Teens have a reputation as being difficult to please. But stereotypes of them living like sloths glued to their phones are often exaggerated.
In reality, many teens feel strongly about their passions and interests. By encouraging the teens in your life to pursue these interests and express themselves IRL instead of just online, it’s possible to find lots of activities with teenagers you can all enjoy as a family.
But what do teenagers enjoy and how can we have fun as a family? Keep reading to find out!
1. Room Re-Do
Understanding how to connect with teenagers means appreciating their need for autonomy and freedom of expression. If their bedroom is still full of your decor choices, let them make some design decisions for a room re-do. They’re sure to be a lot more enthusiastic about hitting the DIY store if they’re the ones picking the colors and styles for a change!
2. Make a Movie
Tired of trying to tempt your teen away from their phone? As they say, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! These days you don’t need much more than a smartphone to shoot a short movie or music video. And, your teen can flex their creative muscles by writing the script, directing, and acting in their very own home movie.
3. Skincare Session
Bad skin is often the bane of many a teenager’s life. To encourage good skincare practices from a young age, one of the best activities to do with your teenage daughter or son is a pampering evening complete with cleansing tips, face masks, and sunscreen advice.
4. Yard Sale
There are so many wins involved in hosting a yard sale. Your teen will be busy for a few days going through their things and finding items to sell. You’ll benefit from more storage space. They get some cash in their pockets. And, their old toys, bikes, and other stuff will go to a new home rather than heading to the landfill.
5. Amusement Park
Little kids are easy to please but they’re often too small for most amusement park rides. Take advantage of the fact that your teens can now join you on the big rollercoasters and spinning rides by taking the family for a fun day at a local amusement park.
6. Beach Clean
If your teen is inspired by change-makers like Greta Thunberg, show them how they can make a direct impact on causes that matter to them. A simple way to get things started is by hitting the local beach and cleaning up the sand. Your teen might then feel empowered to start volunteering or set up a fund-raiser.
7. Movie Marathon
Family activities don’t always have to involve heading outside or trying something new. For rainy days, lazy weekends, and family movie nights, nothing beats kicking back in your very own family friendly home theater with some popcorn and your teen’s choice of movie.
Fun Family Activities With Teenagers
While it might seem that having fun as a family is a thing of the past, this list shows that there are plenty of activities with teenagers you can all enjoy.
Sure, you might have to compromise more than when they were kids. But, learning from each other is one of the many benefits of having children and watching them blossom as they grow.
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