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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Suggestions for a hobby/interest for DD 14

49 replies

Sonnet · 26/04/2011 15:03

My eldest DD (14) ia a quiet soul. She enjoys school and has friends although finds the "catty girl thing" hard to take. She has been quite bored over the hols. We were chatting over the easter break and I suggested that maybe she needed a hobby/interest and she agreed but didn't know what. her younger interests have seemed to slip over the years. She doesd play the flute but that is all.

What do your teens do as hobbies?

Any suggestions greatly received

TIA

OP posts:
Batteryhuman · 26/04/2011 15:08

a martial art. Get fit, get attitude and meet lots of nice people. Karate is my choice but visit local clubs and see if she likes it. I would avoid judo, too much rolling on the floor

Myth busting....you do not get hurt
It is not macho or violent
You do get very toned arms, a flat stomach and huge boost in confidence.
No catty girls!

fortyplus · 26/04/2011 15:08

Mine are into canoeing and kayaking. Ds1 is a div 2 slalomist. It's a male dominated sport and the BCU are keen to get more girls involved. If only I'd known that when I was 14!! Grin

ps blokes who kayak competitively tend to be nice people and have lovely bodies!

Here's the Facebook page for our local canoe club in Herts

You can find a local one by looking on the BCU website

FriedEggyAndSlippery · 26/04/2011 15:12

I have been looking at joining an archery club and I noticed that junior membership is very cheap.

Other possibilities - wildlife clubs, St John ambulance?

Do you have a local 'grapevine' type magazine with directories of activities etc? Maybe you could ring around to ask about taster sessions for any sports that take her fancy.

What does she enjoy at school?

fortyplus · 26/04/2011 15:16

My ds2 is in a local youth theatre group, too - he really enjoys that but it only meets once a week except when they're rehearsing for a show.

You don't live in West Herts by any chance? Wink

AllTheYoungDoods · 26/04/2011 15:16

WHereabouts are you? How much spare cash do you have? Does she have anything she might want to do as a career (no matter how much of a whim it may seem)?
Horse riding - very girl focussed and pricey but if she likes horses she might love it.
Sailing/Canoeing/Windsurfing - Lots of teenage boys, great fitness workout, can be done on lots of inland lakes and reservoirs, you don't need to be by the sea
Dance/drama groups - Might be cool, probably quite girly though
Venture scouts - Lots of boys! Do much more fun stuff than normal scouts/guides. Lots of responsibility and chance to progress
Army/RAF cadets - not my bag but some at school enjoyed it
Rowing - awesome workout, great social scene, will last her through uni & into adulthood if she wants
Youth orchestra - use her flute skills?

FriedEggyAndSlippery · 26/04/2011 15:17

Can you tell us what she used to enjoy to give us a better idea?

Original poster
Sonnet · 26/04/2011 15:20

Thank you all!

What does she enjoy at school? - she is quite academic, she enjoys her flute but seems to be going off it (maybe down to lack of progress dueto her currently wearing a brace)

She use to love sport BUT now is not so keen due to very sporty catty girls in her year - mab=ybe martial arts is the way forward?

She has been Kayaking but canoeing terrifys her - how do yu get out when it capsizes...we were talking about this yesterday while watching a group canoe.

I owuld really like to get her to meet some other friends and boost her confidence and self esteem

OP posts:
Original poster
Sonnet · 26/04/2011 15:29

gosh you are all quicker than me...
Fraid not fortyplus Wink !

Some good suggestions - thanks.
We are in the East Midlands (Northamptonshire)
She lacks confidence - which means all theatre/dance is "out" as far as she is concerned. I have suggested youth orchestra before and she was fairly negative (down to confidnece) but I do think that she would enjoy it and meet people there.

I love the sound of rowing.....and the watersports. We do have a resovoir near(ish) to us.

Thanks - this give me something to discuss with her

OP posts:
bruffin · 26/04/2011 15:30

DD 13 volunteers at an SEN playscheme in the holidays and at weekends. She helps out with the little ones and absolutely loves every minute.

She also does scouts and also did a stint at Rock Skool.

FriedEggyAndSlippery · 26/04/2011 15:33

I think given how she feels about socialising you should focus on finding a specific activity - could still be sport - that requires focusing as an individual iyswim. So not a team sport or group activity. That way, socialising is secondary to the actual activity, but there is still the opportunity to make friends, if that makes any sense.

FriedEggyAndSlippery · 26/04/2011 15:36

Sorry I mean obviously the activity is done as a group, but they work on skills individually or in small groups. Like archery or martial arts

sowhatshallido · 26/04/2011 15:38

my dd is quiet and has joined a local film club (adults and teens involved, and they make their own films and watch and analyse films - opportunites to be involved in the technical side if she isnt confident)
Also helps in local Rainbows group - she really likes little ones and that has given her confidence too, as well as meeting other quieter teens that help that are not at her school, so other friend opportunities.

fortyplus · 26/04/2011 15:38

Sonnet - this is your nearest I think

Based at the Nene Whitewater Centre who also run loads of courses suitable from beginner level as they're next to a slow river Smile

mumblechum1 · 26/04/2011 15:38

My ds has just stopped rowing after 3 years, as the numbers went down and down and ended up with just the 8 (the "A team" as it were), him, and another lad. Because all tghe coach cares about is winning medals, he and the other lad were just left to their own devices, not entered for races etc. So it is very much a survival of the fittest sport, not best for people with low self esteem ime.

Original poster
Sonnet · 26/04/2011 15:40

Thank -you FEAS - I know what you mean.

She does need friends outside school and an interest - I will discuss all these brill suggestions with her.

OP posts:
fortyplus · 26/04/2011 15:40

ps this is me Wink

fortyplus · 26/04/2011 15:43

mumblechum1 - get him involved in paddlesport instead - far more friendly and suitable for all ages and abilities. Smile

mumblechum1 · 26/04/2011 15:45

DS does karate and American Football now, but paddlesports are certainly fun!

SpringFollows · 26/04/2011 15:46

If she is interested in animals could she volunteer at a shelter? I did that when a crippling shy teenager, and it helped me alot.

I second horses too, although also pricey.

She sounds like a lovely daughter. :)

Original poster
Sonnet · 26/04/2011 15:46

Thank you!!

OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 26/04/2011 17:00

Mumblechum - I was about to say rowing! DD (14)loves rowing and lives for it, but several of her friends do kayaking or sailing outside of school, others help out at the local stables.

cubscout · 26/04/2011 17:13

What about tennis? The club I belong to is making a big effort to attract new young players so are putting on all sorts of coaching and fun activities, and I'm sure others do the same. She could have some individual lessons to get started, then join in some of the social things.

antshouse · 26/04/2011 17:18

Has she looked at northamptonshire's music and performing arts services Saturday schools? My daughter goes to one and there's a good choice of activities to choose from and a very relaxed atmosphere. Have a look on there website and see if any are near you. They are happy for new students to have a taster session.

quirrelquarrel · 26/04/2011 18:48

Badminton
Finding out all you can about a topic i.e something esoteric like Sumerology or something everyone knows vaguely about but not much else like Zionism or Islam
Doing research and making a project, arts and crafts, just normal big projects you do when you have all that time as a kid (soon it'll be taken up with GCSEs etc)
Volunteering somewhere, although that'll just occupy a few hours, advertise herself as a dog walker or babysitter
Start her on piano alongside the flute, she'll know all the theory and have a second instrument, tons of advantages
Gardening or knitting, satisfying stuff even if it's geeky!

Can't she think of anything to do?

Ratata · 26/04/2011 18:59

I know this is more of an 'indoor' suggestion compared to the others but what about penpalling? I started when I was around 7 years old writing to my aunties and then got more into it in my teens when I started writing to teens overseas. International Pen Friends (IPF) is a good way to get into it, it's legit and you can choose to write to males, females or both. You get around 14 addresses and your address gets sent to 14 other people. You can end up with lots of friends. It is definitely legit, I know sending an address out can seem scary at first but most of my penpals have been lovely (I have had one marriage proposal from a guy in Egypt though...)

Also agree with the volunteering and horse riding.