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Original poster

What are your 12/13 year old like on holiday?

45 replies

Shoeshine283 · 28/07/2021 16:02

Having a week away in a lovely barn conversion. Plenty of outdoor space, a hot tub, beaches, countryside. DS is 12.5 years and being a complete whinge bag. He's coming along with us but under duress. It's such a stark contrast to our last holiday (pre covid when he was 11) its taken me by surprise and I'm feeling quite tearful that those lovely fun holidays are over.

Hopefully our next holiday will be abroad with more fun stuff to do for him.

What are your pre teens like? Do you leave them to it or force them to join in? Finding it difficult to get a balance. I think he'd love the holiday if we left him to sit on his phone all day but that's not going to happen!

OP posts:
IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 28/07/2021 16:16

Is there anything for him to do? The countryside and outdoor space may be nice for adults who enjoy walking etc but realistically it’s not the holiday destination most teens would pick.

IHateFlies · 28/07/2021 16:19

What is he whingeing about?
Does he do anything at home that’s not on his phone?
Mine are ok but I do force them to get off their phones, come out and do things. I carry on because they always enjoy it after but if left to it, they’d choose to be on their phones or consoles forever.

unsureofneighbour · 28/07/2021 16:19

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

Is there anything for him to do? The countryside and outdoor space may be nice for adults who enjoy walking etc but realistically it’s not the holiday destination most teens would pick.

This. Mine had/have a great time on holiday but we generally go to theme parks and seaside towns where there is a lot to keep them busy.

They wouldn't be remotely interested in your holiday. Maybe that's the difference?

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hellcatspangle · 28/07/2021 16:20

Ours was fine as long as he was regular intervals. We used to go for walks and take a massive picnic. That said, this was a good few years ago before kids were glued to their phones so much.

hellcatspangle · 28/07/2021 16:20

*fed at regular intervals

iloveredpandas · 28/07/2021 16:23

Most kids hate walks! Maybe you need to organise some fun activities? Crazy golf, bowling, rides, amusements, skate parks, swimming - mine are happy to go out but there has to be a point to it. Countryside is just boring grass and trees to them.

Tiddleztheelephant · 28/07/2021 16:31

Agree with the above plus, does he have company?
DS is younger (9) but wouldn't be overly impressed by "plenty of outdoor space" unless he had somebody to explore with.
Unfortunately, particularly in the last year or so, technology has become such a big part of their lives that they need something to tempt them away from it.

Original poster
Shoeshine283 · 28/07/2021 16:32

It's our first holiday with our dog so we're very limited as we can't leave him at the accommodation on his own which is why paid for fun stuff is limited.

DH has taken him to a theme park and crazy golf. They went to the circus last night but the rest has been met with complaints. He's great once we're out. Just missing the days when he was so up for anything. He's a very outdoorsy kid.

The next holiday will be better (Florida). This one's just fell flat.

OP posts:
Original poster
Shoeshine283 · 28/07/2021 16:33

He's an only child.

OP posts:
theliverpoolone · 28/07/2021 16:46

I'm a single parent with an only child (13) and haven't even booked a holiday as I can't imagine what we would do together now, sadly Sad. Maybe once there are more possibilities for city breaks abroad something might spark her interest.

StarryNight468 · 28/07/2021 16:52

Maybe next time bring a friend for him? My two (14 and 15) would enjoy it but I'd have brought bikes, skate boards, football, badminton ect for them to play together with.

MissyB1 · 28/07/2021 16:53

Our ds would be body boarding, begging for surfing lessons, eating his own body weight in ice cream and hogging the hot tub.

And he is used to Greek Island holidays, but loves a beach anywhere.

Original poster
Shoeshine283 · 28/07/2021 16:54

theliverpoolone it's difficult isn't it. We've always crammed our holidays with activities but we just can't do that this year with the dog with us. City breaks are a great idea and something we've always found to be a big hit. I did always think he'd reach an age where a friend could come with us but that's not worked out yet, hopefully as they get older. It actually upsets me greatly that he hadn't got a sibling to keep him company/annoy him but that's a whole other topic.

OP posts:
MoiraNotRuby · 28/07/2021 16:55

At this age mine would moan all holiday. Then get back home and say how brilliant it was and let's do it again. And years later reminisce about it. I can only conclude that their moaning is not the same as normal moaning. Its just their way of conversation. Very draining when you want to enjoy your holiday though!!!

MoiraNotRuby · 28/07/2021 16:57

P.S. Do not feel any sibling guilt etc over this. They are just as bad in pairs I promise.

StarryNight468 · 28/07/2021 16:59

Sorry OP didn't mean to make you feel bad about him not having a sibling! There's plenty of pros in just having the one.

LadyCatStark · 28/07/2021 16:59

DS is a (just) 12 year old only child and we’re lucky that he’s still quite up for stuff although we do tend to do things we know he’ll like. This mainly involves boards so skateboarding, paddleboarding, bodyboarding or skim boarding. We’re not on holiday but we live near the sea and this has been his summer so far. He’s going to Scarborough with my parents camping for 5 days and is going to learn to surf. He’d spend the rest of the time in the hot tub if he was on your holiday and he does like to come for dog walks with our puppy.

blahblahblah321 · 28/07/2021 17:02

My DS is the same age and equally as grumpy! He just seems to be at a real in between stage? So no longer young enough to enjoy activities, but not old enough to appreciate lovely adult walks etc. He does love a hot tub though Grin

FedNlanders · 28/07/2021 17:05

Mine sit on phones

Mintjulia · 28/07/2021 17:09

DS 13 wants to play computer games all day. There's a tussle to get him out, but once he's actually on his bike or on the beach, he's fine.

Best bits this year have been ferry rides, boogie boarding in the shallows and swimming at the local lido.

As long as it's active and there's an easy source of food and drink, he's happy.

Original poster
Shoeshine283 · 28/07/2021 17:29

StarryNight468 no need to apologise. Its just a tough subject and holidays do always shine a light on it.

I think it's the dog that's been the main problem. We thought he'd be a buddy for DS and he definitely is but we didn't appreciate how much he'd limit our activities when we're away. Maybe we can put him in kennels next time and do a separate walking holiday for him.

Thanks for everyone who's said its normal to moan. He's not complained once that he's bored just moaned about doing stuff that he's normally really up for.

He's massively into mountain biking but that's not happened this holiday either as his bike is in for repairs.

Just lots of factors really and then you see the endless social media posts of huge families 'making memories' and I just feel a bit shit.

OP posts:
Eatenpig · 28/07/2021 17:31

Can you not leave the dog at all? What do you do at home?
We take the dog with us but he gets left in accommodation for 3-4 stints same as at home

Billandben444 · 28/07/2021 17:32

We're off to a caravan by the sea next week with a just 13-yr old - no ps4, limited TV but he will have ipad/YouTube and his phone for down time, oh and he hates reading. His treat will be the amusement arcade on the pier (not walking distance fortunately!) but apart from that he's looking forward to time on the beach, in the sea, French cricket, water fights and the odd trip out. As long as he's regularly fed something yummy he should be quite amenable Wink.

Alwayswonderedwhy · 28/07/2021 17:36

Mine are slightly older but still love messing about in the beach, paddle boarding, swimming and are happy to go on walks with us. If he's an only child could you take a friend next time?

Original poster
Shoeshine283 · 28/07/2021 17:38

Eatenpig the website for where we were staying says dogs not to be left. He's really good at home on his own so we had planned on leaving him occasionally (on the advice that most accommodation does allow it if asked) however the owners have said they'd prefer it if we didn't. Another thing to check next time we go away! He's only a year old so it's all a bit new to us still.

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