How to keep 13 year old entertained

[C1umsyGiraffe]

Hi everyone,

We are doing respite for a 13 year old girl (first ever placement) and she's come today, she's really lovely but I worry that she's bored. We have a few days out planned in the next couple weeks but wasn't sure what she could be doing during the day? We've taken the dog for a walk but that only took an hour. Any ideas?

Some girls this age love to craft...things like making Fimo jewelry or even making candles. Those things cost a fair bit though....others read. Does she have a device? A phone? Most are glued to those!

What are her interests? Have you asked her?

Have you children of your own? If so what would you do with them in the holidays?

I am a firm believer in letting children get bored in the holidays, and this soon brings out their creativity.

Have you been given any information from the SW as to your specific role as a respite carer?

Did her main carers tell you what her hobbies and interests are?

Have a chat with her and ask what she enjoys doing. I’d think about walks, swimming, bike ride, reading / library, films, crafting, colouring (lots of teens I work with enjoy the colouring books that are really intricate mandalas etc), board games or card games, baking.

Some time just relaxing and being a bit bored is fine but good to mix it up a bit.

Thank you everyone, that's really helpful. We don't have children of our own and the main carer didn't give much away, she has quite a full household at home usually so I think she gets quite entertained at home that way. She doesn't go on her phone much either and isn't allowed it in her room or after 9.

I love the craft idea, I'm going to go to hobby craft tomorrow and get a candle making kit and maybe a jewellery making kit. That way she'll have something to take home too. Got a few more days out planned as well. Thank you all, really appreciate it.

Netball hoop
Darts board
Watercolour paints
Manga drawing
Skateboard
Baking
Fabric paint or pens. I once did pillowcases at a sleepover party.
Stop motion video making.

Have you asked her?

@Marriedtothesilverfox yes I have, I get a lot of "I don't mind"'s

How about involving her in cooking the family meals or making cakes/ bread/ biscuits?
Could she decorate some of her bedroom?
Visit a charity shop and purchase some jigsaws and board games. Labyrinth, Scrabble and Lexicon or Rummycub are good.
Buy a pack of cards.
If this a temporary placement then she could be writing a diary every day of what she has done .

If you have a branch of The Works near you they sell lots of craft kits, art materials , games and puzzles quite cheaply.

Scrapbooking?

You could do this together, pictures of her and you and the things you did / are doing. Add recipes of things you made, samples of crafts.

Then at the end of her respite she will have a record of the two weeks.

Actually you could make it a box rather than a journal type thing.

Not sure with covid but places like the body shop and Urban decay used to do free makeovers.

Also, depending on why she is on respite, do some activities linked to that so if a parent is in hospital make a get well card.

Do you know any kids of a similar age?Something like cinema and pizza is more fun with another person your own age.

If she's a polite, "I don't mind" quiet type try asking what she would hate to do.

I’d take her with you to hobbycraft and tell her that she has £X to spend. You could steer her towards the kits, and see her reaction.

Ds is 13yo and he likes painting stones. Acrylic paints are better for this, or ideally, acrylic pens. And then a spray sealant.

Fimo Soft is easier to work with than Fimo.

Ds also likes Shrinkles, which are great for all the family. They sell them in hobbycraft. They have kits where you can make keyrings etc. Works best with coloured pencils.

What about some small cross stitch kits? Also sell these in hobbycraft.

See if she wants to do baking or let her choose a recipe for dinner to cook and go shopping for the ingredients, jigsaw maybe? Strawberry picking locally? Hobbycraft sounds like a good shout or your local B&M for cheaper craft bits

Baking is a good idea.
Does the dog ever need washing or brushing? My DD would love to do that.

Bowling, swimming, museums, galleries, day out at the fair, cinema.
I have a long term fc but sometimes do respite for a couple of children in their school.
I try to keep them busy as they are probably missing their carers so giving them fun things to do is important.
It also means that they look forward to coming to us so their carers don’t feel guilty leaving them.

The Works do a really good tie dye kit - she could dye socks, t shirts etc