You should encourage your teen to participate in any sports or extracurricular activities that he is interested in, including church youth groups, recreational clubs, hobbies, volunteer work, working for a political campaign or cause, theater, musical performance, or scouting. If your teen doesn't seem interested in much of anything, try to nudge him toward any activity that you think might pique his interest.

When your teenager is struggling to keep up in school, you may feel that he needs more time to study. If you see that his outside activities are taking up a large amount of his time and energy, you may wish to see him drop some activities or cut back on his participation. It is important for you to help your teen to find balance in his life, but it is vital that your teen is able to participate in activities where he has a sense of fulfillment and self-worth. If your teen is struggling to keep up in school, the message he is getting with his grade reports is that he must not be very smart; and over time he is likely to get discouraged. Teens who are under stress or have a poor self-image are at risk for depression, which can lead to alcohol and drug abuse, risk-taking behavior, sexual promiscuity, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts or attempts. Thus, it is important for your teen to have the opportunity to participate in activities that keep him active and engaged.

Your teen's activities can also be a powerful motivating force that will lead to her putting more effort into her schoolwork. If participation in a school sport or club requires that your teen maintain a minimum grade point average, she will have a motivation to work harder even if she has decided that she doesn't plan on attending college. If the sport or activity is something that she could continue in college, then participation may itself be an incentive to aspire to a college education. Activities outside of school may bring your teen in contact with peers or adults who become her mentors or role models.

If your teen discovers an endeavor that he feels passionately about, or if he seems particularly talented in a sport or visual or performing arts, do everything you can to support and encourage this activity. You will still want to help your teen maintain balance in his life; if the outside endeavor becomes all-consuming or stressful, it may be time to place some limits. However, your teen's passion will be the fuel that will inspire him to succeed in life, and it may also plant the seeds of a future career.