Things to do with teens

[Ladyof]

I feel like we don't do anything together anymore and it is making me feel sad.

What do you do with your teens as a family and what do they enjoy? I need to make some changes to do more as a family so any ideas appreciated

My son is stressing cos of school and it is all study or gaming and nothing as time out as a family anymore.

I feel exactly the same! I miss the days of going out as a family. However, we do go out for a meal together occasionally and we love doing Escape Rooms. They are not cheap though so it's not a regular occurrence.

Term time it is hard though, after school is homework, dinner then gaming for a little while. Weekends he has more time but likes a lie in and also wants to go to the gym (without me!)

What works here is spending short amounts of low key time together
For example I give quite a lot of lifts (I offer to its a good way of chatting with them)
Or I might combine a trip to (for example) buy school shoes and add a Starbucks or quick lunch in with it

In warmer weather invite one if them on quick evening dog walk

My DD aged 14 loves to go for a drive and listen to music , then we chat and get food . Loads of chatting done as well

As @onepieceoflollipop has said, car time is good. I do a lot of lifts, and often drive my kids and their friends to stuff (thus getting a bit of insight into what's going on for them all).

Meals out/takeaways are more of a feature now they're teens - everyone enjoys them. We also try to take them out individually (we have 3 teens aged 13-15) for a meal with me or their dad reasonably regularly. And we do quite a few days out - sports matches/shopping/long walk with pub lunch are all popular here. Basically, we chuck a fair bit of money at spending time with the teens.

Other things - we have TV programmes that some/all of us watch - currently Masterchef, previously Taskmaster/Bake Off etc. Two of the three will regularly come on a dog walk which is a good chatting opportunity too.

I guess it depends on what you and your kids like doing and what overlaps you can find.

Yes I’d second eating out and car journeys. And sitting around taking the piss out of me seems to be a bonding experience for them We also do a good few city breaks, Prague, Barcelona, Palma, Malta etc for 2-3 days. We did 9 countries in 9 days across Europe last summer. They’re great and, although expensive, are probably our last family breaks for a while.

I was expecting parents from the Waltons (“goodnight John Boy” for anyone who gets the reference) to come on and say how their lovely teens play board games, card games, go volunteering together etc etc. I think our Monopoly days are over.
Mine do have their golden moments, but we have to work for them.

National Trust places for a walk. Obviously, followed up with a trip to the café!

Cooking challenge - everyone had to make a dish for a Chinese meal.

Film night - put suggestions in a jar and pick at random. No vetoes! (Unless inappropriate.)