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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Tell me what your post-GCSE teenager does all day

46 replies

outofofficeagain · 09/07/2025 14:57

I'm very laid back. DC has worked hard and they deserve a rest. I'm not very draconian about chores either.

But it's been nearly a month now and it's beginning to wear a bit thin, even though finding a proper job has proven difficult, despite trying.

So what does you teen do all day.

Do you make them get up at a certain time?
Jobs around the house?
Pay them for jobs around the house?

I'd like some kind of bell curve on what's reasonable.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 09/07/2025 15:05

We are on holiday but he wasn't doing a lot before wee came and I doubt h will be doing much when we get home either.
DH has a few garden jobs he wants a hand with and I have discussed teaching him to cook a bit but beyond that he can do what he wants really

CantThinkOfAUsername57 · 09/07/2025 15:05

Post GCSE summer is about having fun with friends!

Original poster
outofofficeagain · 09/07/2025 15:19

Presumably a trip to the Post Office is OK though

OP posts:
Ebenezerscrogge · 09/07/2025 15:28

He is mostly on the ps5 , at the gym or eating . He has applied for a couple of jobs but no luck . We go away for a couple of weeks soon thank goodness . Lots of pre a level work to be done too . Not ideal - I worked for 7 weeks after my GCSEs but I think it was easier to get a job back then . Also the GcSEs seemed way more pressured than in my day - I think it took him a good week to come out of the tired zombie like daze

Echobelly · 09/07/2025 15:32

I think my oldest was a bit of an outlier, as they are an early riser so last year post GCSE they got up early, went on days out with friends walking or seeing historical stuff, did some political activism events. I'm not sure we even saw them that much over summer!

Rocknrollstar · 09/07/2025 15:58

Mine both had jobs. I can’t bare teenagers lying around, making a mess while I am at work.

Original poster
outofofficeagain · 09/07/2025 16:00

Rocknrollstar · 09/07/2025 15:58

Mine both had jobs. I can’t bare teenagers lying around, making a mess while I am at work.

What jobs?

do you mean around the house or paid?

no one seems to be taking on 16 year olds at the minute.

OP posts:
Kelbowl · 09/07/2025 18:11

Mine has applied for so many jobs and most don’t even acknowledge her applications. She is now in a haze of going to the gym and lazing around. I give her one chore a day to do whilst I’m at work, mostly to help her learn domestic skills but otherwise I’m being pretty easy going. It’s their only real summer off.

Alwaysinamood · 09/07/2025 18:14

Mine seems to be sleeping a lot or going out with friends!

VioletIndigoBlueGreen · 09/07/2025 18:17

Mine is abroad with county orchestra at the moment, but otherwise a mixture of work (same place as Y10 work experience but now paid) or hanging out with friends or on family holiday.

He normally gets up by 9 as he’s an eternal early riser, and I have had him doing some jobs such as garden tasks or laundry if im working.

Rubiscoisfantastic · 09/07/2025 18:17

My son is very active. He has started a jet washing business of his own, doing drive ways, patios, cars, wheelie bins, etc. He is also visiting charity shops, looking for bargains to sell on Vinted. We joke about him building his empire!

When he’s not doing that, he’s out riding around on his bike, playing snooker, golf, darts or pool.

Essentially, he doesn’t stop moving!

arethereanyleftatall · 09/07/2025 18:19

today mine was up late, walked to the farm shop then made herself breakfast/my lunch with purchases, she has a friend over now and they’re painting.

ive given her a list of chores she can do if she chooses, all £10 an hour ish. Gardening etc

she’s been tutoring a friends y7 for £15 an hour a few hours a week

shes been doing lots of yoga in the garden

she’s been to about 3 parties a week, if it’s relevant I live in an affluent area, where many people have gardens easily big enough for 50 or so friends.

she’s having a blast and I’m totally happy for her

MsVestibule · 09/07/2025 18:21

Gym, Xbox, spending time with friends, playing football. When I'm in, I'll wake him up at 10.30ish. Very few jobs in the house. He's applied for loads of jobs, but no luck at all, unfortunately.

I'm not bothered that he's not doing much. The way I look at it is that they'll be working FT for about 50 years, so I'm happy for him to just enjoy his teens 🤷‍♀️.

ColonelRhubarbBikini · 09/07/2025 18:30

Mine doesn’t turn 16 until the end of the holidays so no possibility of work and no one is hiring 15 year olds at all.

He’s been making the most of the nice weather, out with his mates having fun. One of his friends has canoes so they’ve been up and down the river.

He does his own laundry anyway and he’s tidied the house really nicely unprompted a few times.

This is the last ever summer “off” he’ll get so I’m going easy on him. I remember my long summer between school and sixth form really fondly and I hope he will too.

Bufftailed · 09/07/2025 18:42

He goes to the gym and out with friends. Lots of time on screens. I am not controlling when he goes to bed or gets up. Has applied for jobs but nothing yet.

I am getting him to walk the dog/ light chores.

Bufftailed · 09/07/2025 18:45

outofofficeagain · 09/07/2025 16:00

What jobs?

do you mean around the house or paid?

no one seems to be taking on 16 year olds at the minute.

Show quote history

Job market is a nightmare. DS applied to around 15 jobs - nothing back

Welshmonster · 09/07/2025 18:46

My now 16 yo DS set up a pet sitting business when he was 14 and so he does that. He also volunteers with a charity and helps out in schools etc. he’s never bloody home which is annoying as he was supposed to be home at 6:30pm but it’s now gonna be closer to 7:30 and I want my dinner as I’ve been to a conference today so up since 5am.

bobster31 · 09/07/2025 18:50

My DS has struggled with mental health difficulties for the last 2 years and we've learnt that having structure/routine really help, along with keeping active, so not so much of the "summer off" in our house. He has started working a couple of days a week in a very physical job for a friend of a friend, has summer bridging work for "A" levels to complete, spends time with his girlfriend and still plays his sports at weekends/evening practice. He also has a gym membership which he takes himself to most days along with walking the dog on longer walks than we normally have time for. Chuck in a couple of upcoming breaks with us and that's his holidays pretty much covered!

SilverliningHunter · 09/07/2025 18:54

My teen is having the summer of her life! Went on a girls’ trip without parents, to gigs in London, volunteering at school with year 6 events, has a job (touristy area) and is at parties most weekends. I’m very jealous! We will have a summer holiday soon in the UK which will be nice. She’s been given plenty of reading to do in advance of sixth form too but hasn’t made a start on that yet as she’s out all the time.

It does mean her room is an absolute bombsite and she never does her chores which is annoying when she wants me to be her taxi.

CarpetKnees · 09/07/2025 18:54

2 of mine did NCS which has apparently finished this year.
All went on Scout Camps, both as Explorers and also as Young Leaders with younger sections.
2 Of them worked through the Summer as Lifeguards.
1 worked through the Summer in the shop they had done their work experience in.

mummybear35 · 09/07/2025 19:01

Mine finished her A levels mid June, then went to Greece with a group of friends (self funded!) and has been working quite a few shifts at the local pub (been working there since after GCSEs) as well as seeing her friends, running, going to the gym..when she’s not, she’s watching movies, reading or helping me with simple chores round the house. It’s her last summer before she hopefully heads off to uni in Sept so I’m not too bothered what she does as long as she’s earning some money..

ElsaSnow · 09/07/2025 19:08

Mine has also applied for lots of part time jobs but no luck. Some days he’s up early and off to the gym/golf with friends. Other days he doesn’t surface until lunch time which annoys me even though I know it shouldn’t as it’s not like he has to be anywhere… and I appreciate he won’t have much chill time in future. He does have A level bridging work to do as well which he has made a start on but there is a lot of Xbox/phone usage going on!

He has helped both sets of grandparents with various gardening jobs and also cleaned a few of the neighbours’ cars for some money.

HappyHappyy · 09/07/2025 19:11

Ours is, very frustratingly, doing very little. Wakes at lunchtime, looks at phone, then becomes really chatty around 9pm when we’ve both worked all day & are ready for bed. Not an ounce of get up & go.

Has a few friends, but not motivated to make plans, likes to ‘chill’. Won’t walk dog, empties dishwasher if asked.

Trying really hard to hold in my frustration at the lack of drive, lack of hobbies, lack of social life, lack of communication outside of her mobile phone. Not 16 until August, so finding work I expect to be difficult but could start applying now - I want to burst when I ask about her plans for the day, she’s lazy & unmotivated to change. She’ll need to wise up & fast, the working world won’t tolerate her horizontal attitude.

Anyway I’ll be quiet now, I needed to vent 😆

Vladandnikki · 09/07/2025 19:14

Mine is back at school helping out with the year 7/8 end of year play, she's lined up some work experience at the local theatre for August. She's also off on a youth group trip for a week in August to. Absolutely no joy on the job front, she's applied for loads, but they all want experience 🤷🏻‍♀️

BakewellGin1 · 09/07/2025 19:18

So far mine has had a bbq at friends, a college assessment, cinema with girlfriend and food out with friends.
Prom was last week so had after party etc from that.
Meal out with family
Now in Germany with DH for a week.
Home for a bit then we go on our Summer Holiday.
He has just rejoined a football team so training and friendlies with them
Gym
Spend time with girlfriend
Football matches supporting local team when they restart

He hoovers and cleans room every other day, helps out with a few jobs round the house if im at work etc.

Will only have about 4 weeks to actually fill so not too bad