As kids enter their teen years, family time can start feeling like a forgotten relic. Between their school work, social lives, and the ever-present allure of screens, getting adolescents engaged in family activities can be an uphill battle. But fear not! Rekindling that family spark is absolutely possible.
Whether it’s working on a Harry Potter painting together or spending time exploring the great outdoors, there are options for every family. So, put down those phones, dust off the board games, and get ready to discover the joy of spending quality time with your not-so-little-ones!
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Understanding Older Kids
Teenagers are at a crucial stage where independence becomes a top priority. Their interests are rapidly evolving, and activities need to feel age-appropriate. Gone are the days of coloring books and simple board games. Your teens (and even tweens) crave activities that make them feel more like the young adults they are becoming.
If you want your older children to participate in family activities, not treating them like little kids is one of the most important things to keep in mind. Here are some tips:
1. Choose Engaging Activities That Suit Their Interests
The key to successfully involving teens and tweens is making activities feel engaging and stimulating. They don’t want to be told what to do or be forced to participate in something geared toward younger kids. Offer several options and let them choose something they find genuinely interesting.
Family activities shouldn’t be so easy or predictable they become boring. Incorporate a challenge, like learning a new skill or setting a family record in a board game, to keep those older kiddos engaged. Encouraging healthy competition never hurts.
2. Don’t Rule Out Technology
While minimizing screen time may be one of the many reasons you plan family activities, don’t rule out screens altogether. Technology can be a tool for helping families bond, and if you have a tech-savvy teen, you may have more luck involving them in activities if you meet them where they are instead of forcing them to do something outside of their interests. Check out apps and online games you can enjoy as a family.
3. Include Their Friends
Sometimes, the magic ingredient is simply expanding your definition of “family.” Your child’s friends are like a second family to them. Letting them invite their friends to participate in family outings and activities creates a more inclusive experience, and they’ll enjoy having one or more of their peers involved.
4. Help Them Express Their Creative Side
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Is your older child creative? If so, choose activities that encourage their creativity while spending time together as a family. Not sure where to start? Here are a few suggestions:
- DIY Crafts: Diamond painting kits are a great option since they’re easy enough to suit all ages but engaging enough to hold teens’ interest. The best diamond painting kits include everything your family needs to create a sparkling masterpiece.
- Themed Painting Night: Choose a theme that resonates with everyone, like a favorite movie or video game, and create art inspired by it. Just about any tween or teen would have a blast working on a Marvel painting.
- Music and Movement: Get your bodies moving! Host dance parties with a playlist of everyone’s favorites, learn a new choreography together from an online tutorial, or create a family band with homemade instruments.
- Creative Writing: Spark imaginations with collaborative storytelling, writing poems inspired by nature walks or creating a hilarious family comic book.
5. Take Fun and Games to the Next Level
Turn classic games like hide-and-seek or tag into more challenging and engaging versions. Play hide-and-seek outdoors after dark, or create a capture-the-flag game with neighborhood friends. Organize friendly sports competitions in the backyard, hold backyard Olympics with silly events, or create fitness challenges that encourage everyone to get moving. The options are endless.
6. Add a Scavenger Hunt to Your Next Outdoor Adventure
Plan a family hike or bike ride, and incorporate an age-appropriate scavenger hunt to keep your teens and tweens engaged. Look for specific types of leaves, identify bird calls, or search for historical landmarks (depending on your location and your child’s age). This is a great option for families with children of different ages, too, since it’s easy to customize each child’s hunt.
For example, you could encourage your younger kids to simply spot a butterfly while having your tween or teen search for a specific species.
7. Plan a Family Vacation
Gone are the days of dictating every detail of your family vacation. Consider involving your children in the planning process as they enter their teenage years. This creates a sense of ownership and builds excitement for the trip while ensuring their interests and preferences are taken into account.
Start by brainstorming destinations together and exploring options that suit everyone’s interests. Once you’ve decided where to go, encourage them to research potential activities, accommodations, and local eateries that pique their curiosity. This collaborative approach creates a more fulfilling experience for everyone while teaching valuable skills like budgeting, research, and compromise — all while building lasting family memories.
8. Make Family Time a Habit
Tired of family time feeling like a chore? Here’s how to turn it into a regular source of joy and connection. First, treat it like any other important event by scheduling dedicated time in the calendar. Then, keep things interesting by rotating responsibilities for planning and leading activities, allowing everyone to share their interests. Remember to focus on having fun together and celebrating participation.
Openly discuss what activities everyone enjoys and areas for improvement to ensure they resonate with all ages. Finally, remember life happens. Be flexible and adapt activities based on everyone’s schedules and preferences. It will take some time, but eventually, spending time together as a family will become an engaging habit for everyone.
Closing Thoughts
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Rekindling your family’s spark and keeping your teenagers engaged doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By embracing their evolving interests, fostering a sense of ownership in activities, and staying flexible, you can create a family atmosphere that fosters connection and joy.
The most important things are spending quality time together and creating cherished memories that will stay with you all long after the activity is over. Put down the electronic devices, pick up a board game, or lace up your hiking boots — the journey to a closer, more connected family starts now!
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