High School

Day 1

Encourage creative thinking by challenging your family to avoid three common words (such as “like,” “do,” and “you”) for a whole day. Everyone should come up with new ways to phrase things. For instance, saying, “I’m fond of peppermint,” instead of “I like peppermint.”

Day 2

Did you know your child is never too old to tuck in at night? In fact, a quiet conversation at bedtime is a great way to connect each day and give your teen some undivided attention. For best results, set aside 10–20 minutes, and keep the conversation light.

Day 3

Reading books from other times and places exposes your teen to a wealth of new vocabulary. Start a family challenge to read novels from different historical periods (Roaring Twenties, Cold War). Or try to read a book set in every continent.

Day 4

Suggest that your teens write step-by-step instructions for hands-on projects and share them online at www.instructables.com. They should write clearly and include a photo of each step. Then they can browse the site for new projects to try.

Day 5

Tease family members’ brains with this math puzzle. Assign a cent value to each letter of the alphabet: A = 1 cent, B = 2 cents, and so on. Then, compete to find a word with a total value closest to $1. Or see who can find a word with the highest value.

Day 6

Playing online games and apps may involve connecting with people you’ve never met in person. Remind your teen to stay safe by never exchanging personal information or photos. Your child should also choose a screen name that doesn’t reveal identifying details.

Day 7

Play the “Who am I?” game. Have each player secretly write the name of a famous person on an index card and tape it to another player’s back. Take turns asking questions and trying to be the first to guess who is on your card.