: Your family can rent bikes from local company River Side Cycling and cycle The Capital Trail. This trail is 51.7 miles of paved trail between Richmond and Williamsburg. Make sure to check out their IG or website for updates on the trail's conditions.
4. Geocaching: This is a real life treasure hunt that takes participants around their neighborhood, their city, and even historical landmarks. It's really easy: you create an account, find a geocache, and share your experience. Make sure to stay up to date on the geocaching blog.
5. The Libby App: This free app gives you access to audio books and ebooks. Once you download it, use your Henrico County Library Card or another local library card to log in.
6. Richmond Stories from Richmond Kids: The Valentine Museum launched this project as a platform for to share students' perspectives on this historic moment. Students in grages K-12 can submit audio, video, photographs, drawings and journal entries. The Valentine will share submissions on social media, and they may also be added to the Valentine’s collection and could be used in future exhibitions and programming.
7. Movies in a Foreign Language: Many of our streaming services have options to watch shows and movies in a different language. This would be an easy way to learn or reinforce the language your high schooler is learning in school. Start with the Disney movies like Finding Nemo and other classics!
8. Do Something for the Community: I've seen so many community members step up to help other out like a local business making masks for the elderly for free or college students "egging" the community with profits going to the local American Red Cross (they placed Easter eggs in people's yards for donations). Challenge your teenage to come up with a way to (safely) help others. If she loves photography, she could take "front porch pictures"* of the neighborhood for donations for her favorite charity (*at a safe distance). If he enjoys doing yard work, he could take care of neighbors' lawns for donations for his favorite charity. If your teenagers love to sing, they could orchestrate a zoom concert and stream it live.
A few local companies are also providing activities and learning opportunities that teenagers would enjoy. 1. River City Roll: River City Roll has DIY pizza kits and cupcake decorating. Making the pizzas have been really fun for our family - it's an activity and a meal! Bonus: if you share pictures on social media of your creations, you will be entered in a free bowling giveaway! 2. AR Workshop: AR Workshop offers DIY to-go kits for all ages. You can pick from letter tiles, bags, wooden signs, blankets and more on the website. Kits are available for pickup or drop off.
3. Lindsey Martin Photography: Local photography Lindsey Martin offers photography classes and mentoring opportunities. These would perfect for students who are passionate about photography or want to learn a new skill.
4. Flash Fiction Contest: Richmond City Library is hosting its first Flash Fiction Contest, and the contest begins on May 1. Teens can submit a story or poem, hang out with other writers, trade feedback and more. To participate, teens need to use Google Docs, Gmail, and Discord (all free). Stories should be no more than 1,500 words and poems should be no more than 500 words. Teens can only submit one piece, all work must be original (no plagiarism), and original work must be submitted to Nicole Byers. Submit to this email: rplflashfictioncontest.com .
So many nationwide professionals and companies are providing learning tools for teenagers. Here are a few that look really fun.
1. Kahn Academy: Kahn Academy is a nonprofit with the mission to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. There are free resources like schedules, games and lessons for children in Pre-K through high school. There are also two really interesting units on Disney's Imagineering and computer programming.
2. Hand Lettered Design: Lisa Funk's Hand Lettered Design has online courses in calligraphy, brush pens, and chalk. Lisa is offering 60% off with the code BRIGHTSIDE60.