Hobbies - or lack of interest in anything other than TV or Facebook

[Sonnet]

Am I being unreasonable??? My DD (13 almost 14) shows a complete lack of interest in anything that isnt reality tv or facebook.

She is getting up later and later

What hobbies have other teens got?

[GetOrfMoiLand]

My dd used to have a lot more interests than she has now.

She used to play a lot of sport - football, cricket, netball, rugby, tennis.

It has all fallen off lately - however she does go to cadets, which takes up a lot of her time, and does Duke of Edinburgh.

But, the rest of the time is taken up on FB or playing the guitar in her room.

I am not too worried about it as I think teens do go through introspective times (between 14 and 16 I camped in my room and read books), but it is a shame that her sport interest has fallen by the wayside, and hopefully she will take a bit more of an interest in September when she goes back to school. I am encouraging her to at least join the football team. It is hard to encoyrage and not force though.

I think just 100% facebook is to be avoided though - is there anytghing your dd would be interested in?

[Sonnet]

Hmmm - is their anything she would be interested in...

She plays (use to) the flute - hasn't picked it up in weeks

Use to play sport - not much now
Yeah - i supose it will perk up in September

I just hate the lounging around, sleeping till all hours and telling me it's what they all do....

I suppose i am trying to find out what she "should" be interested in......

[tooposh2push]

Mine seems to be spending the entire holiday closeted in her room on FB, but also reading (I think...).

Like GetOrf I'm reasonably cool about this because she leads a busy life during term time, eg football team etc, so I think a bit of constructive boredom is a good thing.

On the other hand I do wish she'd get out and do some exercise...

My other DD gets most of her exercise going shopping at Topshop which I don't think is necessarily any more demanding[smile}

[Sonnet]

Maybe I am being unreasonable then and it is the "done thing"

Don't think I was cut out for "teens" - give me the terrible two's anyday!

[mumblechum]

DS doesn't do much in the holidays, he's been to the cinema with friends a few times so far & to swim in their pools.

In term time he does karate once a week and rowing 5 times a week, goes all over the country rowing, hangs out with his friends at weekends but also really really values time just sitting in his room watching trash tv & on the ps3.

I think it's good for them to have some vegetating time in the holidays, it's so full on during term time.

[Tortoise]

My DS 13 doesn't go out anywhere unless we go as a family and isn't sporty.
He doesn't have PC or Laptop so can only use the family one with permission and i limit this a lot!
He is currently playing with his Lego! Surprised he still loves things with it.
He spends a bit of time on his PSP or DS but again this is limited by me!

[deaddei]

DD is nearly 14 and "gave up "FB last week- and has told me she isn't going to do it anymore.
She got it last year (as her peers were) but is really not into it. Now this may change....but I'm really pleased that she isn't going with the herd.
She's spent the last 2 weeks swimming, going to the library, meeting up with friends, theatre and singing/piano lessons.
She still gets up at 7- goes to bed about 9. I'm sure it will change!!!

[GetOrfMoiLand]

DD would sleep all the day long if I let her.

i understand this - I was an incredibly sleepy teenager. So I let her lie in.

Agree with others - school is so full on these days (far more than when I was at school) and she works very hard in term time, if she wants to vegetate during the holidays i am pretty relaxed about that (to an extent)

[deaddei]

Isn't it funny- I was an up with the lark, early to bed (boring) teenager.
They ARE so busy in term time- I'm taking it easy for 6 weeks reading books as well!!!

[WingDad]

Get them to join one of the cadet forces so they can get stuck in to something structured and exciting!

(And that's my helpful tip of the day, I'm here all week folks!)

[GetOrfMoiLand]

Wing - my dd is in the air cadets and she loves it!

[WingDad]

GOML, what a good lass, she picked the right one!

[GetOrfMoiLand]

It is a brilliant thing for her to do - has really increased her confidence and they end up doing really fun stuff, and she has made loads of friends. And plans to join the RAF when she is older.

She has taken the micky out of me for years for being an aeroplane geek (am aeronatical engineer) and now she is one too!

[MathsMadMummy]

my stepdaughters are 12, they go swimming a lot, they are lucky and live near the local pool! they're staying over soon and I'm trying to think of how to entertain them.

I'm going to write a story with them hopefully as they both like mystery-type stories/shows.

[GetOrfMoiLand]

maths - that sounds a lovely thing to do, you sound like a nice stepmum

[MathsMadMummy]

thank you!

[mumeeee]

DD3 now 18 has always loved Drama and has belonged to a drama club since she was 11.But it is normal for a tenager to spend a lot of time watching tv and going on Facebook. It is also normal for them to get up late.

[Sonnet]

Thanks for all your comments - tis normal then!¬

I was a boring teen too - early up and early to bed. Iwas also mad in to horses at her age so was up and out all day.
Am giving her chores round te house though....

[bruffin]

DS 14 kayaks and is into photography but has discovered a social life and does spend quite a bit of time out with his friends, but at home spends most of his time on computer.

DD 12 has spent the week volunteering at a special needs playscheme, but comes home to the computer.