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Original poster

What do you do with teens at the weekend?

21 replies

wonderstuff · 05/08/2023 11:47

Ive asked everyone in my house what they want to do and they’ve all said ‘don’t know’
all the usual clubs are off due to school holidays and I want to do ‘something’ when they were little we’d go to the park or swimming pool or local woods maybe, now they are teens I don’t know.

We went to London last Sunday, spent an absolute bomb on trains, went to science museum and it was pretty meh, lots of it a bit young for them, they’re 13 & 15. The only thing they both like is eating I think! Any ideas? What’s a good day out with your teens? Preferably not costing a fortune. We’re in north Hampshire, so close to lots of cities but a long way from the coast.

OP posts:
VenusClapTrap · 05/08/2023 11:50

My 13 yo has just voted to go to the local butterfly gardens. Dh is in a strop because he hates the butterfly gardens. Honestly, he’s behaving more like a moody teen than she is 🙄

NuffSaidSam · 05/08/2023 11:52

Cinema. Bowling. Escape Room. Board games. Treasure hunt trail (e.g. hidden city). VR experience. Theatre (just go and see whatever is on locally).

VenusClapTrap · 05/08/2023 11:52

Other things my 13yo enjoys - swimming at the leisure centre, board game cafe, climbing centre

QuinnofHearts · 05/08/2023 11:53

VenusClapTrap · 05/08/2023 11:50

My 13 yo has just voted to go to the local butterfly gardens. Dh is in a strop because he hates the butterfly gardens. Honestly, he’s behaving more like a moody teen than she is 🙄

This has made me giggle!

Silkierabbit · 05/08/2023 11:55

Cinema Bowling Trampoline Park Swimming pool with water slides River boat trip Ninja warrior place

UnfunnyJester · 05/08/2023 11:56

Bike rides, ice skating, trip to the zoo and beach,

Silkierabbit · 05/08/2023 11:57

Mine also like canoeing, rowing, kayaking though not weather for that today.

Original poster
wonderstuff · 05/08/2023 11:58

Think escape room might be a good option, like the idea of board game cafe, will see if we’ve any local. Clothes shopping seems to be the activity settled on this afternoon, not my idea of fun but they do both need some bits (they will insist on growing).

OP posts:
ilovebagpuss · 05/08/2023 11:59

Cinema
Shopping and lunch sometimes on train to a larger city
Theatre if funds allow
Day trip to coast
Walk and a pub lunch/bowl of chips

Really there comes a time when you just can't do the "outings" stage anymore.
They go off with friends sometimes and my older teen works but a lot of their down time is pottering at home. We watch films and documentaries together in evening.

40steeth · 05/08/2023 12:00

I have found it hard to know what yo do with my children. They are both primary school and teenagers. When I have asked before. I get suggested like Kew Gardens or a museum. And simlar things . My kids would die of boredom. They want fun stuff not be dragged round a giant garden. But it's hard to find stuff to do now. Everything has limits now as well. Such as swimming have to precooked and get 50 mins. Pre lock down you could spend half the day there.

40steeth · 05/08/2023 12:01

40steeth · 05/08/2023 12:00

I have found it hard to know what yo do with my children. They are both primary school and teenagers. When I have asked before. I get suggested like Kew Gardens or a museum. And simlar things . My kids would die of boredom. They want fun stuff not be dragged round a giant garden. But it's hard to find stuff to do now. Everything has limits now as well. Such as swimming have to precooked and get 50 mins. Pre lock down you could spend half the day there.

Prebook not precook 😳

TheCornflakeHotline · 05/08/2023 12:03

We're a good 2 hrs from the coast so will make a day of it. Picnic on arrival. Long walk on beach (they're no longer interested in building sand castles but will have a game of frisbee).

Mooch around shops, few quid in the arcade then chips before the drive home.

Doesn't cost a fortune.

Original poster
wonderstuff · 05/08/2023 12:07

ilovebagpuss · 05/08/2023 11:59

Cinema
Shopping and lunch sometimes on train to a larger city
Theatre if funds allow
Day trip to coast
Walk and a pub lunch/bowl of chips

Really there comes a time when you just can't do the "outings" stage anymore.
They go off with friends sometimes and my older teen works but a lot of their down time is pottering at home. We watch films and documentaries together in evening.

I think we’re close to that with dd15, she’s not into much that’s active, where we live isn’t great for bikes, we’re a really long way from the coast. She will play a game or watch some TV with us.

OP posts:
Original poster
wonderstuff · 05/08/2023 12:09

40steeth · 05/08/2023 12:00

I have found it hard to know what yo do with my children. They are both primary school and teenagers. When I have asked before. I get suggested like Kew Gardens or a museum. And simlar things . My kids would die of boredom. They want fun stuff not be dragged round a giant garden. But it's hard to find stuff to do now. Everything has limits now as well. Such as swimming have to precooked and get 50 mins. Pre lock down you could spend half the day there.

This sounds very familiar, glad I’m not alone.

OP posts:
mumlovesvodka · 05/08/2023 12:26

Mine aren't interested anymore.... unless it's a theme park!

Original poster
wonderstuff · 05/08/2023 14:35

Mine used to love a theme park, but dd gets motion sickness and so even that is out of the question now.

OP posts:
unfor · 05/08/2023 14:37

My DS (15) likes going round charity shops. Climbing centre also popular.

WomanAtWork · 05/08/2023 14:54

Cycling. Looking after our bunnies. Swimming at pool with slides.

My dd loves bouldering so I take her. Sometimes with a friend and her mum so adults can supervise (she is 13 so not allowed to climb alone with friends).

we also cook together a lot - something tricky or new like jam or fudge or Vietnamese spring rolls can be a lot of fun. Then you can do p.y.o. to get fruit or an Asian supermarket to find new ingredients.

KitKatKathy · 05/08/2023 14:59

Parkrun followed by a leisurely breakfast!

EvenlyDetermined · 05/08/2023 15:07

Hampshire here too (Surrey border area). Climbing wall, bowling, cinema, swimming (one of the fun pools, eg Bracknell, Guildford, Basingstoke), escape room. Mine are 19 and 17 and still happy to go for a wander round an NT garden or a walk / pub lunch or similar, we go to Wisley sometimes.

Mine like a day out at the funfair in Southsea, or Guildford or Aldershot Lido. Maybe not in this weather though.

timtam23 · 05/08/2023 15:09

DS1 is 15 and likes indoor climbing/bouldering (he and I do this together), crazy golf/pitch & putt, going to the local BMX track...DS2 is 13 and not really up for any of that apart from the crazy golf occasionally. They both like bowling but it's very expensive, they also love the amusement arcade at bowling/seaside resorts but they're also very expensive...a trip to Pizza Hut is still greeted enthusiastically by both of them and sometimes we get a takeaway together which they both seem to enjoy...there are a few board games they like to play as a family and sometimes doing a big jigsaw together is surprisingly successful but often they aren't very enthusiastic about family outings or activities

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