Being a Teen in Plano – all the things you must know!

If you’ve just moved here or your kids are getting firmly into the Tween and Teen phase, you’ll have different questions and need different resources.

Our guide offers things to do: for free, things to do inside, things to do outside, hidden gems, and places to eat the Teens love.

We also cover how to get a Drivers’ Permit and a License, Drivers’ Ed, Insurance, Financial literacy, and spending cards, college and career-ready preparation, Volunteer opportunities, and part-time job opportunities.

More: Your Big Guide to Homecoming, Proms & Mums for Homecoming

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Things to do for Teens

3 things to do for teens for free

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3 things for teens to do inside

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3 things for Teens to do outside

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3 things for Teens to explore hidden gems

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3 places to eat that teens love

For teen activities, you can check our previous blog for a 18 things to do around Plano and neighboring areas for teens and also get these ideas for Summer Camps and options for Teens

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Here are a few basic things to get familiarized with when you have a teen in Plano:

Getting a Driving Permit and a Driver’s License

If you’re new to the State of Texas, you need to know that the process for Teens will differ compared to other States.

Here in Texas, getting a driver’s license involves completing a multi-step application process. 

Once they turn 15, they can get a permit to learn to drive.

Knowing which step you need to complete and at what point can help make this process easier, faster, and much less stressful for your teen and the family.

Texas Department of Public Safety got you covered as to how to apply for a driver’s license as a teen.

If you choose to teach them yourself, you’ll need to select the “parent-taught” option when you book an appointment for their driving test.

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You can also choose to book your Teen into Drivers Ed

What you need to register:

The paperwork is filled out both by the parent and the driver, providing a birth certificate, social security card, and proof of enrollment verification from the high school. 

There are different options for Drivers Ed. Here is an example for a 3-week class.

Week One is all class time Mon-Fri from 3-6 pm. On the Friday of that week, they can get their permit. 

In the last two weeks, you get one hour of class time and the rest is time to drive. The students will take home a list of the things they need to practice. The class could be from 3.30-7.30.

Then they take their driving test. They have to complete 30hrs of drive time and must be 16 to get their license. The cost is around $400.

What do Moms’ say?

Criteria to get their Learner’s Permit

For minors, obtaining a learner’s permit is the first step in the process that will eventually culminate with the issuing of a standard operator’s permit. In order to apply for a learner license, individuals must:

• Be at least 15 years old
• Have consent from a parent or legal guardian
• Completed the required classroom portion of the Texas parent taught drivers ed course
• Provide proof of a Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) form, high school diploma, or GED

If these criteria are satisfied, you will then take a written knowledge test covering a range of topics, including Texas traffic laws and safe driving techniques.

Upon completion of this test, you will be issued a learner license, which will allow you to gain behind-the-wheel experience while supervised by a licensed adult of at least 21 years of age.

This is your first step to getting your Texas driver’s license from the DMV.

Teens and Drivers Insurance

They need to meet the criteria before they can get their permit. Once they have done their driving hours and be sure to let your insurance company know your teen is driving with a permit.

This will not affect your coverage/rates until they get their actual license.

Depending on the insurance company, they might have a teen driver program. Some require them to watch videos. The insurance company will also get the ball rolling on this so that you are set for the discount when they do affect your rate.

Here are our hacks to beat the craziness that is the DMV. 

Here are some top tips: 

• book early, even if it’s more than 4 weeks ahead. You might not get an appointment for a few months
• Try Garland or Gainesville. These DMV locations are less busy and set up to efficiently process appointments quickly.

If you’re using a family car to take your teens out to learn, be sure to get 3 “student driver” magnets for our car. One on each front door and one for the year.

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Getting teens college and career ready

Plano ISD offers tons of programs to ensure that each student is ready for college or a start in a career.

They offer counseling with a mission to advocate, support and create a continuum of learning in social-emotional development, college, career, and military readiness, and academic success for ALL students.

Here are the advanced (placement) opportunities in the Plano ISD. In addition, they also offer College Board scholarships for students who can complete the college planning steps.

College counselors are available at every high school. Make use of these as much as possible and the resources they can provide and suggest.

At all charter and private schools, you should have access to a College Counselling service to help you with applications and decisions.

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Volunteer Opportunities for Teens

One of the best ways to keep your teens occupied during a vacation break is to enroll them in some volunteer work, not just because it can help strengthen their college applications but also because it can help shape the kind of person they become. 

Many high schools do ask freshmen and sophomores to start collecting volunteer hours as part of their school journey.

Plus, these activities can be enriching, especially when they are passionate about the cause and if they are doing it with some friends.

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The City of Plano VIP Teen Program Call: 972-941-7000	Volunteers in Plano (VIP) offer various volunteer options, but due to a lengthy waiting list, students apply early at age 12. They work in partnership with City staff, corporate and civic organizations, faith-based groups, schools, universities, and nonprofits organizations.
American Red Cross Youth  Address: 1450 Redbud Blvd, McKinney, TX 75069 Phone: (214) 678-4800	90% of the Red Cross workforce are volunteers, so there is always something you can do for them. Check out their websites for service opportunities to make a difference in the community.
North Texas Volunteer Now Address: 2800 Live Oak St, Dallas, TX 75204 Phone: (214) 826-6767	VolunteerNow (formerly the Volunteer Center of North Texas) serves as the hub of volunteerism in North Texas and is one of the largest volunteer centers in the country. They provide a wide range of programs and services that build capacity for nonprofits and community organizations.
Feed my Starving Children	It’s a Christian nonprofit organization and has been called to feed God’s starving children hungry in body and spirit with a mission that with God’s help, they will work together with organizations and ministries across the globe to end hunger.
Lion’s Heart – Teen Volunteers	They work with local nonprofits to find student-friendly volunteer opportunities and send them directly to our members. Teens have the freedom to choose their favorite places to serve – anything from helping animals at shelters, supporting our military, cleaning up beaches or parks, and working at food pantries.
North Texas Food Bank  Address: 3677 Mapleshade Ln, Plano, TX 75075 Phone: (214) 330-1396	North Texas Food Bank distributes all the donated, purchased, and prepared foods through a network of nearly 1,000 feeding programs and 262 partner agencies in 13 North Texas counties. They offer many ways your teen can get involved in making an impact on our community.
The Plano Rotary Clubs	There are various clubs around the City that offer multiple opportunities for Teens with a waiver being signed by the parent.

Don’t forget, we have a number of other Volunteer suggestions for kids of all ages to check out!

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Part-time Jobs for Teens

Part-time jobs are excellent ways for teens to learn about responsibilities, financial independence, and life lessons. 

Be sure to ensure when they pick up shifts, that you can balance this with them along with keeping their grades up at school.

That’s usually the biggest consideration when it comes to their opportunity to earn money but not picking up too many hours.

So, let’s talk about part-time opportunities for the teens around Plano.

Who hires Teens?

• Teens most likely end up working at one of the typical part-time jobs, like waiting at restaurants and fast-food chains. You can find these jobs at the company’s website or online job search like Indeed. 
• Babysitting can be a good source of extra money, especially if your teen has first aid and CPR certification. This job is perfect for teens planning to go into education, which gives them an excellent opportunity to learn how to work with kids when they are helping with school works and after-school activities. They can check Bambino Sitters to get them started.
• Customer service representative or a receptionist for teens who are looking to work in an office. These roles will teach them a lot about office work like answering calls, writing emails, entertaining clients, and other administrative tasks. But of course, they can always find these types of jobs online.    
• Most teens love working in retail stores because of discounts they might get on the products but those who plan to pursue marketing, merchandising, retail planning, or fashion design will learn a lot from the experience too. 
• Being a lifeguard at the local community pool can be rewarding during summer break to those who love the water. And, to those who are great swimmers, most especially those part of a swim team, can teach swimming lessons to kids. You can check out the City of Plano for any jobs they’re hiring for. 
• To those who plan to go into the culinary arts, they may want to look into working for a catering company.
• Grocery stores very often hire teens to be a cashier or a stocker.
• To those who love sports and want to go into the industry, becoming a youth referee is a perfect opportunity. Some schools or recreational sports leagues offer teenagers some training to get certified to officiate games.
• Teenagers gifted in math or science and taking advanced courses may want to start checking out tutoring jobs or even a business.

Related Links

• All you need to know about Homecoming, Proms and Homecoming Mums
• 18 things for Teens to do this Summer