With summer just around the corner and schools set to break up for the six-week summer holiday, many parent’s thoughts are beginning to turn towards how to keep their teenagers occupied. But for wealthy families, it’s not just about ensuring their time is filled while parents are at work, but about ensuring it’s used wisely – and that as well as having plenty of fun, they come out of it with new skills and experiences that will set them up for the future.
Whilst spending time with friends in the great outdoors is an excellent way to build social skills and independence, taking up hobbies like sailing, horse-riding and archery can help to boost confidence and self-belief – and anything that doesn’t involves sitting around in front of a screen will serve them far better than watching TV, scrolling social media and playing games online ever could.
So, if money is no object and you want to know that your teenager’s time is being well-spent this summer, then here are some great ideas to set them off on the right track. Each of these activities promises hours of enjoyment, and they’ll come out of them with something to show for it at the end of the holidays, too.
Glamping
Allowing your teens to spend a night or two away from home with friends might feel like a daunting prospect, but it can actually do them the world of good, as they’ll have to know the basics about how to look after themselves and do simple tasks like preparing meals and learning to use various types of indoor and outdoor equipment without help. If your offspring will be going to university, then these are key skills they will need to see them through the first year – and most teenagers will have the time of their lives spending some time away with friends.
The children of wealthy families will likely be glamping, which means you can relax and enjoy peace of mind that they’ll be protected from the elements and sleeping in a warm, comfortable bed, with all the mod-cons and little luxuries they need to make the break a success. Many of the yurts and teepees you’ll find at the UK’s best glamping sites come with standout facilities like hot tubs and water sports equipment, too, so you can be sure they won’t have a chance to get bored. For younger teenagers, you might wish to have an adult accompany them, but those aged 16 and over should have no trouble going unaccompanied.
Language summer camp
If you want to up-level your teen’s summer experience even further and give them the adventure of a lifetime whilst ensuring they learn a new skill along the way, there are a host of different summer camps around the world that offer up a wide variety of exciting activities as part of the package.
At Camp Suisse in Switzerland, they’ll get to spend their six weeks living in breath-taking natural surroundings and make great friends whilst taking advantage of at least 15 hours of intensive language tuition each week – so, if they’re planning on heading off on a gap year once they’ve finished high school then this could be a great way to start getting them prepared.
It’s not all hard work, as Camp Suisse also includes a packed programme of outdoor activities, sports coaching and five full-day excursions to some of Switzerland’s most spectacular hot spots – so it really is the best of both worlds.
Sailing lessons
It’s not uncommon for affluent families to have an affinity with sailing, particularly if you happen to own your very own luxury boat or yacht. But if your children have so far just been passengers when out at sea and you don’t have time to show them the ropes this summer, then enrolling them on a course of sailing lessons is a great way to keep them busy whilst learning something new.
Knowing how to handle a boat will give them a sense of independence and the kind of confidence boost many teens are in need of at such an age – plus, next time you head off on a family sailing holiday to the Amalfi Coast or the French Riviera, you can sit back, relax, and let them get stuck into the hard work, whilst having plenty of fun doing so.
Horse riding
Another beloved pastime of the rich, horse riding is an excellent skill to have and will provide hours of fun and entertainment throughout the summer, when the weather is good enough to head out on long hacks in the countryside and get away from the rigidity of lessons taught solely in the ring.
Like sailing, horse riding is a great way to build confidence, and if you’re willing to buy them their very own horse for the purpose then there’s the added benefit of your teenagers having the chance to learn how to take care of such an animal – from grooming to mucking out the stables – and learn what it means to take responsibility for something, just as parents do for their children.
