What does your 17 yr old do at weekends??

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Mine has just started sixth form A levels - so far spent both weekends whole time in room either sleeping/ gaming etc - mostly in pjs - has dropped clubs they did previously-

I had dropped any restrictions on computer time / bed times etc etc now they at 6th form but am slso seeing them not really creating any positive role model for younger siblings...

Would you reintroduce/ enforce any house rules? Currently only one is phones downstairs over night.

DS is 18 now, but at 17 ... a large chunk of the weekend was spent just on part time job, and school work. He might meet friends in town during the day and there seemed to be lots of parties/evening get togethers. Although he found socialising got more complicated as everyone was working at different times.

Not too much time spent on "activities" although there was a phase of going for cycle rides in the nicer weather.

My son didn't do A levels but did a vocational qualification at college. He had a part time job doing KP at a cafe from 16. Weekends he generally worked Saturdays and went to gym hung out with mates/ girlfriend Sundays. Not that in to gaming.
My dd is now in Upper Sixth and she has a piano lesson Saturday mornings, in lower sixth used to volunteer working with autistic kids in the afternoon but now does school work - she runs one of the school clubs which requires a lot of work. Yesterday we went around a few galleries. She doesn't game, doesn't have TikTok. Does watch a fair amount of YouTube.
She goes up to her room about 9pm and needs her sleep so doesn't stay up late. Not social at all.
I didn't feel the need for rules other than my son getting home between midnight snd 1am on weekends and to stay in touch when out.

Why can't she have her phone in her room overnight at 17?

Mine was out with her friends most of the day yesterday and stayed out, and she’s been at work all day today so will probably come in and go to sleep. I don’t take phones on a night as they’re sensible and don’t stay on it too late

Part time job Saturdays until about 2pm. Then might go into city centre on way back. Otherwise comes with us for a walk on Sundays often, reads, listens to music, tv, chatting to friends. Doesn't exercise enough....

Works on Sundays. Studies Sunday night.
Studies Mon & Tue night.
Sport Wed night.
Studies Thu night.
Relaxes Fri night.
Mix of studying & socialising Sat.
Also goes to gym after school 3-4 days.

(She’s driven. She smashed her mocks before the summer and has just done well in back to school tests last week. It’s all her choice and I wouldn’t mind if she eased off a bit.)

it's not his job to 'create a positive role model for his younger siblings' it's yours, leave him alone imo

I’ve got a nearly 17yo in year 12. I’ve also got a nearly 19yo who’s working full time.

I drop the phones downstairs overnight
rule once GCSEs are finished. I will suggest they don’t plug them in by the bed (but of course they do).

DS2 worked Friday night and all day today. His older brother has just gone to collect him from work. He has a casual hours contract, so sometimes he doesn’t get any work, he’s averaging a day each weekend at the moment. Yesterday he did some college work and played an unholy amount of Fortnite. He helped me make dinner. Tomorrow I am hoping the older two might go climbing together in the afternoon, they both loved it at one point but have got out of the habit.

it’s a tricky stage. The more you push something, the less they’re interested, I find. But sometimes, you just want them out of the house for a bit.

My Dd 16 just started college and hasn't started getting loads of work yet also awaiting a work placement so nothing to do two days a week. Does some ad hoc babysitting work. Continuing with two of her previous activities. I have ignored suggestions that she might want to stop them. Still hoping to get her back to another activity ahe dropped during exams. Otherwise gets up at noon and lounges around on screens all day and night. Hasn't really had a chance to make new friends yet but I will be encouraging her to see her old friends.

Ds 17 works Friday and Saturday night which has been great for him. Sees friends or relaxes otherwise

Studies and cooks too

Serms a good balance atm

Oh and the gym

No they are nearly adults. Compulsory activities were their studies and mine played in the orchestra plus had lessons so practice

Thks so much for all your replies -

Re phones - we all of us keep our phones in kitchen overnight for charging etc - what weve always done - just seems to work

Phone downstairs at night time? OP do you live in the stone age?

Will you still be expecting them to leave their phones downstairs when they turn 18?

Just read this after I sent my message. Is this a compulsory thing or can your child choose to charge their phone in their room? This is so odd

Think will gently encourage them to pick up the part time job again in coming weeks 🤞🤞

You aren't giving him a choice though are you, Christ these threads make me so grateful for my laid back parents who just let me be, when I was a lot younger than 17 as well.

Leaving phones downstairs seems strange to me from emergency pov for adults at least. Unless you have a landline close

For 17 year old here they just keep it too

Mine work 5 evenings a week and do college during the day !

Agree with the part time job suggestion, for most teenagers isn't that just a natural step because they want their own money? Where does he get his money from now? If you provide DS with money can you should probably stop to encourage him to get a job

Dd is 17 soon. No phone restrictions and no bedtime. She works PT pot washing, is off to a party tonight.

She goes into town shopping, sees her friends, goes round her dads, works PT, naps and does homework on weekends. She will come out on walks with me/paddleboarding in the summer/food and quite often takes over the kitchen baking.

Another family here where phones charge downstairs overnight. It's not a rule for kids it's all of us. I don't have the will power not to look at my phone if it vibrates when I'm in bed so I can't see why a teenager would be able to.

I used to do that with my own phone, until there was an early hours emergency and the person trying to get hold of me only had my mobile number and not the landline.

I haven’t put restrictions on the DCs about phones, just reminded them that they should read a book or listen to music for half an hour before sleep (ie not looking at screens).

Mine is quite disciplined and social. She is either out and about, or studying. Her siblings are quite different and they will have strict screen time restrictions until they finish school.