When school is out things change. Children have time on their hands. Plan now for summer employment and activities. Your biggest challenge will be keeping your adolescents occupied and happy. Summer jobs makes for health and happiness. Young people need to learn responsibility, promptness, independence, and initiative. And useful employment is the best way to help youth development a healthy sense of self-worth.

Oregon provides many opportunities for employment for adolescents. The good jobs go fast. Consider berry picking, fruit harvesting, grocery bagging, etc. The employment of minors from ages 14 to 18 is heavily regulated. For complete information check with your local Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). (In Oregon: http://egov.oregon.gov/BOLI/WHD/index.shtml; then "Child Labor"; then "Minors in Workplace FAQs" for "Employment of Minors Q & A," or call 503-731-4074.)

If jobs are unavailable or your children are too young, you can be your child's first employer. Contract with them for special jobs. (Regular chores accepted--every child should have regular chores without pay as part of the family firm.) Paint fences, clean windows, help put in a garden, wash cars, trim flower beds, etc. Pay a reasonable wage. Encourage them to work toward goals: tuition, clothing, vacation, etc. Allow part of their income for discretionary spending, (toys, books, videos, etc.) and help them learn the principles of Christian stewardship: tithing and Sabbath school offerings. Share God's secret of prosperity--which is being generous with the assets He has given us.

And, of course, free time is important. Encourage hobbies, projects such as 4-H and reading. (Discourage television watching. It is usually a waste of time, a destroyer of initiative.) Get acquainted with your local library. Encourage a reading program.

Volunteer work is also fun. Get involved in environmental programs. Volunteer at a local hospital or help out in senior citizen programs.

Younger children need special guidance. Chores, of course, are an important part of child-training. But remember that "play is the child's work." This begins a life-long process of learning. Encourage pre-schoolers to "invent" their own play games. Use raw materials that are around the house such as, pots, pans, tables, chairs, sand boxes, and ropes. Play is the way children learn to refine motor development and movement skills.

A sandbox provides a wonderful outlet for children. They will spend hours building sand castles and playing with their little trucks, earth moving equipment, etc. Be sure to spend time each day playing with your children and just having fun. This is vital to the bonding process. Blowing bubbles is great fun. Sand and water provide marvelous play opportunities. About 50 percent of the child's learning comes through play.

Here are a few suggesting from Jane S. MacKay for keeping kids busy and happy.

1. Use rolled up pairs of socks as balls and teach them how to juggle --first with two and then with three.
2. Make a house out of a big cardboard box. You may decorate the inside with paint or markers.
3. Help them make some cookies and visit an elderly neighbor and chat a while.
4. Help them start a journal or a diary writing their thoughts, dreams, and ideas.
5. Plan an indoor parade. Get dressed up and provide drums, horns, batons, etc.
6. Help them put together a family memory book.
7. Camp out right in the dining room. Just drape a large blanket over the table. Get out your sleeping bags and a snack.
8. Have an art show.
9. Take a walk with a paper sack. Fill it with whatever you can find that reminds you of God's love and wisdom. (Taken from Woman's Day, Jan 12, 1993)

Kids love to garden. Just give them a small plot of ground about 6 by 8 feet. Then take them shopping for seeds. Show them pictures of full grown carrots. "Tom and Sherrie, would you like to raise carrots like these? You can sell them and make some money. I'll be your first customer," said Mom. So they bought the seeds and fertilizer. The children were delighted! Of course, there was spading, raking, and smoothing of soil. Dad explained every step. As they worked together, they enjoyed talking about God's garden--Eden. They planted some flower seeds, too. Family gardening teaches responsibility and provides exercise.

"Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth" (Prov. 10:4, NIV).

"Parents should devise ways and means for keeping their children usefully busy…Allow them to help you in every way they can, and show them that you appreciate their help… Teach your children to be useful, to bear burdens according to their years; then the habit of laboring will become second nature to them, and useful work will never seem like a drudgery." Child Guidance, pp. 126, 122.