DH and I recently acquired our 13yo nephew for at least a year. He moved in on Friday. It's been interesting adjusting to life with a teenager and a 9 month old but so far so good. He's a great kid who has been in a pretty bad family situation so we're happy to have him.
If anyone has any suggestions for things to do with a young teen before school starts, please let me know. He's joining the FFX county football league but I think the practices are mainly in the evening (and it doesn't start for another 2.5 weeks). I'm basically going to be at home with DS and DN for the next 7 weeks so I need to fill the time.
Re: I just had another baby! (Ok, not quite..)
does he know how much fun it is to clean, do laundry and cook?
if he's into working out, he can join a gym, go to the pool often, check out the school he'll be going to. Libraries often have activities for kids his age
We have a small pool in the back, it's more for DS though (it's not quite a kiddie pool and not quite a regular pool). Our neighbors across the street have a nice pool and DN is welcome in it, so we'll probably take advantage of that.
I don't know if you have the resources, or even if there are still spaces available, but perhaps sign him up for a week of summer camp that children from his new school go to (you might have to call the school and ask what is popular). I think in middle school there are sport camps that kids do pre-season as well. I know all my brothers did for soccer. If he's into football it might be fun to take him to one of the open Redskins practices. Sports in general, a minor baseball game, or Nats/Orioles. It would be a lot of fun to go to one of the Fairfax County water parks with someone else his age if you have a neighbor with young teens.
Good luck, you are a wonderful person for being so generous with your time and love.
I think you are a hero. Period.
Sorry no brilliant ideas for you.
This. The Smithsonian, I think, has some older kids (like teen) camps, maybe something like that. What are his interests?
He likes sports, history, animals movies, and all things video game.
I think maybe a trip to the Natural History museum would be cool. I just feel like so much of this stuff should probably be done on the weekend because do I really want to navigate museums/downtown with my 9 month old in tow? I've never even taken DS on the metro yet.
We have season passes to Reston Zoo so there will definitely be more trips planned there!