Do some teenagers still enjoy family outings?

[Ouluckyduck]

or do they all just want to be left alone/be with their friends?

Anybody?

Depends were you are going , my teenagers were happy to eat out with us sometimes or happy to come along on outings if they could bring a mate

Yes. He's happy to eat out like usualsuspect said. Also loves anything swimming related.

Usually when we go out as a family he protests but actually has a good time when we are there and there's nothing he can do about it. He doesn't, so far, take it so far as to ruin everyone else's day.

Mine often protest, but when forced to come have a good time. DS would rarely leave the house if we left him, DD sometimes even wants to go out as a family.

Yes mine love eating out but that's as far as it goes:)

The official line from them is ALWAYS going to be they want to be with their friends

But they are usually happy enough to be taken out for a meal

We still occasionally drag ours round historic sites with much howling and protest. The official line is that they hated it and it sucks/we suck, then in a quiet moment after the event they admit in strict confidentiality that actually it was v interesting but please not to let anybody else know

We always give ds1 (14) the option to come with us on family outings, on the understanding that if he comes he is pleasant and charming; not grumpy and objectionable if he's bored and doesn't like it.

Generally he comes with us about 70% of the time. He enjoys theatre trips, museums, visiting nice relatives, and anything food-related. Doesn't like music/concerts, fresh air and exercise, walks, or shopping!

Yes - our DS are 17 & 19 but still want to join in cultural visits, theatre trips, meals out, holidays, weekend breaks etc.

They would not be happy if we started going to the same bars/clubs as them

It's like Jake in the Outnumbered episode when they go up to London. They whinge before and during, say little afterwards to you but boast to their friends when you are not around.

We do a mixture of what we want and what he wants. So a major exhibition eg Kandinsky but a cool burger bar. If the theatre we'll choose something we think he'll like such as lenny henry in the comedy of errors which was superb slapstick. Or just wandering along the south bank.

DS1 who is 15 is selective about what he does with us and as a rule that is fine by us. The big ones that are not neogatiable are extended family meals, family parties and the like. That is no problem because he is sociable and enjoys them.

I don't take him away at weekends so much anymore because he is happy either hanging round with his mates or going to his dad's work and helping there so usually it's just me and DS2 that go to a hostel and mountain bike now.

As a family we go to the Hockey together, we occasionly go the cinema as the four of us. Me and both DSs will go to the Chill Factor or Airkix and the Nandos We go away as a family for a weekend maybe once every 5 weeks. We go out for tea very regularly ( abit too regular at times!!!)

Me and DS will sometimes go out for tea together. He usually becomes quite chatty and it's nice just me and him together for an hour and half or so.
Me and him will pick a film of Lovefilm together and watch it. This weekend we watched 8 mile and Harry Brown.
Sometimes we go to the theatre if it is something in particular. Last thing we went to was Blood Brothers which I didn't fancy (but ended up loving and crying!!)

Ds and his dad spend time one evening a week restoring a car which is quite a big project they are working on and they are both members of a club. (They go every Monday and are there now until about 9.30)

We have his mates round quite a bit and sometimes they come to the hockey with us but natually his mates (both male and female ) are a huge part of his life and so they should be.

So the short answere is on the whole yes but they have to be free to have there on downtime, interests and a social scene.

oh, this is a relief - i mean about the howling protests, and the jake from outnumbered, and the ds who would not leave the house etc...perhaps our teenager is normal...

Sometimes we get suprises.
Me and Dh will say ' We are going for a walk, probably be about an hour and half, do you want to come' The answer is usually 'no -y'all right' but occasionly he will say 'go on then' and we have to check he has understood what we are about to do!!

It depends, my lot love zoos and also the Pitrivers museum in Oxford. A lot of this is I think down to DH who is very good at commenting on exhibits. We are generally the family to be found inappropriately laughing at something meaningful.

I only have one teenager now (DS had a birthday last week!), but now that they're both living away from home, they're more than happy to spend time with us when they're around. They've always enjoyed training with DH and watching films, eating out etc. as a family.

I'm told that they'll always want to go on holiday with us, on the basis that we're likely to be paying!!

Dd! 14 tags along usually,sometimess begrudgingly. Have noticed that she is much more relaxed if she is not close to home and unlikely to be spotted with aged parents and embarrassing younger siblings.

My kids love going out with us all and at 14 I am I alone in thinking they should not have an option as surely you would only go somewhere all would enjoy family time precious !!

Ours certainly did at 14, but now 16 & 18 they will pick and choose, but will still sometimes come out with us. DSD (16) surprised me at the weekend by coming out to a cafe with me and Grandparents.

Dd is always happy to come if theres something in it for her (shopping, meal out etc).
If its a bbq at friends or a trip to the beach or a nice walk she looks at me like ive asked her to donate an internal organ.
Mostly she stays at home whilst we do stuff with the ds's or she is with friends in tiwn

They are most happy if there is food involved.
They love holidays and weekends away but we don't particularly do "days out".
They are happy to go to family dos but not walks or anything "naturey" as DS1 says.

At the moment my oldest wants to spend time with just me, so we will go for a walk in the park or shopping. Family days out can be complicated with all of us so it just tends to be me and one dc. They like different things I supposed.

I do stealth 'nature' - by taking another child as well, usually works as they forget where they are.

We don't do meals out as it's just too expensive for four - much prefer to spend it on a trip somewhere.

I agree with most replies - teenagers are happy to come along if there is food.
This is a typical weekend scenario:

Us: Let's go for a walk on the beach.
Teenager: No, I hate the beach.
Us: What beach do you hate?
Teenager: All of them.
We threaten him with removal of Xbox unless he breathes some fresh air.
We go for a walk on the beach.
He has a laugh and a good time and some fish n chips.
Later that evening to my dad:
Teenager: My parents took me to a beach so cold only people in wetsuits were on it and I am soooo hungry.
Us:

haribos can totally identify with that!!!!

We rarely go out as a family as the stress is too much as dd has anxieties which are focussed on ds, and it all becomes a nightmare. But we did actually go to Carluccios last week for an evening meal and it was actually ok.