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Original poster

What do you teens do with themselves over the school holidays?

88 replies

JustlookingNotbuying · 04/08/2022 08:44

I do quite like the summers holidays as it’s not such a mad rush in the mornings but I wonder if 6 weeks is too long for older kids.
My 14 year old dd has a few friends but they are either on holiday, visiting the other parent in different parts of the country or out with family on day outs etc.
When my dc were little they spent time with grandparents, at the park and played for hours in the garden but now dd is that bit older she’s just hanging around at home which will be particularly tough from now as our darling dog passed away on Monday and she would normally walk him and spend time with him whilst I was a work, she is really struggling with the grief.
What do your teens do over the 6 weeks?

OP posts:
MaxOverTheMoon · 04/08/2022 21:41

@TheOrigRights I hear you mate. Save up some money and next year stick dc at a PGL residential for a week in the summer and give yourself a break.

TheOrigRights · 04/08/2022 21:47

MaxOverTheMoon · 04/08/2022 21:41

@TheOrigRights I hear you mate. Save up some money and next year stick dc at a PGL residential for a week in the summer and give yourself a break.

I appreciate the solidarity, and I'm sorry it's grim for you, too.
The thing is, I could send him to PGL, but he would hate it - to go alone I mean.
I could of course tell him to suck it up, but I just can't do it. He's been rejected by his father, I can work while he's at home; it's not like he actually needs supervision. I just don't handle it well.

MintyCedricRidesAgain · 04/08/2022 21:53

DD 17...works 16 hours a week, driving lessons, one week staying in London with family for work experience placement, 1 week online work experience, 5 days at Reading Festival, weekend away with her dad, bit of socialising, working on her personal statement and EPQ.

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14 year olds Families
PoundPill · 04/08/2022 22:47

Teen DS gaming or watching TV

Teen DD constantly out or invites friends over whilst I'm working Hmm

PoundPill · 04/08/2022 22:49

Actually DS has spent a few days here and there visiting family which seems enough for him

Adversity · 05/08/2022 00:51

DS. When a teen was at the park most days playing football. We also used to go out for lunch every week together. He still had his paper round once a week. He did also have some sports camp days sometimes. We always had at least 2 weeks hols, one year we were away for a month.

LilacPoppy · 05/08/2022 00:57

Work part time
watch Netflix/tiktok
sleep - a lot!
randomly offer to take out younger siblings/plays with baby
goes out for food with friends
goes the cinema
goes to the beach
She is never bored

PseudonymPolly · 05/08/2022 01:00

My 14 year old is doing his normal activities which continue to run through the holidays - basketball on two evenings and RAF Cadets on another two.

Other than that he's been out with friends twice, has spent far too much time on his xbox and been on a couple of enforced afternoon Country/beach walks with the family (enforced but he came with good enough grace!).

He's also cooked and baked a few times which he enjoys. But mainly he's happy to mooch around.

It's so much easier when they're little and you can sign them up for activities and clubs and they're delighted with the most basic of park trips.

ForfuckssakeEXHstopbeingatwat · 05/08/2022 06:34

Young teens here. Waaaay to much x box / YouTube basically. Not many friends and none seemingly available. DS would absolutely love to just spend most of the day in a park kicking a ball but doesn't have that bunch of mates to do it with. Doesn't like structured teams or sessions as he's not good enough and gets hassle (we've tried little grassroots clubs etc). I'm at home and not working (teacher) but I'm a SP so have lots to be on with here. They will do the odd chore but it doesn't take long and I can't just hand a whole job over and it be done right. We do do days out and have a holiday booked with family friends but it gets expensive . I know it's "fakebook" but I do feel bad when I see pics of friends families on paddle boards, on cycle rides, winning their "sportsperson of the season" awards etc . Just wish mine were really into SOMETHING that wasn't pixelated.

BouleBaker · 05/08/2022 06:56

They want screen time all the time, so they spend a fair amount of time being grumpy as I limit it. Apart from that we see family friends, the older one has friends over, Scout camp is a week long and we go
out here and there.

What jobs are all the teens on this threadf getting as I could do with suggesting that to
my older one?

MintJulia · 05/08/2022 07:06

DS(14) usually goes to the local pool in the morning, then video games, maybe sees a friend in the afternoon. Takes a neighbour's dog for a walk or comes cycling or running in the evening. A bit of homework here and there. All very relaxed.

Mummadeze · 05/08/2022 07:11

Mine is on a two week council subsidised drama camp which was lucky. She would rather be in a dark room on gadgets but there is no way I am letting her do that all Summer. She is also going to a Brazilian arts, crafts and dance camp thing on another week. I am allowing her one week to doss around at home. And the other two weeks I am taking her abroad - one week to spend with family, the only to a hotel resort. It is hard though, it is definitely an age where she isn’t keen to do anything other than gaming.

dersua · 05/08/2022 07:16

There's really not a culture in most places now of playing out or hanging around outside with other kids.

I've said this to DH the last few years. When I was a tween/teen I would meet up with friends all the time either in the park, shopping centre, cinema etc often we just "hung out". I hardly ever see groups of dc together, where are they all?

dersua · 05/08/2022 07:17

And then at 17 I was going out a lot, clubbing. I don't think kids do that anymore do they?

aleC4 · 05/08/2022 07:25

Ds 17 mixture of working, driving lessons, gym, seeing friends, schoolwork and PlayStation. Plus he had his first holiday away with friends for a few days.
Dd 15 spends lots of time with her boyfriend shopping, walking, hanging out with his friends or hers and works Saturdays.

underneaththeash · 05/08/2022 07:29

Ds16 finished end June and had a week bumming around, played on computer. Then we made sure we got out every day to do something, dog walk, cinema, game badminton squash. He plays golf, so did that for a bit.
then we went to visit my mil in Northumberland for a week, he went on scout (explorer) camp, we had our family holiday.
next week we’re seeing friends on Sunday and Monday, Wednesday going to the water park and Thursday/Friday golf.
then he’s doing a sailing course for a week.

He just gets grumpy if he has too much gaming time. It’s always off by 11 at the latest in our house.

Tiredalwaystired · 05/08/2022 07:31

My 14 year old still had some school work to finish off in the first week. She’s also just taken a ballet grading and they did an intense course for the next grade so she decided she wanted to do that for three days. It was great as she took herself there and back on the bus so I didn’t have to ferry her.

she’s been shopping with her little sister (they’re v close) and they’ve also been to the mini golf in the shopping centre. She also went to visit her Nan for the day, and had a friend over and they both cooked themselves a decent dinner. Oh and she’s been to the cinema with a friend

were away from next week for a couple of weeks but no real plans when we get back. They might go to the pottery painting place though.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 05/08/2022 07:37

DS (14) is playing Country Balls (sounds rude, is actually about countries, maps and flags), chatting on discord and being whatsapped pics from his mate who is in California. He has Asperger's so doesn't go out with mates or without an adult so DH took him over to a local activity park where he sat and watched from a bench discreetly whilst DS had a great time with mates.

DC (15) is staying in bed until 2pm, doing some catch up stuff when (threatened) asked to, watching Stranger Things for the 8th time in a week, chatting to mates on WhatsApp and generally eating all the snacks and ice lollies. They did go to town yesterday with me became they have gift cards from lockdown birthdays to spend but couldn't find anything they liked. They're now counting down until pride locally in a couple of weeks as they're in the parade this year with their mates.

KingscoteStaff · 05/08/2022 07:38

Playing cricket, coaching cricket, umpiring for U11 or U9 matches, watching adults’ matches, running the PA system for evening T20 matches, helping at the cricket club bar, helping repaint clubhouse…

RagzRebooted · 05/08/2022 07:49

DD12 mostly hiding in her room, has been out once with her only friend in the village. Has done baking with me or DS16 a couple of times.
DS14 is cat sitting for a friend of his, sharing with DS16. So that gets them out of bed every other morning. He seems to game/guitar practice/watch TV all day then go out for a few hours in the evening when it's cooler. Hangs out on the village green with mates with scooters. He has 2 week cadet camp coming up. He's quite outdoorsy.
DS16 mostly gaming, looking at/buying parts for his PC, spends a day a week with his girlfriend, has a trial shift for a job this evening.

I'm working so can't arrange much and no money for holiday this year, or any days out really, so mostly feeling guilty!

DataColour · 05/08/2022 07:55

I'm finding it so hard at this age. Really miss the days of just being able to take them to the park, so easily entertained.
DS is 13. He does cricket most days with his club, thank god for that otherwise he would want to be gaming all day. We've been on a cycling holiday last week and he moaned that his friends were going out and he's missing out, but he enjoys the actual cycling. Glued to his phone if he not exercising or doing piano practice. trying to get him to do Duolingo most days too.
DD 11 nearly 12 is even more difficult. Doesn't organise anything with friends, shys away from sport even though she's sporty. I taker her climbing once a week. Take her to the park, she likes to climb trees. Finds it hard to make friends. I have to organise meeting up with friends. Apart from that she's doing messy play in her room making a mess or on her phone.
They used to play together loads but now don't unless they are out of the house on holiday etc. Going on holiday next week.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 05/08/2022 08:07

My 16yo dd is getting bored now, she finished school in June so it's be a long summer.

We've been abroad for a couple of weeks, she walks the dog, does crafts, goes on her phone and sees her friends.

I'm encouraging her to look for a pt job before she starts college in September.

NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy · 05/08/2022 08:14

Ds16 has a part time job (hospitality industry are crying out if anyone else's teens are looking), sees his girlfriend, goes with friends to the coast (we're in London), sees his grandparents, goes to the football, hangs out at friends houses watching TV, going to parties... Has not done any summer holiday prep for year 12 homework yet unfortunately!

DS13 had a week away with us last week, and 10 days holiday next week, goes to Cadets twice a week, goes swimming and to a local music festival with friends, sees grandparents and cousins, and apart from that a lot of gaming and Netflix!

Pumpkinsanddaisies · 05/08/2022 08:17

I have three teens and they are all sleeping in until lunchtime and then staring at screens and messaging friends. They sometimes go out to town with friends for a few hours. We are on holiday next week and then the week after on they go on holiday with their Dad. After that it will be back to boring screens I imagine.

On one hand it’s great that they are out of my hair and I can work in peace on the other I worry about their mental health, living this boring screen obsessed lifestyle. Seemed so much better for them when they were primary age and we had trips out to parks and soft play etc.

middleager · 05/08/2022 08:18

Mine are both 16, so it's been a long summer with finishing school in June.
One has been on CCF camp for 1 week then NCS for 2 weeks
The other went on a different NCS for 2 weeks, but has been mainly gaming for the last 2.
I have booked a holiday next week, but it is so much harder than when they were say 10 or 11 and would go out every day or to the youth club.

Luckily, they get on very well, so when we finally have them back home together they will probably play football or tennis, maybe cinema.

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