Lakewood Youth Summer Activities - "To Do or Not To Do?"

[Gary Rice]

Now, if only there were a BanJO together....

Seriously, the above events provide great opportunities for Lakewoodites to move and groove to some great tunes.

Band 2gether, particularly, provides a wonderful opportunity for young musicians to learn and experience the ins-and-outs of the music world.

Also, regarding the Lakewood Hometown Band, many, if not virtually ALL of the band's performers also play at other first-rate venues about town. I believe that they represent some of the absolute best professional musicians available, and are well worth your listening time.

Back to the banjo...

[marklingm]

One more thing for youth to do:

Cleveland Artists Foundation

Just click here.

[marklingm]

Apparently there are some who still believe that:

Even now at Madison Park, we have lots of kids 14 -18 with nothing to do.

Really?

If you see these kids at Madison Park, please:

Have the kids look at the summer recreation guide. There is plenty to do.

Or ... simply direct them to this thread.

[Lynn Farris]

There are many things that children can do - but the 14 - 18 year old crowd are a little tough as they don't want to be seen as being supervised and really need to be somewhat. Some of the summer activities like the H2O camp are for junior high students with only a few HS students serving as counselors.

I think it would be nice for someone - maybe the PR person at the school to send a list of summer activities home - maybe it could be in the Adult Education pamplet and list activities for the teens. For example you suggested the Lakewood Animal Shelter - say I have a teen who really loves dogs and cats - who do I call? what do they do? etc. I didn't know kids volunteered there - but it makes sense.

Gary, I was brought up by the opposite mother and most likely it rubbed off on me. I was always taught that the "Devil finds work for idle hands". While I think I have terrific children - I found the fastest way for them to find worthwhile summer activities was to find jobs for them around the house. It seemed like working teaching swimming, lifeguarding or teaching sailing always seemed like a better idea than cleaning Seems my friends often had the same experience with their children.

I really hope they do open the basketball courts back up. Everyone in Northern Ohio is talking Basketball with James being such a hero. Sports are great for kids - burns up all that excess energy and teaches many life lessons.

[Gary Rice]

Lynn,

I'm not so certain that we had mothers who would be considered "opposites" at all.

The inculcation of personal responsibility for their children seems to have been at the heart of both of those mothers. I took the trash out too.

Whether with group, or with self-guided personal pursuits, the application of personal responsibility never fails to be present as a paramount goal of responsible parenting.

Let's hear it for those mothers of ours, however we were raised, as well as for different styles of parenting! There had to be some reason, after all, that children didn't come with instructions.

There is probably also a reason that children are not returnable either, but that's for another discussion.

Back to the banjo...

[Missy Limkemann]

Right now I have a nice 14 year old helping me out. He is going to help out Patrick with the summer reading (that thanks to Mr. Markling because I did not know Pat needed to do this for middle school...*grumbles about special ed*) and is going to help the rescue with walking dogs and helping out this summer for some of my events. WHOO HOOO!!!!!!!! I was happy to hear that he needed something to do.

Back when I was a kid during the summer, my mom purchased a pass to the local pool and that is what I did every single day. A group of us girls would go hit the pool, the local ice cream shop and just have fun. Some days we would hike up to the mall and just window shop. Mainly I rode my bike every where. I loved to have my bike. But yes there were days that I was bored or what not, but my mom also was one to say "summer is your time to relax...before you know it, you will be an adult with a real job and real bills" blah blah blah....Makes me wish I would have listened to her. LOL.

[Charlie Page]

I did the pool pass as well. I was there when I wasn't playing basketball or baseball with my friends.

It sure would be nice to have some outdoor hoops in this town

[marklingm]

For 14 year olds, there is a nice article on the front page regarding H2O. Just click here.

[Charlie Page]

I believe it’s in the City’s best interest to offer some kind of activities (and they do...lots), however, the responsibility should ultimately rest with the parents and youths. It shouldn’t be abdicated to the City.

For those 2 voters who believe it is the City’s responsibility to keep the youth occupied rather than the parents or youths themselves, I’m curious as to your reasoning. Can you offer your thoughts on this?

I ask this to promote discussion rather than to criticize.

[marklingm]

The summer recreation guide can be obtained by clicking here.

Some additional youth recreational opportunity can be obtained by clicking here.