Family Activities for Teens
As your teenager builds a life of his own, it can be difficult to pry him away from his friends and electronics to spend time with the family. Keep your teen's interests in mind when planning family activities, and respect his life outside the family; ask for his schedule and include him in the planning so that he is able to join you.
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Spend Time Away
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Getting away from the distractions of home life provides bonding opportunities for families with teens. Go to a ski resort for a week, spend a weekend exploring a neighboring town or city, or go camping. When your teen does not have the option of being locked in his room with video games or a computer, or of being out all night with his friends, he will be more likely to enjoy time with the family. Choose a trip that will appeal to your teen's interests, and not something he will be miserable doing --- dragging a sports enthusiast to endless art museums, for example, will not go over well.
Have a Game Night
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Get the whole family together for a game night. Take turns choosing the games so that everyone has a chance to play something they are good at and enjoy. It is not necessary to have a marathon of games, and it may be easier to get your teen to commit to one game --- and he may have so much fun that he sticks around for more. If your teen is not enthusiastic about board games try joining him in a video game; many consoles have family-friendly, and even co-operative, games available.
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Play Outside
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Going outdoors on a regular basis gives the family time together, and will help keep your teen active. Encourage the whole family to be active by playing outside. Teens, even those who were sporty as kids, tend to spend less time being active than they should. Go for a hike, explore a local bird sanctuary, snowshoe, or just walk around the neighborhood. If your teen has a favorite sport go see the local team play and then have a game of your own (try playing parents against kids). If he is interested in plants build a family garden, or find a plot at a community garden.
Create Routines
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While many teens may appear to want nothing to do with the family, they will often hold onto routines or rituals, and may even crave the time away from the pressures of teenage life. Whether it's Sunday night dinners with the grandparents, summers at the cottage, or going to the Christmas parade, set aside time that is just for family. Eventually things like summer jobs, relationships or exams may get in the way, so you may need to be flexible or help your teen plan around that time.
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References
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