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Teenagers

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

What are your 12/13 year old boys doing for half term?

1 reply

parrotonmyshoulder · 25/05/2025 11:02

TLDR: bored pre teen is bored. I just need to suck it up?

12 yo DS struggles to find things to do and is likely to sit in his room watching tv all week unless I am actively managing him (which I don’t have the inclination or time to do really).
He does have some SEN (a language difficultyand ADHD) but is safe to be fairly independent. Unfortunately, his school
is not in our town so he doesn’t have many local friends. The one he does have is away this week.
I don’t know what I’m asking for really, as suggestions to join clubs, camps etc have all been tried and he won’t.
Any ideas, or is this completely normal and I just have to let him be utterly bored? I have to let go of the guilt I think - he’s always asking ‘what are we doing today?’ or ‘what fun things are we going to do?’ and doesn’t like my answers of ‘I’m working’ or ‘I’m doing chores, want to help?’
He’s not completely neglected by the way, he just doesn’t want to do what’s on offer and only makes unrealistic suggestions (eg beach on my work days, cycle ride in the rain - which he can do on his own but I’m not going - camping on work days etc).
What he really needs is friends. But I can’t magic that for him this holiday. Of course I’ve offered to drive him to friends who live elsewhere but he won’t try to arrange anything.

Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
Kittkats · 25/05/2025 11:15

There’s a fair on in the park, so we’re going there one evening after work.
One day I’ll send them to the arcades at the bowling alley with money.
Other than that I expect them to be practicing football skills in the garden, or on the phone to mates (sometimes while gaming). I’m working everyday.
I imagine they’ll come on a couple of dog walks with me too. If I had money I’d suggest trampolining or cinema or climbing or the water inflatable course one evening.

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