To not know what to do with teens on Christmas Eve

[Hellocatshome]

Normally I work Christmas Eve until late afternoon so we watch a movie have tea, play a few board games and go to bed. This time I'm not working so what on earth do I do with a 15 year old who would rather be anywhere else than with his boring parents and a 12 year old who has recently found his inner Kevin? I can only think of ice skating or panto and they are apparently bored of ice skating and all the pantos are sold out on Christmas Eve.

I agree with others, you can't force anyone to do anything just to fit your idea of a magical family time ... in fact if anyone suggested I sat and watched Elf I think I'd fake a headache and go to bed early.
I dint think we did anything 'special' on Christmas Eve when my DS was a teenager.. maybe a walk and a nice evening meal and he always genuinely liked going to Midnight Service ... but it was just a 'normal' day most of the time.

Seconded. Poker is a great game for teens and genuinely useful- DS went to his first poker night with friends recently and was amazed to find that the game we’ve played for years with matchsticks is actually a good skill to have.

IME teens can be very tradition-focused at Christmas. We’ve always spent the day together on Christmas Eve, there is lots for everyone to do getting things ready. Then Muppet Christmas Carol, a nice dinner and games in the evening (anything from poker to Cards Against Humanity to bridge).

Bit sad to see people suggest planning activities with your family at Christmas is “micro managing” but fits with the MN contingent who basically think that, post 13, you should be living together like grumpy housemates, with everyone fending for themselves 🤷‍♀️

What do you get for a fiver nowadays. Will be like 5 minute "fun"

Do they enjoy gaming/have a console? Maybe you could get a game that's suitable for the family to play together?

My 18yo DD has just treated herself to a Nintendo Switch so I think this what I'll do.

We usually have a bit of a pamper sesh during the day (which I appreciate probably won't fly in your situation!) then a cheesefest by way of dinner...a couple of baked cheeses and dippy stuff, followed by chocolate and popcorn.

I'm not sure where I ever said I was going to force anyone to do anything. I am looking for ideas of things they might like to do with me. I couldn't force my 6ft 3 gym bunny 15 year old to do anything he didn't want to do even if I wanted to which I dont.

I want to find an idea of something where I can say "hey do you fancy doing x on Christmas Eve?" And they say yes. I'm not sure why that is such a terrible thing to do.

Crack open a bottle of wine, let them have a glass too as it's Xmas and order a Dominos.

I think some people are being mean.

And yes, you can totally force people to do something for once! That's basically half the Christmas and any other celebration 😂

Do European traditions day. Lots celebrate on 24th so you can pick bits and have fun.
Cut an apple to see what your next year will be like, float a candle in walnut shell, have a fish dinner, eat Finnish porridge, open some presents in the evening and so on. Can be fun

"What do you get for a fiver nowadays. Will be like 5 minute "fun""

You can have a lot of fun in Poundland with a fiver. There's a great game where everyone buys five £1 gifts and wraps them. They're piled up anonymously. You take it in turns to take one. Once everyone has got one and unwrapped it, on your second go, you can keep your gifts or swap one for someone else's. The popular items change hands lots of times, some poor sucker is left with the worst. It can take ages to unwrap everything but depends on how many swaps you allow and how many people are playing

OP - escape rooms are popular with my lot.

Have nicer children?

Just ask them. It seems a shame you're already writing them off as 'miserable teens'.

Light trail? Loads of them about this year if they are still open on Christmas Eve.

I don't have kids so I guess I'm out of touch, but so many of the suggestions on here sound like they're aimed at primary school-age kids.
At 15 (in the late 90s) I would have been on a big night out with my mates!

Right? A gingerbread kit or hot chocolate - the epitome of Mumsnet funtimes!

Traditionally, we all enjoy a lie-in, followed by a long, lazy lunch at our favourite gastro-pub. Back home to chill, last minute pressie wrapping, choose outfit for Xmas Day. Then we all get together to eat snacks and watch Polar Express.

To each their own. Some families do traditional things like baking, games and walks even well into adulthood. No need to sneer.

In the day, maybe a hot chocolate from Starbucks or somewhere and cinema or lunch out at wagamamas or Nando's. I think even at that age though, in the evening, get into pjs, favourite dinner or takeaway, a good Christmas movie? Never too old or young for that.

I'm sure a 15 year old teenager would LOVE that!

I'm playing 'spot the posters who don't have teens' bingo!!

Crikey does everyone go to this much effort to appease their teens these days?! Cinema, Nando’s on Christmas Eve?? Let them watch Christmas films and play board games or just laze around. Or drag them along to a Carol concert if you want to do something Christmassy.

I’m sorry but your kids sound spoilt and you sound a bit desperate to be ‘cool’ and please them.

My youngest is 17 now but the kids like their Xmas routine of making and destroying a ginger bread house. Just one of those ikea kits most years but we have made our own a few years (feels like you're eating endless gingerbread if you make your own as I always make too much dough).

Mine also like games like exploding kittens or a bit of trivial pursuits.

I guess everyone's kids are individuals 😊

I wouldn't describe it as appeasement😀

We all enjoy it. We look forward to it.

How on earth do my kids sound spoilt? Because as teenagers they would rather do their own thing than spend family time with their Mum? Were you ever a teenager? Also I am not trying to be cool I am trying to find an activity that my teenagers and I would enjoy doing together. If I was a 'cool" Mum I would be letting DS1 hang around drinking in the park with his friends which I am sure he would enjoy very much but doesn't scream 'Christmas' to me.

You can do both you know. Mine will be seeing school friends and university friends, clubbing and parties. But they also like doing family things with us at Christmas.

From teaching, I get the impression most do...or would, given the opportunity.

I get up early ish and get on with food prep/cooking. Then we go on a walk which involves chips (either a pub or chippy) then home for chilled late afternoon before getting ready for Midnight Mass (usually kicks off around 9pm)

Yes and as a teen Xmas Eve was a visit to an elderly person in the village followed by tea at Nana’s and midnight mass. If I suggested Nando’s I would’ve been laughed out of the place. Not saying you should copy what we did, it just seems sad that teens need constant entertainment and money spent on them rather than doing anything a bit more character building or wholesome.

You don't need to do anything with them, let them get on with whatever they want to do. Nice food and film will do.