Teen!

[Angrybird345]

Getting really fed up of two whining teens (14 &15, b & g) who every weekend are bored and want to do something but don’t know what to do and every suggestion is met with horror. What do you do as a family that isn’t a day out in hell!

The only thing my two want to do is spend money..... shopping, eating out etc! Cinema is cheapest option but at £40 for 4 if I bring my own sweets it’s not cheap. So I’m blatantly place marking for ideas!

Let them get on with it. If you are always providing the solution they will never be able to motivate themselves.

Go retro, play board games, teach them chess, card games, jigsaw puzzles, diy, go for walks. Football in the park, feed the ducks, go to the seaside.

Do you have teens wewillrememberthem feed the ducks? Really?

Is there some sort of regular sports or activity club they can join - martial arts maybe? And some sort of voluntary work - maybe nature conservation volunteers. Look good on their CV and give them marketable skills for part time jobs in the future (gardening). Or something equivalent which they would enjoy (or not hate). A regular activity for an hour or two each weekend day, in a social setting, would be good.

Not much now unless it’s with other family/friends or in holiday! They are more interested in their own friends and own interests.
DD likes shopping with me as I have the money(!), they’ll come out for the occasional meal, sometimes for a walk but that’s more for my benefit (company) and sometimes cinema for a ‘family’ film in a Sunday.

DofE is good and keeps them busy - schools do it from year 9 and above. DS is going to sign up for Silver. They have to volunteer, learn a skill and do a physical activity for a number of months. Plus an exposition.

*expedition.

My teens are usually glued to some sort of screen, unfortunately. For homework, social media, chatting, gossiping (probably) and planning their next party. If we go out together as a family, it's usually to visit my aging parents. If they are ever bored, I send them to the gym and the library! With threats of confiscating phones, earbuds, laptops...

We have 2 DS both 16 - options are: family swimming on a Saturday afternoon, a board game in the evening, watch something on TV together, my DH and 2 DS always walk a dog (not ours) on Sunday morning, both DS go to extra tuition at the weekend (separately), this weekend we all picked up and bagged all the leaves in the garden together, sometimes 1 DS will cook us all a meal (love this!), sometimes we might go shopping if someone needs something we actually need to see before buying (otherwise all online). Sometimes DS will go with friends to cinema or (rarely) for a day out to theme park or a pizza together. They also spend a lot of time online with friends gaming (Fortnite, Red Ded Redemption, Assassin) and sometimes all their mates turn up to our house and we do an impromtu pizza evening.

😂 I remember this stage well! You describe it perfectly, every suggestion is met with resistance.

The only things my two DS wanted to do was ten pin bowling, or going out for lunch. But of course the Tenpin bowling became VERY competitive and always ended with one of them being disappointed so not sure if I would recommend that!

Winter always makes activities difficult, don’t worry OP they will soon be out with friends and you will have your weekends free again. Mine are now 17 & 15, we don’t see much of the 17 year old at all, either at college, driving lesson, out with college friends.

I have teenage twins. We enjoy cooking, going out for a walk (ending up at a coffee shop for a hot chocolate sometimes). I encourage (make!) them help in the house or garden, we have family film time with homemade popcorn (I never realised how easy this is to make until last year) or watch home videos of when they were little.

I’m talking shit sorry I was a cunt

Sorry everyone, DS2 got hold of my ipad

@MarmaladeIsMyJam no, the youngest is 25 now, we walk the dogs in the park and often feed the ducks. I didn't realise there was an age limit.

@Yogagirl123 Blimey, he's a charmer!

My teenage boys (13) will only go to cinema, bowling or Nando's with me! I've given up and don't force it. They see their friends a lot.

16 year old DD will have film nights with me and generally just hang out. She even likes coming to the supermarket with me.