Fun ideas for teens over halfterm

[Bbq1]

I work in a school so although we, are currently on a rota I am really looking forward to halfterm next week as is my ds who is working from home. Does anybody have any fun ideas to do with mid teens that can be done during lockdown? He has worked so hard, I would like to make things a bit different so it's not just another week at home minus the work.

Bumping for ideas...Dd 15 here
Ideas I’ve had so far...
long walks in different parks to the usual (still within local area)
Baking something bit more fancy and extravagant than usual
Finding things on Netflix/Prime to watch together (don’t normally get time to watch stuff together)
Organising family/friends quizzes

For all of these I am working on making myself immune to the inevitable teenage eye rolls. She usually enjoys stuff once I get past that bit

I should start by saying my DS is finding lockdown immensely hard does not want to do anything with me, but I'm hoping to try.

Ideas I've had: baking something for the dog, clay modelling, film.

Making pancakes on Tues. maybe challenge their mates to a flip contest on zoom?

Cook dinner for the week. If only.

Some crafty stuff.

Lego

Science stuff. You can probably find some YouTube tutorials.

Bake a birthday cake (if it's anyone's birthday).

Make popcorn for a movie session.

Create a playlist for the summer.

Something in the garden - clearing, build a bbq, take arty photos, paint the shed, make bird feeders..... depends on age, my young teen would enjoy these, but can't imagine older ones will.

Tidy bedroom.

Sigh. I'm struggling for ideas too. She's doubtless going to spend the week on her phone while me and DH work. Bit of a crappy half term for kids.

I allowed my daughter to redecorate her bedroom. I helped her clear it out and then she ordered fairy lights, small rugs, vines etc off Amazon. Her room looks really lovely now

I never thought l would be saying this ( as l wasn't keen initinally) but my 15 year old sons reptiles are a Godsend in these times, he absolutely loves them, spends ages on their.bio set ups, feeding, misting, bathing, handling,. researching etc. Some are going into shed, our Bearded Dragon has just come out of Brumination ( he is adorable, so calm and p!acid, l have become very attached ) , they all follow particular cycles, they are all interesting in their own way. My son wll talk to me for hours about them, it's lovely to see him so engaged and we have had all of them several years , if not longer, so novelty hasn't worn off.
I.was always a dog or car person before, but if your son\ daughter has a love of reptiles like.mine, this may be something to consider. We started off with Afican snails, giant centipede , have since rehomed a corn snake, have one male Bearded Dragon and some Tarrantulas.
I already know by reaction of others when l speak about our reptiles, they are not for everyone.
Last week l had to self isolate so we repainted his room, looks a lot better and again, nice to do something together.

Really struggling for ideas as well. It's years since I've planned anything in school holidays more than the odd family day out as the DC just make plans with friends - which clearly they can't do this holiday.

Both have already decluttered and revamped rooms.
We are bored of cooking new things :)
DD can't even exercise outside, so well and truly stuck to the house.

we have -

giant jigsaw puzzles
new computer game
exercise bike challenge
zoom pictionary with friends (skribbl.io/)
new lego

We decided to get pet quails over the weekend . We have other pets, but never owned quails. My daughter wanted chickens, but we live in London and have a small garden, so decided on quails. Maybe a bit of an off plan...

I also second the poster who talked about reptiles being good pets. We have a tortoise and he is amazing (and low maintenance). I also know a few bearded dragon owners and all love them.

My teen will probably not leave the house all week and ant do anything with me

@cherryolives

My teen will probably not leave the house all week and ant do anything with me

You are not alone. Hugs.

Following for ideas, my youngest daughter did a online sleepover and whilst not the same at all she enjoyed it. I’m thinking cooking, setting up a film night and making snacks for it. Krispy Kreme do sets where you can decorate your own doughnut. It’s difficult because everyone has pretty much exhausted all the stay at home pleasures 😁 Games night?

Thanks freckles. It's so depressing.

My teen is going out to play football with 2 friends if it stays dry (plus pancakes on Tuesday, films, streaming gaming sessions etc.) I wfh, my mum has been vaccinated, kids have been isolated for weeks and weeks. If they want to meet a friend or two Im not saying no.

I've made a list;
So far there is
Get Rabbit it's health check
Buy new pyjamas
Beach walk (we are coastal)
Pancakes
Build shed.

We have been struggling but today is good
Making stuff out of airdrying clay (their enterprising friends are all selling homemade jewellery and embroidered tote bags on depop)
Watched Enola Holmes
Bought another second hand Wii console for a bit of nostalgia

I'm struggling with this.

@ScrapThatThen

We have been struggling but today is good Making stuff out of airdrying clay (their enterprising friends are all selling homemade jewellery and embroidered tote bags on depop) Watched Enola Holmes Bought another second hand Wii console for a bit of nostalgia

Great tip @ScrapThatThen, I’ve ordered some air drying clay after seeing this ☺️

For anyone interested I've started a tread on the teenagers board for support and hand holding over half term.

Aimed at those of us who are struggling with our teens and might like a supportive thread.

My ds15 has sort of made a deal with me that as long as I stay "off his ass" most of the time he will do some family stuff! Fair deal I reckon.
He's been out for a walk with a friend and is now on PS4 so haven't really seen him today, but...

• Pancakes tomorrow
• baking and making dinner one night
• films with popcorn
• a walk as long as there's hot chocolate at the end of it
• chess. Remarkably, it's been his lockdown 'thing'

Really, what is there to do though? Luckily mine are so happy to have a week off of the drudgery of remote learning that they're happy enough.

I'm leaving DD 16 to her own devices and told her I'm available if she needs a lift anywhere or fancies an outing with me. She's meeting a friend for a walk tomorrow. We repotted her cacti collection and harvested some babies from them. She's bored and lonely and so am I.

Mine has completely given up wanting to do anything at all with me

I’d come on this thread hoping for some inspiration and it seems we are all the same and struggling for ideas.

My mum (who really has no idea what it’s like to be entertaining teens/pre teens at the moment) asked if we had thought of board games and baking last week to relieve the boredom and at the weekend asked if we had anything exciting going on this week with the schools being closed. I get that she means well, but honestly it took all my effort not to rage at her!