Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Teenagers

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

Flip

Original poster

Activities for Teenagers

12 replies

sjw2 · 31/08/2012 18:37

I have just started work as an afterschool nanny for three boys aged 11, 13 and 15 for approx two hours each day. Part of my role is to make the supper and do other light domestic duties. Yet I am also expected to keep tabs on the boys. Today, my employer said that she was concerned that the boys were spending too much time watching tv or on the computer and suggested I engage them in fun activities.

I know at that age, I pretty much wanted to be left alone to do my own thing. Does anyone have any suggestions for activities that might engage them and that won't take too much time or money to prepare.

OP posts:

mumblechum1 · 31/08/2012 18:50

Oh good grief. 13 and 15 year old boys do not want fabricated fun.

They want to be left alone, or at most, reminded to do their homework.

What planet is the woman on?

mumblechum1 · 31/08/2012 18:51

Turn it round to her and ask for her suggetions of 10 things that they would be happy to do. Bet you she can't get more than 2, excluding Xbox and telly.

flow4 · 31/08/2012 19:26

Good grief, that sounds like a challenging job! I think mumble is right - ask her to suggest what they'll want to do and she'll be happy with... Otherwise, I'd guess you'll be likely to get complaints.

Themumsnot · 31/08/2012 19:32

Board games, cards, painting Airfix models, Meccano, chess.

Good luck with that.

bigTillyMint · 31/08/2012 19:32

WTF! If you think of any activities they would want to do in the house with you, please post them here

I agree with mumbles suggestion - get her to tell you what they might like to do.

I guess my 11yo DS likes to help/make tea, so that's one!

bigTillyMint · 31/08/2012 19:34

DS might give cards/board games a go once a week or so. If you were lucky and could stand his competitve approach!

StarryEyedMama · 31/08/2012 19:36

Help to cook tea, they could each come up with some recipes they want to make? Football/Swimming/Skateboarding in the park? You could also encourage them to do their homework maybe so it's out of the way?

happygolucky0 · 02/09/2012 14:05

Mm yeah I think sports, cricket? Tennis, football bike rides. Do they have a wii. Surely the 15 yr old doesnt need you to sort out fun activities for him. That is just mad. maybe a time allowance on the computer/tv then they have to find other stuff to do. That is what I do for my Ds14.

euwa · 04/09/2012 23:27

get them to do the jobs with you! Tell them their mum wants them to do thing with you and her you are coaching them to become independent if she questions it, also if she does ask them what kind of activities she wants them to do. If you have light duties to do surely it has to fit into the hours she pays. Poor kids. Silly woman.

exexpat · 04/09/2012 23:36

Help you cook? If you got a teen-friendly recipe book, they could take it in turns to help you make supper every evening. Plug it as an essential skill for impressing girls/making friends at uni.

But I quite agree that what teenagers do after school (apart from homework) is closet themselves away with computers, music, tv, wii etc. the last thing they'd want is someone insisting on a nice game of scrabble or whatever.

BackforGood · 04/09/2012 23:42

I'm at the idea of 11, 13, and 15 yr old siblings having a Nanny at all, let alone then having to do fabricated fun. What planet is this woman living on ?

Themumsnot · 05/09/2012 11:16

Indeed, BfG, mine are 15, 12, 10 and I wouldn't dream of getting someone in to look after them. They would be horrified.

Flip