30 Ways to spend more time with your teens

In today’s world, it seems to be that our time fills up quickly with all the things that
we have to do. Going here and then going there, how much time do we actually get to
spend with our own family in all the places we need to be. How do we fit it all in?
Studies have shown that spending time with our teenagers is as crucial as it was
when they were little, if not even more so.
Spending time with them gives them better social skills and confidence, as well as
equips them to handle the struggles in life better than without a parent’s influence.
But how do you spend time with a teenager who seemingly does not want to spend
time with you? Here are 30 ideas that can get some ideas rolling around in your
head and help develop a lasting friendship between you and your teenager.

1. Eat dinner together and talk about your teenager’s day.
2. Go bowling.
3. Go ice/roller skating.
4. Go hiking.
5. Go to the beach.
6. Go bird watching.
7. Plan a family vacation together.
8. Plan a road trip.
9. Visit some National or State parks.
10. Choose a historical aspect of your teenager’s curriculum and go visit that
    place.
11. Redecorate your teenager’s room together.
12. Volunteer at a philanthropic charity.
13. Exercise together.
14. Learn a new skill together like a language or a musical instrument.
15. Read a book together and discuss it afterward.
16. Plant a garden.
17. Do a house project together.
18. Make dinner together.
19. Have a picnic.
20. Do a regular game night.
21. Learn about your family history.
22. Make a time capsule.
23. Order food from your teen’s favorite restaurant.
24. Learn how to make your teen’s favorite restaurant food at home and make it
    together.
25. Learn about foods from other cultures and try them together.
26. Develop a new healthy habit together like journaling.
27. Find out what interests your teenagers have and do the activity within that
    interest.
28. Talk about your teen’s goals in life.
29. Find out what your teen thinks life will be like in the next 10, then 20 or 30
    years.
30. Create a bucket list and then start working on that list.

Now that you have some ideas, you can talk to your teen and get started. These
are only 30 suggestions, but the sky’s the limit. Let these ideas start your creative
juices regarding your teen. Of course, you can plan some of these out, but let
your teen plan some of these as well.
Remember, the goal is to get your teen excited to do something with his parents
and family. Letting your teen be invested in these activities will pay off so much
more in the long run. Yes, this may mean that you are doing some things that you
do not have a passion for. However, the time invested in your teen will be worth
it and you never know, you may find a new hobby that you never knew you
would love.

If you have any ideas that you’d add to this list leave a comment and share the love of this article with someone you think may benefit from it.