‘I’m bored’ – those of us that have teens are used to hearing this and especially during the long stretch of summer holidays. With the rise of technology, teenagers are increasingly capable of making their own social plans but how can we try to make sure that they are doing wholesome activities, at least some of the time, rather than scrolling endlessly on their phone or gaming? 

The most important point to note with teens is that you need to involve teens in the decision-making process and are considerate of their interests and preferences. Encourage open communication and collaborate with them to create a summer filled with enjoyable and meaningful experiences. 

Here are just a few ideas. You might find a few that are applicable to your teenager…

Outdoor Activities 

• Would your teenager join you or plan with friends a hiking, biking or camping trip? These activities don’t tend to cost too much and guarantee healthy and wholesome fun.  Depending on the age of your teen you may wish to go with them (but keep a distance!) and invite their closest friends. Even if your teen is obsessed with their phone, some of these activities are really Insta-friendly – anything to encourage them to get into nature!  

Sports 

• We sometimes take our young teens down to the local sports centre to play a game of badminton. They don’t necessarily have the confidence to go on their own but are happy to play together. All sports or team activities, such as basketball, soccer, or volleyball, can also be enjoyable for teens – it’s just about finding the right place and people to play with.  

Creative Projects  

• Perhaps your teen is more creatively minded? Engage their creativity by suggesting artistic or craft projects – something that you can find with a quick Google! This could involve painting, drawing, photography, pottery, or DIY projects. Teens could also experiment with music, writing, or filmmaking. Canva is a good place to start for graphic design and it’s easy to create invitations, documents, pictures for your wall – anything really.  It’s important to inspire your teen by providing the necessary materials and resources to pursue their interests. 

Volunteering 

• A lot of local animal shelters and community service projects are often crying out for volunteers. With the nod from your teenager, get in touch and see if they could help out – even for a day. They will learn valuable skills, be forced out of their comfort zone and have something useful to put on their CV at the end of it! Volunteering also helps them develop a sense of responsibility and empathy. 

Summer work 

• If there are local jobs available for summer, then great! Amusement parks and other businesses often take on staff just for the summer holidays. This provides valuable work experience and teaches them essential skills. If you can’t find anything, then is there something that you could pay them a little to do – household chores, sorting out the garden, clearing out that room that you’ve been meaning to do for ages? 

Cultural Activities 

• If you live near a city then cultural activities can work really well in summer, and often they are low cost or even free! Take your teen to museums, art galleries, or historical sites in your area. Once you have delivered them there, don’t be offended if they don’t want to walk round with you – it’s just a teen thing! This can really help to broaden their horizons and stimulate their curiosity. 

Learning something new 

• Would your teenager be interested in learning something new during the summer holidays? Think about enrolling them in workshops or classes, focused on areas in which they are interested such as coding, sports, modern languages or photography. Online courses or tutorials can provide opportunities that are self-paced. 

Games Competitions 

• Does your teen love gaming? Think about organising a game night or competition with prizes. If they love gaming online, they might even enjoy a good board game or card game – more like the old days. Once you’ve persuaded them to take part, they might really enjoy it!  

Movie Marathon 

• We do love a movie marathon. This is a great way to spend a rainy day. Think about the viewing space – how can it be more appealing to a teen? Fairy lights, duvets and exciting snacks all tend to go down well.  Perhaps you can watch some films together that you used to like at the same age – great bonding time! 

We hope that you find this useful – let us know how you get on!