Teenager girl hobby ideas

[teenagerhelpideas]

Ha e a lovely 13 dd who is shy at first but not once relaxes. Has mild bullying issues at school so keen to build a good friend network out of.

fairly sporty, not into acting or performing, has tried scouts and didn’t take to. No guides close to us.

any ideas of what she could try that might help make friends at this age?

My dd is the same age:

join clubs for sports like tennis, golf, ice skating, horse riding
Youth club.

Volunteering? Riding for the disabled usually has a good gang of teens at groups. A choir?

The actual activity doesn't really matter - just anything that gets her out socialising with a group at regular intervals. It's just important the activity is one she'd enjoy.

It's difficult for anyone to suggest specifics because we don't know if you have football/rugby/tennis/chess/choir groups near you and taking on.

I would start with Facebook and Google to see what's in your area and just make a huge list of anything available with location, times, contact details.

Start with all the common sports - rugby, netball, football, tennis, golf etc. Then martial arts. General youth groups. You could look at Air, Army or Sea Cadets. Then anything less run of the mill - choir, chess, debating, horseriding, surfing, book club, rollerskating groups, climbing, parkour, run meet ups. General volunteering.

Then once you've created a shortlist of what's possible (time/distance/cost dependent) sit down with your dd and see what takes her fancy.

Thank you for all ideas.

am keen to explore non sport clubs / hobbies also.

Karate. It will help her find her voice and dojos are close knit groups who welcome new members.

My local art college does a Saturday morning group, it’s actually on the young side but there are older ones that go.
I saw in the next town they’ve started a teenage art group.

DD loved tae-kwon-do but it depends on the set-up. One group, she was the oldest and felt out of place but another had a bigger mixture of teenagers and it worked well.

Her other interests are Explorer Scouts and drama, sorry.

Does your library runs a teen book club? Any arts/craft related interest like taking up sewing? We have a teen sewing circle nearby and they are very popular.

At 14, they could try Explorers. Can be quite different to Scouts without the younger ones.

Although it it is a sport.. mine enjoys Climbing. Shes not competitive but likes the challenge of beating herself

Fencing

I’m not sure if you’re religious, but the church we attend has a really busy youth programme and the one for teenagers looks really fun and busy. Fun activities, lots of socialising with other kids and a bit of praying on the side. Have a look if any of your big churches do social groups like that (:

Martial arts? Can also build confidence. My DC love it. Plus it’s rewarding as you move up through the belts.

Netball

learn to sail

DD has a lovely set of friends from Girls rugby although I know that's not a sport for everyone.

She also does Young Wardens at our local Nature Reserve for DoE once a month but it's open to all, age 11-16 and they do conservation type activities. As it's less frequent she hasn't really made friends yet and the group fluctuates monthly but does enjoy it.

Cadets? Sea, Air or Army.
This does not lead to a career in the forces, but will teach her vital skills like leadership & team building, gives her a taste of different career paths and acess to unique opportunities. (DS joined Air Cadets because he's desperate for some flying lessons....)

Any material arts might be suitable.

Yes, cadets is fantastic. I was an air cadets and did some fantastic activities both in the UK and overseas. Actually my experiences there really carved my life journey as an adult, although I didn't join the RAF have worked in various outdoorsy and emergency responder type roles. The solid first aid skills we learnt also came in useful in work situations but also being first on scene to RTC, I was far better prepared from the courses and regular practise I did at cadets than any work based course.

My cadet friendships were also solid and air cadets tends to attract the quieter type of person

My dd is the same age and volunteers each week at park run which as meant she is friends with a few older girls in her school (who are doing D of E).
She also has lots of friends on her bus- not sure is that might be an option if you drive her in?