What’s Up for the Fall?

By: Ivana Pejakovic, B.Sc., MA

The return of fall offers teens many fall-time activities, including many opportunities for sports, fitness (e.g., martial arts), the arts (visual and performing), social activities and more. What will your teen participate in this fall?

I recommend signing your teens up for programs of their choice. Sometimes parents sign their children up for programs they would choose for themselves, or based on what the parent thinks is good for their child. A parent cannot re-live his or her youth through their teens’ life and trying to do so may only lead to dissatisfaction for the teen and disappointment for the parent.

Participating in fall activities is your teen’s opportunity to figure out what interests them. Giving them the ability to choose their own activities is empowering, and it allows them to participate in what is truly fulfilling to them. With the pressures of school and life in general, this could be just the activity that brings them serenity, inspiration, and joy. These are necessary feelings for healthy development. Picking out the activities you think your teen should participate in can induce anger, stress and can make him or her feel powerless. In addition, forcing teens to participate in unwanted programs or sports will lower their self-esteem, confidence, and happiness levels.

There are many other benefits to participating in extracurricular activities, including the opportunity for your teens to build on her natural talents, to socialize, and to grow psychologically. Participation in extracurricular activities provides an opportunity to meet new friends, develop new skills such as teamwork and leadership, and to form new experiences that can stimulate new thinking, open-mindedness, and can enhance the quality of his or her life. Allowing your teens to participate in their preferred activities can also stimulate them to perform better in school. With a well-balanced lifestyle and needs that are met, it is easier to do well in different areas of life.

This fall, seriously consider discussing with your teen what activities interest him or her and encourage him or her to sign up for a recreational activity. If you are tight with money, consider signing your teens up for free programs organized by the community (check out meetup.com for such opportunities). If there aren’t any groups around that suit your teen’s interests, consider organizing a group yourself. This could be a great opportunity for you to network with other parents.

Interested in more information about the benefits of teen coaching? Visit www.lifecoachintoronto.com and learn how Toronto Life Coach and Mentor, Ivana Pejakovic, can help motivate you and your teens to achieve their goals.

Teens are a very special part of our society. They are our tomorrow! Today,
it is up to us to inspire them to be all that they can be!