Hobbies for lonely teen

[Dashpass]

Hi,
Im looking for hobbies for my lonely teen (14.). She’s ND (AuDHD) and has no friends but is interested in doing hobbies. She has very few hobbies now and her interests are quite narrow. Not sporty, not a fan of team things and generally not a fan of people her own age - gets on better with adults, but still wants friends. Everything I say seems to be wrong! Any hobby ideas that fit this description? x

Would she be interested in volunteering somewhere?? What are her hobbies?? There are some crochet classes/craft groups about?

Do they do Duke of Edinburgh at school?
I was going to suggest something like charity shop volunteering but they're often inundated with DofE volunteers.
A sport/activity that's not team based or running round after a ball as school sports tend to be.....kayaking, sailing, rock climbing??

@shellyleppard She said she can’t do crochet etc so she gave up. Her current hobbies are mostly writing/reading oriented.

Board games/table top games? Have a look and see if there's a games cafe in your local area. There trading card games like Magic the Gathering, role-playing games like D&D, board games. Usually nice people inolved, all ages from young teens to adults - not unusual for them to be ND or shyer/quieter/less sporty types. Safe warm place to hang out.

Are there any local book clubs or writing groups? It will be adults but I know that I preferred interacting with older people as a ND teen and she might feel more comfortable without the social pressure of other children? They might need you to attend with her for safeguarding.

My auhd 14 year old girl is the same. She loves drawing but it’s really tough to find anything she wants to do. Especially as sports are a no.

If she likes reading and writing then could you encourage her into youth theatre? If you’re in or near a city it’s likely your local theatre has something. The great thing is she could push herself forward if so inclined, or get absorbed in behind the scenes stuff - but either way she’d be involved with drama and words.

Things that my neurodiverse teen (13) daughter enjoys - reading and creating graphic novels - there are graphic novel clubs you can go to in many towns or linked to school.

Bouldering. She loves this (in fact all my kids do). You can go on your own but be around other people, it’s for all ages, and I’ve found the bouldering community to be really inclusive.

Singjng in a choir. Again, being amongst others, but structured and with a purpose.

My older DD (15) is doing DofE which has been good for her confidence, especially the volunteering bit. She also plays an instrument and has been in the school orchestra - perhaps your DD could do something like this?

How about getting into manga/anime drawing, reading, animation. You can go to classes to learn how to draw it ( online if she doesn't fancy in-person). She could go to expos of Manga art and comic style cartoons and join online chatrooms for fans where dhe might make good friends thst translate into real life. (My ND son has good friends first met in specisl interest online gotims, and do do I.)

An autistic friend studied cartoon animation at BA level and said almost everyone on the course was autistic or neuro diverse and it was the loveliest bunch of people he'd ever hung out with.

Would she consider Rangers (older section of Brownies/Guides)? IME tends to attract a high proportion of non sporty, quirky girls. Or Scouts for a mixed group of boys and girls. The leaders run the activities so there isn’t much free socialising needed iyswim.

Volunteering would be another possibility, maybe at a food bank or animal shelter where there would be others to meet?

Just noticed @Sparklehead suggested graphic novel clubs. That's v similar to what I meant.

Our town has a gaming club, D&D type stuff. It’s very inclusive.

Maybe like others have said a gaming club. My son likes Warhammer - you make the figures from a kit and then paint them. You can play games similar to D&D. If there is a local shop you can usually make and paint a figure for free and you can go in to paint your figures or play games. There may be local clubs as well.

Horses? Our local riding stables has special lessons for autistic children and children with other SEN. It covers everything from ground work and grooming to actually riding. It's also very well-priced compared to other lessons (It's subsidised in part from the local council).

My ND nephew is obsessed with cartoon animation. He also likes painting these tiny little models.

My 14 year old son is also into DnD and Warhammer. Not that this brings him lots of new contacts…as he mainly plays with my husband and some friends of our family …but as least he has something to do. And books to read about it.

I know you said non-sporty hobbies but I was going to suggest bouldering as a few others have already mentioned. There's no dashing around, we seem to spend lots of time sitting on the mat contemplating the next climb or resting after the previous climb. Both of my teens go bouldering every week and it's a nice friendly environment, plenty of people come there on their own and are often exchanging bouldering tips and suggestions with my teens, it's very welcoming and inclusive. My local bouldering wall runs a women's group as well which I'm told is popular. Bouldering is great for strength, confidence and problem-solving too.

Brazilian juijitsu / mma she will meet many other kids with add who excel at this and get incredibly fit in the process

Would she join a local Community Choir? Ours has a few teens who come along by themselves and love it. They are greatly outnumbered by adults but we love them.

Tabletop gaming such as D&D (very popular with ND teens especially girls) and Warhammer. Climbing, archery. Archery is very age-mixed so plenty of adults to talk to if DD struggles with talking to people her own age.

I know you said not sporty but leisurely swimming (lengths at her own pace & number) is excellent for mind & body without much effort, it really works for me & my DD. I've done this on and off throughout my life and so has she when nothing else has worked. Within a few hours it's like living in a different world, life becomes clearer.

Archery. I know you said not sporty, but there’s no charging around, no sweating etc. It’s an individual sport that everyone does together. I

Horse riding would be perfect!

Another non- sporty sport is golf. Could you sign her up for some group golf lessons?

Volunteering is a good shout. Maybe a conservation group?

Do you have a dog? Dog agility ?

Unfortunately, , if she’s shouting down your suggestions, then you can’t lead a horse to water etc.

my friend’s daughter volunteers at a bunny rescue every Saturday, another friend’s child helps out with guinea pigs. I think it is good for routine and getting them out but also incidental social interactions.
similarly to PPs, both my children do rock climbing and bouldering and the proportion of ND kids there seems high and, again, it can be as social or as individual as you like. But if you attend regularly at the same time each week then you tend to recognise the same people and it feels like a community is possible. Round our way gamer shops/cafés are very popular- three in our small town, all very busy and profitable. One hosts eg painting warhammer figures one night a week, Pokemon tournaments another. It does look male dominated when I walk by, but it might be you could ask locally to see if there are any more mixed near you.