The Stanly News and Press (Albemarle, NC)

Features

January 28, 2013

Great ways for teens to stay busy

A lot of the reason today’s teens engage in certain behaviors that previous generations didn’t, is that they’re exposed to technology which provides an infinite amount of information through just one click.

And some of that information is harmful to young eyes and tends to rob teens of their innocence.

What are the ways to combat some of those negative influences that your child will inevitably face?

Many parents will say that keeping a kid out of trouble is all about providing him or her with options--activities to do, positive places to go and other kids to be around who want to stay away from trouble.

A positive way to accomplish this is by allowing teens to volunteer or get involved with a website or company that creates programs around social change.

DoSomething.org is one of those sites, as the New York-based organization creates a new national campaign just about every week, and provides teenagers with the resources to put together events, drives or anything else that will further the campaign's initiative and bring about positive change.

The different selections of campaigns seem to cover just about every social need in our communities like teen bullying, homelessness, poverty, kids dropping out of school and a host of other projects.

There’s a chance that you might have seen an ad about DoSomething.org  or caught one of their online videos, as a bunch of A-list celebrities including everyone from Nick Cannon to R&B singer Usher have shot commercials for the organization while encouraging young people to get involved.

And to show just how popular Do Something has become in recent years, take a look at these statistics:

In the last year, over 2 million people joined the organization, and its organizers say about 7,000 additional people join each day. And the impact that young people are having in communities across the U.S. is evident in the statistics given by the organization on its website.

Having teenagers involve themselves in places like Do Something, whether they’re well behaved or not, is great not only for teaching responsibility, but it also lets them know that even at their age they can contribute to good causes and make a direct impact at bettering their surroundings.

Also, teens can receive monetary incentives for putting together a campaign in their town and also boost their college resumes and get scholarships through the organization if they volunteer.

Another organization that links teenagers up with community service and volunteering is VolunteenNation.com, where users can do a quick search to find out where in their area they can volunteer and help out.

For example, I plugged in my name and zip code and I was immediately linked to over 20 businesses, schools and agencies that need help in a variety of areas. And although all age groups can join Volunteen Nation, the organization encourages young people to get involved, hence the name of the organization and website.

The way the site functions, it makes it easy for people to get in on the front-end of a new campaign, and with Volunteen being spread out all over the United States, it will be extremely hard for a teenager not to find something that they’re interested in and can lend their talents to.

The organization also provides paid internships and scholarships for young people that choose to volunteer, which is yet another reason it’s a good idea to lead your child to volunteerism through a reputable establishment like Volunteen Nation.

And just like Do Something, Volunteen provides the necessary tools for teens to start a campaign in their community and says it has over 1,500 lesson plans that will help train and prepare young people for volunteer work.

Because all in all, there are way more young people who are up to complete good than young people who are up to complete bad, and anyone that has worked with kids knows an adult's influence is tremendous, even if the child doesn’t admit it or chooses not to act like it.

So sometimes all it takes is a little nudge to push teens and young people on to the proper path, and there are few better paths for a young person to be on than the path of volunteering.

For one, it’ll teach them valuable skills for adulthood, and two--it’ll keep them out of trouble, well, at least you hope.

Story provided by ConsumerAffairs.

Text Only
Features
  • Almond to tell story of the lynching of Alec Whitley

    The Stanly County Museum has invited David D. Almond Jr. to tell the true story of the only man ever to be hanged in Stanly County.

    June 18, 2013

  • baby-girl-daughter.jpg Is it really possible to not know you're pregnant until the birth?

    Trish Staine had just finished running 10 miles while training for a half-marathon when she started going into labor. The mother of three said she hadn't gained any weight or felt any fetal movement in the months before and had no idea she was pregnant. Is it possible for a woman not to know she's pregnant before she starts giving birth?

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Screen shot 2013-06-14 at 4.02.27 PM.png VIDEO: You won't believe how much Google interns are paid

    Many interns work for free. Not at Google.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • DA27199.jpeg What would your grocery store look like without bees?

    One of every three bites of food comes from plants pollinated by honeybees and other pollinators. Major declines in bee populations threaten the availability of many ingredients.

    June 13, 2013 1 Photo

  • iStock_000008462647XSmall.jpg When did sunscreen get so complicated?

    Summer is almost here, which means it's time for picnics, pool parties, and every parent's favorite pastime: chasing after your kid with the sunscreen bottle. But what's arguably more arduous than slathering lotion onto a screaming 3-year-old is choosing the right sunscreen.

    June 12, 2013 1 Photo

  • When is a nightgown appropriate in the office?

    Who among us hasn't wondered if pajama pants are OK in the winter? What about clingy, see-through blouses for spring? And now that it's almost summer, what about nightgowns? Specifically, what about midthigh-length, straw-colored cotton nightgowns at work?

    June 11, 2013

  • FILM SUMMER62.jpg Predicting the summer movie sleeper hit

    Every year since, filmgoers and critics try to predict what the next "Little Miss Sunshine" will be.

    June 9, 2013 2 Photos

  • Father's Day gifts: Think outside the box

    Father's Day falls on Sunday, June 16, and rather than going with the typical gifts of ties, socks and work shirts, try to get a little creative this year.

    June 7, 2013

  • g000258000000000000dfd074b1298842f94fc0b3dea79b4efade3389ae.jpg New Acura RLX can steer, brake, accelerate on its own

    The 2014 RLX, Acura's new flagship sedan that can, in the right situations, completely drive itself — braking, accelerating and even steering without human input.

    June 7, 2013 1 Photo

  • heart.jpg 4 simple lifestyle changes can protect your heart

    According to a multi-center study led by Johns Hopkins researchers, there is a significant link between lifestyle factors and heart health, adding even more evidence in support of regular exercise, eating a Mediterranean-style diet, keeping a normal weight and -- most importantly -- not smoking.

    June 6, 2013 1 Photo

House Ads
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Featured Comment
Twitter Updates
Follow me on Twitter
Seasonal Content
Poll

Will you participate in March Madness?

Yes I watch the games and complete a bracket.
Yes I complete a bracket.
No
     View Results