Can you feel the excitement in the air? Students are writing exams, the sun is coming out more and more, and the summer vacation is looming. If you're like most parents you are both excited and apprehensive about what the summer may bring. On the one hand you have family outings and bbq's to look forward to, and on the other hand you have the "I'm bored" comments coming.

So what can you as a parent do to encourage a great summer of character development and growth in responsibility? Here are a few quick suggestions to get your creative parental juices flowing:

1. Encourage part-time work for your students. Part-time work is often easier for students to find and commit to because they will still have a significant part of their summer to be with friends and they will also learn something about the workforce at the same time. Another great advantage to this idea is that you can then coach your teen on how to use their funds responsibly. Remember..........they need to own their financial decisions, so allow them some freedom even if you don't necessarily agree with the purchase.

2. Summer Camp Service. Summer camps are wonderful places to encourage your teens development. Teens that work at camp for the summer grow in their relationship with Christ, as well they learn what it means to be part of a ministering team. They learn the value of caring for others in a way that they may not have access to at home. A key thing to remember here is that many if not most come home expecting the same level of spiritual involvement and excitement that they had at camp.