Teens/Tweens

Day or sleepaway summer camp is the perfect place for teens to transition to the world of the employed. The paycheck is nice, but being a summer camp counselor has other rewards, too.

Whether your teen is an artist, an athlete or an animal lover, they can help make the St. Louis region the best it can be with their time and talents, and gain valuable experience in the process.

Whether they’re stocking a food bank, walking dogs or planting a neighborhood garden, every hour a teen spends volunteering makes a positive impact not only on the community they serve, but on their future as well. A study from Child Trends found that teens who volunteer are more likely to build a deeper respect for others, boost their work ethic, and resist drugs and alcohol. We’ve stepped up our original 15 summer volunteer opportunity list with 10 more ways your teen can show the world their caring heart and giving spirit.

Talented teens from across the region can strut their stuff on stage and get one step closer to stardom. Now through Dec. 1, any local high schooler with a penchant for performing can apply for the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation’s St. Louis Teen Talent Competition, culminating in a live event on the Fox stage in April.

Never mind that I’ve read all the parenting books. Or the fact that I was once a preteen girl myself. But girls this age can be impossible to relate to - even if you’re a relatively hip and cool mom like me (at least in my own head).

On those days when my daughter’s defiant sighs make my head explode all over the living room or the nights when my yelling is the least helpful way to deal with her stubbornness, it would be ideal to have an expert on hand to guide us both through the rocky times.

For many kids, the lazy days of summer represent freedom from school, learning and responsibility. But for teens, summer vacation also represents an opportunity to explore new interests, gain real world skills and forge important connections.  

Recently, with an unexpected hour to spare, I took my seven-year-old to the art museum for a little cultural immersion and 60 minutes of free entertainment.

When we came home, my husband asked her about her first museum experience.