What do your teenagers do in their free time?

[Netiquette]

DD2 (15) does nothing - like, absolutely nothing.
We live in quite a rural area and she goes to school 15 miles away, so no locally-living friends. I have always offered to drive her to wherever she wants to go so that she can meet up with friends from school etc but she has zero interest in going anywhere or doing anything as she says she hates going into town (has a real thing about seeing people from school in town) and I have exhausted all avenues of suggestions of things to do. She has been like this for years - any clubs she's joined have been promptly dropped (we've tried loads of different activities and clubs) and everything is a battle with her - she's now telling me she won't go to her cousin's 21st birthday (almost exclusively family) party because she 'doesn't like parties'. She is a stroppy teenager, but it's such hard work trying to get her interested in anything at all. She has a good group of friends and no problems at school (she's a heart on the sleeve kind of person who shares everything - one good thing) so I feel like she's playing to the gallery by being so difficult. DD1 (9 years older) was easy, so I'm at a loss - are all teens like this now or have I just not hit on the magic idea that will tempt her out of the house? What do your teens do for fun?

No all teens aren't.
Mine have all done loads, but mostly things they'd done for years.

Mine like outdoor stuff - Scouts and camping and sports etc.
This then also gives them lots of friends from outside of school, as well as school friends, so then they meet up with more, different groups.
My youngest is 17 now - I have to make an appointment to meet her!

DS does FIFA on XBOX, Rocket League on XBOX, Forza on XBOX, and very little else. Most non-school days, he attaches himself to the sofa and barely moves. In between playing on the XBOX, he watches youtube videos and messages his many friends on social media about what they're playing on XBOX and watching on Youtube. At least we don't need to worry about where he is and what he's doing - he barely leaves the house!

My DS16 plays xbox and has his girlfriend over, sees old school friends occasionally- wanders streets or at McDs. He's too old for activities, he doesn't do much college workbut he is quite social....
I myself am very introverted. I' m not a party person but would make myself go as a teenager. I'd hate every second of it and then hate myself for not being 'normal'. I've improved with age - and even married and had kids eventually!- but I still enjoy my own company and NEED to spend quite a lot of time on my own. I have friends. I need friends. I love my friends. But I don't need to see them that frequently!
Leave your DD be!!! Leave all invitations open and ensure she knows you'd genuinely like her company. But don't make her socialise

19yo: Gym, computer games, tinkering on his car. Gets drunk with gangs of mates & sometimes comes here (doesn't live here any more). Shy.

17yo: Facetime with boys friends. Watches a lot of bad drama (like Grey's Anatomy & pop doc (eg., Yes to the Dress)). Parties to get drunk & fix the problems everyone else gets by getting drunk. Sometimes reads a book. Hyperconfident introvert.

14yo: Games on his phone, pestering little brother, tv, role play games (yes really, little brother is excuse), reads books, country walks with family (yes really, he often likes them). Watched age 15 films at friend's house the other day. Very shy extrovert.

So at least we've established that teenagers are nothing if not completely diverse (often especially within themselves). Thank you for confirming I don't have to worry about her - she does swing from extremely surly to good company and yesterday was a trying day so I was probably fretting a bit. I will let her find her own way and just support her whenever I'm needed.

Eldest dd is 15. Only a couple of friends from primary live local to us school friends would require transport which I offer to do but she declines. She suffers from anxiety quite badly and won't go to parties or sleepovers.

She is happy when she is home in her room, CAMHS said for her that is what she needs as she feels safe and secure there and not to worry about it.

She is involved with a local amateur dramatics group so does have some interests other than YouTube Netflix and snapchat or FaceTiming friends.

From a parent point of view we are quite happy with our socially awkward child - at least I know she is not drinking cheap cider at parties and clubbing like her mum did at 15 and I know what her and her friends talk about as I constantly hear their FaceTime conversations.

And also is a sulky teen one minute (we call her Kevin) and sweetness and light the next!

DS 14 - plays guitar, skateboards, sees friends, plays online (with friends). Is doing Dukd of Edinburgh Silver.
DD 16 - does drama class on a weekend, sees friends (isn’t a party person either unless it’s a small bday bash, but they go round to someone’s house or out to eat), goes on social media, watches Netflix. Sometimes she babysits and is looking for a p/t job. She is in her room more than I’d like!

When I was that age I did nothing, just was biding my time until I'd be grown up and free to discover the world.

Once I was 18 I moved out, 4hrs away from my parents who always expected me to be sensible, and embraced freedom, I joined a drama club, a sports club, mentored/buddied foreign exchange students, signed up for volunteer work

But 15-18 I was just biding my time, in our boring old house in the sticks, where everyone knew everything. I just hid in my room and read

It can be difficult, being 15, IMO

Explorer Scouts, football training plus a game, rugby training or a game and 1.5 hours a week Young leader with local Cub pack. Outside of that homework, PS4 and reading

14 yo does mainly Xbox, Cricket and Explorers. Did I mention Xbox?

20yo - away at uni, studying hopefully.
19yo - at the moment, down the pub with friends celebrating someone's birthday. Otherwise either at work or in bed.

My 19 year old dd didn’t go anywhere for about 2 years from about 13-15. Now she’s at uni and never stays in!
My younger dd 13 is always making plans with multiple friends. They go to each other’s houses, play x box, run around the wood outside our gate.
Both very different. However they change and grow and find their way.

Going on dog walks with various friends. Picnics with friends. Catching train to nearest city and shopping & cinema. Trampoline parks. Ten pin bowling. Watching endless YouTube stuff. Sleepovers which compromise eating lots of junk and watching teenage angst movies. Cooking and baking. Park runs.