Michelle Icard: 5 ways to bust summer boredom for middle schoolers

Sound familiar? Summers are tough with a middle schooler. They feel caught in no man's land: too old to play like a little kid and too young to get a job like a teenager. How do you save everyone's sanity? Here are five quick tips for busting summer boredom:

Kids need to rest and in fact, they need to feel bored in order to tap into the creative, problem solving parts of their brains. They also needs structure. How do you accommodate both? Try alternating days during the week like an A/B schedule. Some days can follow a schedule with planned activities, a chore chart, or other goals. Other days should be lazy and carefree. Your kids will relish their freedom on the days they have off and be less inclined to complain about boredom.

Summer Fun Guide: 50+ ways to keep kids busy this summer in Raleigh, Durham, beyond

Starting a business is one way tweens extend play into the middle school years. I know kids who've hosted summer camps for little ones in the neighborhood, taught art lessons, offered pet or lawn care, cleaned out attics, or worked as mother's helpers. From planning to marketing to execution, this is a great way to stay busy and make some extra cash.

How cool would it be to go back to school knowing how to do parkour, or play some chords on the guitar, or say a few things in a new language? Sign up for a lesson or make a plan to learn online. Summer is the perfect time to try a new interest.

By middle school, kids are eager to start learning how to move freely in the world without your supervision. Make a plan to start small and branch out throughout the summer. Perhaps they start by doing the grocery shopping for you while you run other errands. Then they advance to riding their bike to the shopping center. Then they go to lunch at the mall with friends. Then they're riding the bus uptown to go to a museum with a friend. Think about what works for where you live and start some independent exploring!