Activities for Parents to do with their Teens
LEARN A TIKTOK CHALLENGE Thisistheperfecttimeforacrashcourseinthispopularapp.Whilepersonally,I’mnotafanoftheapp,thatdoesn’tmeanourstudentsaren’tstillusingit.ChoreographanewTikTokdanceorrespondtoaTikTokchallengewithyourson/daughter. TIkTokTutorial:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyaZxrN_gM8
READ THE SAME BOOK Youdon’thavetostartabookclubtogether,justreadthesamebookatrelativelythesamepace.Itwillnotonlygiveyousomethingtodo,butalso,asharedexperiencetotalkabout.
CLEAN THE STORAGE AREA Thismightnotbethemost“fun”activitybutit’saproductiveoneanditstillcountsasasharedexperience.Whoknowswhatfunmemoriesorknickknackswillturnupasaresultofyoursharedchore?
TRAIN THE DOG Thiscouldbequitetheundertakingdependingontheageandpersonalityofyourdog.Itcanalsobealongtermprojectthatwilltakesometimeandbenefitthewholefamily.
PULL OUT THE FAMILY VIDEOS OR PHOTO ALBUMS Photoalbumsandfamilyvideoshavebecomeathingofthepastbutweallhavethem.Gothroughfunnyoldphotosorvideoswithyourson/daughterandsharethememoriesandstoriesthatgoalongwiththem.
PLAY CARDS Therearesomanycardgamestochoosefrom.Youcouldpotentiallylearnandplayanewoneeveryday!Startbyplayingsomeofyourfamilyfavoritesandthenbranchoutandlookupsomenewgamestotry. CardGames:https://playingcarddecks.com/blogs/all-in/40-great-card-games-for-all-occasions
BAKE TOGETHER CheckoutPinterestorconsultsomeoldcookbookstofindaneworspecialrecipeandbaketogether!
BREAK OUT THE BOARD GAMES It’sprobablybeenawhilesinceyou’vedustedofftheboardgames.Tryafewoldiesbutgoodiesandseewherethingsgo!
HAVE A MISCELLANEOUS PIZZA NIGHT Thiscanbeafunactivitythatresultsinadeliciousmeal!Searchthefridgeforuniquenewtoppingsorsomeclassicstandby’slikecheeseandpepperoni.Then,throwitalltogetherandmakesomemiscellaneouspizza!
DO A MASSIVE PUZZLE Thisislikelynotaone-timesitdownactivity.Ifyougetabigenoughpuzzleyoucanhavesomefunthatcouldlastfordaysorevenweeks.Findanunusedtableorspaceforthepuzzle(soyoudon’thavetotakeitaparttomoveit)andspendafewminuteseverydayaddingnewpieces.Youwillhaveagreatsharedexperiencewhenyou’redoneandprobablyanicesenseofaccomplishmenttoo.
GO FOR A WALK
Simple.Easy.Goodforyou.Fun.
PLAY CHARADES Playthisclassicgameamongstfamilymembersinthehomeorfindanotherfamilytoplayagainstovervideochat. GamePlay:https://www.familyeducation.com/fun/family-games/how-play-charades
SET UP AN INDOOR GYM CLASS Obstaclecourseanyone?Trysettingupyourownobstaclecourseorchallengingfamilymemberstoanexcitingmadeuproutine.
LISTEN TO PODCASTS TOGETHER FindacommonareaofinterestandlookupapodcastorTedTalkstolistentotogether.Afterthepodcastengagewithson/daughteraboutwhattheythoughtorpointoutsomethingnewthatyoulearned.
DIY PROJECTS JustaboutanyprojectaroundthehomecanbeturnedintoaDIYproject.Maybeyouarefeelingambitiousandthathideousbacksplashjusthastogo!Or,youcanstartsimplebymakingyourownhandsoap.Whatevertheproject,bringyourenergyandcreativityandwhetheritturnsoutornot,you’llprobablyhaveagoodstorytoshare.
DO A WORKOUT VIDEO TOGETHER Therearevariouslevels,typesandstylesofworkoutsareavailableonstreamingplatformssuchasYouTube.Findonethatfitsyourfitnesslevelandtrysomethingnewtogether.Youmightbehealthierforit,orattheveryleasthaveagoodlaugh!
VIRTUALTOUR Manyzoos,aquariums,parks&museumshavevirtualtoursavailable.Findoutwhichoftheseinterestyourteenandtakeatour!(Note:doagooglesearchforthetouryouareinterestedin) Optionsfortheseare: CincinnatiZooLive-streamCheckoutMars’360cameraE-visittheLouvreAfricanWildlifeCamAcadiaNationalParkSmithsonianWorldTour-VirtualGliderGlacierNationalParkYellowstoneNationalParkSequoiaNationalParkMontereyBayAquariumSeaOtterCamTouroftheGreatWallofChinaArchesNationalParkBadlandsNationalParkZionNationalPark
This is an opportunity to connect with your children like never before! I hope this list inspires some incredible new family memories.
Praying for your family,
Stephen Law Student Pastor