Extra curricular activities for your teens??

[fuschia2000]

Just wondering what sort of activities your older teens and younger tweens, participate in - in normal times - what's a healthy amount would you say??!! Lots of family discussions here on it all!

my 16 year old is still in scouts, zoom only at the moment but normally they are out and about doing stuff and have camps three or four times a year.

he has two weekend jobs which take up a fair bit of time.

He goes out on his bike with friends. He did play basketball for his school but is now at college with no extra curricular clubs. I expect he will take up a sport again when he can.
He has some weights and gym equipment in the shed, next week he will start going out training again once a week with a friend.
He does spend a lot of time on the PS4 but I’m happy that its balanced with getting out of the house.
He also helps me on my allotment when he’s asked.

Dd(13) does Guides, brass band and gymnastics. DS(11) can’t be arsed to do anything!

Performing arts stuff here. Dance, drama, singing lessons. Obviously, things are limited right now, but in a normal week pre-lockdown, dd was probably spending around 12 hours or so each week on this stuff, plus extra for shows, exams etc. On top of that, she would be involved in school productions as well, but the time commitment for those varied through the year.

She was also doing DofE so volunteering once a week with Rainbows and attending sessions to prepare for the expedition etc.

She is 15 and I would say quite high energy compared to her peers - she thrives on being busy. Most of her friends probably did less than this. She's also very organised and manages school work and social stuff well around her extracurricular commitments.

S1 did karate, ringing, church choir, county youth choir, county band, occasional guest slot with a different county's youth orchestra, a fledgling regional orchestra, a youth orchestra based at the home of the local professional orchestra, NYO Inspire weekends, various school music groups, an internship scheme in lower 6th and an Investing In Children group. Did a bit of paid singing (three church services and a christmas concert, iirc) and some work experience at a lighting firm.

I wouldn't call it an unhealthy amount... but it's certainly not average

S2 did karate till he was 15ish, ringing, county band, county brass band, an NYO Inspire weekend, the internship scheme (for almost two terms...) and a couple of school music groups. Currently working in the school canteen and did work experience (last February, well-timed) at the local university.

DD (15) has done as a teen singing lessons, air cadets, volunteering with brownies, gym, running, DIY, vegan cooking, gymnastics.

DS (14 and ASD) does hibernating, he does feed his indoor rabbit, they lie on the sofa together watching TV both stretched out and he feeds the silkie chickens but mostly everyday is 'a lovely day for doing nothing' according to DS. Only time he's active is on holiday when its non-stop swimming, climbing rocks, walking, ziplining etc. He seems to have 2 weeks of non-hibernation each year.

All mine did Scouts, then Explorers, Young Leadering, and then Adult Leadering. Through Scouts, all sorts of other things, from climbing to kayaking to walking to bivouacing to fundraising and organising and going on camps locally, Nationally and Internationally. Training in things like First Aid and Leadership skills. So a lot more than the one meeting night a week.

One played football throughout
One took up rugby in late teens
One did musical theatre

At 16 all did lifeguard training, then worked to earn money
All started to learn to drive when they turned 17

DS1 13 nearly 15 does football and cricket which keeps him busy but still gets couple of nights off a week.
DS2 10 nearly 11 swims which is very full on and will only get more intense as he gets older.

Dd doesn’t do any extra curricular activities as she attended a full time performing arts school. The school day ends at 6pm and up to year 11 included Saturday mornings.

Ds (17 and in first year of college) pre- lockdown did twice a week musical theatre show rehearsals, singing lessons, piano lessons & a singing group. He used to have a weekly dance lesson but dropped that at the end of year 10.

Nothing. Refuses to, even before lockdown. Isn't this normal teenageness?