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Teenagers

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

12 DS has no hobbies

8 replies

ShabbyChic999 · 06/09/2021 19:25

I'd love some advice please. My 12 year old ds has no interest in hobbies, he has tried loads of different activities over the years and the only one he has stuck with is guitar, he's good at it but we have to seriously nag him to practice so now considering just letting him give up if he's not going to want to put some effort in himself. He loves reading and art and does doodle and make cartoons a lot (he does art at school). Apart from that, he just wants to be gaming all the time. He isn't sporty at all, the only sport he vaguely thought was ok was golf but we are slow to have him join a club with all the expense involved if we are going to have to nag him to go (we would happily arrange it if he was enthusiastic). I feel at this age we should no longer have to force activities upon him and he should be asking us if we would sign him up.
I'd love some ideas.....we do have limits on screen time so a lot of the weekend he's at a loose end...he normally does meet his mates one day but the other day can be moping about a lot. We have another child so sometimes will do family hikes etc but these don't appeal to him at all either!!! I know he's at a difficult age but at the same time I don't think I can just sit back and let him mope about :( I am happy to support any hobby, I even suggested he start a YouTube channel reviewing games or something like that but he's not even keen on that idea!

OP posts:
takingmytimeonmyride · 06/09/2021 19:39

What do his friends do?

Mine have all done scouting, which has been brilliant for them. They've made friends there, and encouraged friends to join.

None of mine are sporty either so I've always encouraged them to stick with scouts. Though one does do fencing. They also did martial arts for a bit.

Remmy123 · 06/09/2021 20:50

My son is 12 - only hobby is football which he loved but now has started to moan.

He doesn't like reading or school

Only likes being on his PC and chatting to his mates whilst playing.

It's a funny age I think. I also don't agree on making someone do a hobby they don't like as it needs to come from passion.

Not sure what the answer is!!

I think I have up all my hobbies around 13!

SweetBabyCheeses99 · 06/09/2021 21:19

I don’t get it - his hobbies are reading, art and gaming?! And maybe guitar - perhaps he’ll fall back in love with it when he can start a band with his mates and realises girls find it hot! I can understand how you wouldn’t want to invest in golf clubs and membership but maybe there is a more laid back option that doesn’t involve so much pressure.

ShabbyChic999 · 06/09/2021 22:26

Yes I know I'm probably being way too much of a helicopter parent and maybe no easy answer - the weekend just seems long unless we have a lot arranged as a family. He will always arrange to meet his 2 best friends one of the days to hang out but apart from that he's not very sociable, there are a lot of children in our neighbourhood out playing and he's never had any interest in joining them.
My other child is much more active and is always on the go and out playing or going to play football matches etc so I suppose I might be unfairly comparing aswell.
Scouts is a good idea thank you :)

OP posts:
ShabbyChic999 · 06/09/2021 22:28

@SweetBabyCheeses99

I don’t get it - his hobbies are reading, art and gaming?! And maybe guitar - perhaps he’ll fall back in love with it when he can start a band with his mates and realises girls find it hot! I can understand how you wouldn’t want to invest in golf clubs and membership but maybe there is a more laid back option that doesn’t involve so much pressure.
Yes Dh has been trying to encourage him to set up a band!! Everything we suggest is met with a shrug :(
OP posts:
PlanDeRaccordement · 06/09/2021 22:43

Reading and art are hobbies.....
Why not encourage those?

LaetitiaASD · 09/09/2021 16:39

So, apart from reading, playing guitar and art he has no hobbies? And you hate that he does nothing sometimes?

IMHO I'd encourage the hobbies he has, and I'd tell him that if he doesn't want guitar lessons to drop them.

I'd also keep making other suggestions and encouraging anything he shows an interest in. And I'd suggest you chill out.

CatsArePeople · 10/09/2021 14:07

reading, art, and gaming are legitimate hobbies.

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