Help please to think of a new hobby for a teen and her mum

[anorak]

My 15 year old dd is so snowed under with studying, and suffers from depression from time to time. I'd like to think of some kind of hobby she and I could do together, something totally absorbing and relaxing for her to enjoy, both to chill out and to create some kind of special time just for her and me. Preferably I would like this to involve our going out somewhere together at least part of the time.

It can't be anything too sporty as I have an injury. We both love crafts. I'd prefer to steer away from anything that seems too scholarly as she has enough of that at the moment. Any suggestions would be very very welcome.

How about swimming and then for a drink/snack in the cafe afterwards?

what about Salsa?

or Line Dancing
Art Classes/Pottery/craft

I can't do anything like dancing or sport because of my injury. I might be okay on a good day, if it didn't involve running, but I'd have to miss it half the time because my ankle wouldn't be up to it.

join an art club?

scrapbooking?

even swimming anorak?

what about photography?

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or how about just setting some time a week to do something of her choice - eg she picks a film to see at the cinema, a dvd/video to watch, a cafe to ahve tea and cake in

Swimming is impossible on a bad day.

Some of these suggestions are great, please keep them coming.

i think scrapbooking would be a good idea too...maybe a scrap book of all your holidays; you acn watch QVC for the idaes....plus reminisce as you work

Bird watching? Join the rspb.

Do you live anywhere where there is a Stitch and Bitch group? They seem to attract all ages from students to grannies, and you could go along together and learn to knit. I know it sounds old-fashioned but there are lots of very trendy books and patterns out now, many aimed squarely at the teenage market. It would be something you could do together at home and going out, and it really is amazingly therapeutic. I taught my stepdd at Christmas and she said as she was knitting she immediately calmed down and relaxed (even though she wasn't very skilled!).

I hope you find something

Oops, just realised that I had rudely assumed you can't knit

Thank you all. My favourite ideas so far are scrapbooking, yoga, art and stitch and bitch .

Do keep the ideas rolling in, you've already said a few I hadn't thought of.

Aqua aerobics - nice & calm on the ankle.
Painting - water colours by the river, countryside etc?
card making
car boot sales
mosaics
jigsaws - very calming and takes your mind of many things.

Useful directory of Stitch n Bitch groups

Have a look at this site there might be a scrapbooking group /crop near you here

and have a look here

How about joining a choir ?
Or Amateur Dramatics ? you would'nt have to 'tread the boards' you could help backstage, costumes and scenery etc.
My 15 yr old dD and I are both in a Pro/Am production and it's been great so far, we jolly each other along. It's been great seeing her tackling stuff she's not sure of and doing it well, and I think she maybe sees me as a 'person' not just dull old mum iykwIm

would belly dancing classes be completely out - lots of tummy muscle work etc?

that stitch and bitch idea is so funny!

Any ideas to add, daytime crowd?

Morningmayhem, I'm particularly interested in the scrapbooking, but unfortunately there don't seem to be any groups near enough.

Are you a scrapbooker yourself? I don't know much about it.