To ask you to entertain my teens!

[Alittlenonsensenowandthen]

Not literally of course! I'm miss the toddler years where you could entertain them with some pebbles and a river or a cardboard box!
I have teen sons and none of them are looking forward to Xmas hols. Friends are skiing or doing exciting things. We're super skint so can't do anything that would cost much but I still want them to have a good hols. On the list so far are some chill our days with board game/PS4 / Xmas films etc. Plus some nice walks (they do actually enjoy walking and we live in nice walking place), maybe a visit to a castle /nt property. That's it!

So wise mumsnetters...if you have or have had 13 yr olds, help!

If you enjoy walking anyway, have you ever tried geocaching?

Yes we did try it. I thought we'd love it but actually it wasn't our cup of tea.

At that age, I would have been happy spending my holidays chilling at home, to be honest. I would have had no interest in family walks or NT castles

If you all like walking though, would borrowing a dog make it a bit more enjoyable (assuming you don't have one already)?

We liked (and still do and mine are 18,17 and 15) Treasure Trails. Think it's a fiver (maybe ten quid) to down load one. Treasuretrails.co.uk We used to do them collaboratively but now they like to split into teams and beat each other... teens vs parents or split parents.... the former stops you being shouted at for being too slow!!!
It makes a walk more interesting.

Dig out old bikes/ skateboards/ scooter and head to a skatepark or bike skills trail. Swimming at a place with diving boards/ big slides. Take a basketball to a basketball court at a park. Geocaching/ Pokemon Go on a walk. Look up any free or cheap Christmas/ New Year events in your area by googling what's on. Keep a look out for a inexpensive keyboard/ guitar or similar second hand near you so they can try a new hobby at home.

Nothing, there's no way in hell my mum would have tried to 'entertain' me at 13 during the holidays. She was too busy and she wasn't it was 'adult time:(ie fuck off and leave me alone 😂) . And likewise my own 13 year old strongly resists any idea I put his way for doing his own thing.

Mine have unearthed the Wii and are playing first gen skylanders!!!!

We used to go abroad on 27th each year - my teens put a stop to it as they didn't want to miss out on something that may be happening at home (though not much does from what I can see!) so don't feel bad about not taking them away.
My teens are genuinely happy not doing a lot and apart from the odd shopping or dog walking trip, do not spend a lot of time with us.
We always eat together and we have a great relationship so I let it go as a stage.

Think the reality is that I'm up for a quiet chilled hols with good food, wine and walks. This is the first time our kids have said they're not looking forward to the hols and whilst I don't want to panda to their every whim, I'm conscious it's been a difficult few months for us so trying to do the best. Some good suggestions here. Thanks 🙂