Hello- DS 14 hates the sun and the hot weather

[NCTDN]

He would sit inside all day if I let him. He detests sun cream but would burn without it on days like today. He doesn't like wearing shirts either. How can I get him outside? Is this normal? I know the last couple of days have been particularly hot here but even so he'll sit in a stuffy bedroom rather than be in the shade outside.

Shaded area in the garden? Full shade

DS 15 is the same. We do the same as we did in Australia and go out to be back by 11am, or after 5pm when the temperature has dropped.

I'm 52 in July & feel the same as your DS

My DS is the same...he loves the rain and cold but feels ill in even moderate heat, gets an upset tum, headache and I think probably has low BP.
I'm not that heat tolerant either...but manage better than him.
Of course many teenagers like there rooms a lot whether it's hot or not!!

their.........runs to hide shamed face

But what do you get them to do outside?

My teenage dd spends a lot of her time sitting outside with friends - mostly in a local field. Where does he meet his friends and can you encourage him to spend a bit more time with them outside?

That way, you don't need to get them to "do" anything as they entertain themselves!

@NCTDN

But what do you get them to do outside?

DS will walk into town on market day for food. Or often if I insist he go out at least once a day on non school days he will do a two mile loop. So just walk and eat really..

My son is the same and so am I. We’d be completely rubbish in a year round hot climate.

Where does he meet his friends and can you encourage him to spend a bit more time with them outside?

DS spends heaps of time with friends, it's just online, D&D and PC games, they don't actually meet up.

Forgive me but I’m not sure why he needs to go out when it’s so hot! I’m completely rubbish in the heat and go out of my way to stay inside. Partly because it’s too hot for me to be out but also because I’d prefer not to spend the day feeling the stickiness of au cream. If he is genuinely bad in the heat can he not be left alone? My mum used to force me to sit outside - she set a timer and everything! And to be honest now I’m an adult with kids of my own, I still can’t see her point or what it achieved.

same

and I grew up in a country where we get proper hot weather. hated it then, detest it now.

Just leave him alone? It won't be forever.

My Dbro is 30 and always been the same and DD 11 also hates the hot weather both really suffer with hay-fever which I think comes into it and DD is red headed.

To get her outside we go out early and late, we live 5 mins from the beach so take a breakfast picnic and we'll be home by 11 unless she's in the sea then she'll stay longer. Tonight we left home with a dinner picnic at 6 and went for a walk at a local beauty spot.

We miss the main heat of the day and I'll potter or sit in the garden and she'll be online or doing something indoors. If we're going to an all day event then she struggles a bit and is likely not to enjoy it as much.

I think of he did stuff inside it would be different, but he's very much the tech generation and will be on his Xbox or phone. Grr!

I hated being outdoors in hot weather at that age. Looking back it was probably (unfounded) body image issues.

I can be seen in holiday photos in jeans and long tops whilst others in shorts etc.

Cooler days mine can be coaxed out for walks.

Why does he need to go outside? It's so hot and gross at the moment. I hate the heat. I'm ginger so burn when it's cloudy!

@NCTDN

I think of he did stuff inside it would be different, but he's very much the tech generation and will be on his Xbox or phone. Grr!

Does he communicate with friends? I was worried sick about DS in lockdown one as he completely withdrew and spent all his waking hours reading when he wasn't doing minimal schoolwork. I'm just happy he's playing games and talking to his friends now to be honest.

Does he do a sport? Would he join Explorer Scouts or similar?

@kowari yes he's in explorers but that's only once a week. He does lots of activities in evenings but not very social with friends outside of these things.

I'm the same and it's been 30 years since I was 15 so I don't think it will change. If I'm in a tropical paradise it's worth the effort. Not in Bognor.

DD is the same and I say she can't have tech the whole time. Art, reading, treadmill, pets, anything but not gaming. We often do an indoor activity. Your DS probably wouldn't like a spa day. We do D&D, cooking, art, whatever, just no lone room festering for hours.

What do his friends do in their spare time?

DS's friends are either out with family, at organised activities, or spending time with friends online (D&D, PC games), they don't sit in fields or hang at skate parks or anything like that.

I'm envious that your DS will do lots of activities in the evenings, mine will only do martial arts once a week. He was in Scouts but was discouraged from moving up with friends as they wanted to keep him until 14, then lockdown hit and now he won't go back .

Does he more happily leave his room when it's not this hot? If so, I'd leave him alone. It's too hot for plenty of people at the moment outside. If he prefers it cooler, let him decide for himself.

Why does he need to go outside? I don't go outside unless I have to as I hate the sun too.