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Original poster

Teenage evenings

59 replies

ThreeBeanChilli · 10/01/2024 05:13

I'm curious what an average 15 year old does in the evenings. Particularly one that isn't tied into lots of clubs...

I have a child who used to do lots, but at 15 is autistic and has poor mental health and really stuck with evenings so thought I'd see both what was "normal" and also anyone in a similar position to me!

OP posts:
Beezknees · 10/01/2024 08:31

Gaming, homework, going to friend's houses.

Original poster
ThreeBeanChilli · 10/01/2024 08:37

Yes I think the time of year makes a difference too doesn't it. Its hard to remember pleasant sunny evenings exist when it's the middle of winter!

I'm still slightly amazed at 2 hours homework a night. Is that private school? I went to a similar grammar school to my duaghter and then onto Cambridge and wasn't doing 2 hours a night at gcse level, and don't expect her to either! She might do say 2 hours one night and one weekend day but not day in day out and I really wouldn't want her to. She's in year 10 probably currently working at 6s and 7s so predicted 7+ in her exams. Yes one or two might drop to a 6 and maybe she could get 8/9 with extra work but I'm not sure it's worth it. Even if she failed her 10th gcse does it really matter? She's definitely on course for maths and English and will do well enough not to spend 2 hours a night on it.

OP posts:
Remmy123 · 10/01/2024 09:08

Boy - comes home at 4pm plays in PC chatting to his mates! Football twice a week (includes weekends) so not much but I'm ok with that!

Lindy2 · 10/01/2024 09:18

My autistic teem needs downtime after having spent time with other people. She has to mask a lot.

Generally she chills in her room watching TV or playing on her phone.

Once a week she does an organised activity but that's enough for her.

She is struggling though with anxiety, EBSA and ASD burnout so we are having to take a gentle approach with a lot of rest at the moment.

Muddywalks34 · 10/01/2024 09:34

Unless mine are seeing friends or doing an activity they basically come home, we have a quick chat whhile they have a snack, go to their rooms, come down for tea then back upstairs to shower etc. they will maybe pop down and spend half and hour with me but more often than not will be on call to friends or chilling listening to music/doing homework etc. some nights I feel I barely see them. Age 14 and 15

Comedycook · 10/01/2024 09:38

My kids go to average state secondaries and have absolutely heaps of homework every night. My eldest is in bed by ten and my younger one by nine. After homework and dinner and a bit of downtime there's not a huge amount of time left.

AddictedtoCrunchies · 10/01/2024 10:21

gaz4stace · 10/01/2024 06:59

I think it's very normal for teens to spend a lot of time in their room, I certainly did when I was that age too. My DS 14 gets in from school, normally strips off to his pants (leaving everything else wherever it falls!) and eats a lot of snacks then usually goes up to his room and is up there pretty much all evening apart from coming down to eat dinner when he may stay down for a short while after. He then goes back to his room until I try and encourage him to get ready for bed around 10ish, but he's usually not ready till.about 11. He only does homework at the last minute the night before despite a lot of nagging and is a frequent cause of arguments between us. He does have clubs 2 or 3 times a week and sport both days at the weekend but the rest of the time is what he does.

Edited

You have my son?!

DataColour · 10/01/2024 11:23

DS15 in year 10
gets in around 4pm
gaming till I get home at 5pm.
He has a snack and then does homework if there's any set or revise for any upcoming exams
dinner around 6.30pm
30mins of piano practise
and then either gaming or tv watching, chatting etc
up to bed at around 9.15
read in bed and lights out at just after 10
He does sports twice a week and then he is out of the house for a couple of hours in the evening, so it's a juggle of essential homework and music practise on those evenings as he is also shattered (intense running) so goes to bed early on those days.
Music lesson once a week after school for an hour.
Lots of cricket in the summer
Definitely not 2hrs of homework each night. He doesn't mind doing school work on weekends too so not under pressure to get it done during the week. He hardly ever goes out with friends, but seems happy and content as he sees his friends at sports clubs outside of school and walks to school and back with them.

DD13 who I suspect is autisitic (no diagnosed but showing lots of signs of it now, but high achieving and sociable at school so not really obvious)
gets in at 3.30 (same school as DS but cycles so home earlier)
on phone or watch tv till I come home at 5
does any homework necessary - will not do any more than she is absolutely required to do - won't revise for subjects she doesn't like either...I really despair)
does 2 mins of piano practise
sometimes helps cook
dinner at 6.30ish
watch tv, go on phone
obsessed with melting wax at the moment, so does that for ages
up to bed at 9ish
reads till 9.30 and lights out.
She does have a best friend she sees occasionally out of school.
Is going to start volunteering at art class once a week.
Does running, climbing, art class and a music lesson once a week - so is busy a few times a week in the evening. Especially climbing which takes the whole of one evening and running also similar to DS.

DarkAcademia · 10/01/2024 12:03

My two will NOT be alone in their rooms. They hate it and get lonely so they very much want to be downstairs where the action is (open plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen - you have to prise the two of them off me in the evenings (girls - teen and tween). So different from what others are saying! Although we don't allow phones or consoles upstairs, which might contribute to the attractiveness of downstairs. And I suppose we don't really heat upstairs either... ❄

I hid in my room for my entire teenage years.

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