Teenagers - why do they not want to walk or go anywhere?

andygb

This must be a fairly recent trend, because when I was 12, 13, 14, 15, I used to go out with my mates every chance I got. We used to spend every minute of the school holidays outside, and if one of the parents invited us for a trip to the coast or something, we used to jump at the chance.
My guess is, that children today are not very active, and expect everything to be given to them. They spend a lot of time in front of a screen (TV or PC), and do not spend any time interacting with others.

shellsuit

andygb wrote: »

This must be a fairly recent trend, because when I was 12, 13, 14, 15, I used to go out with my mates every chance I got. We used to spend every minute of the school holidays outside, and if one of the parents invited us for a trip to the coast or something, we used to jump at the chance.
My guess is, that children today are not very active, and expect everything to be given to them. They spend a lot of time in front of a screen (TV or PC), and do not spend any time interacting with others.

I didn't want to spend time with my parents, or anyone elses when I was 12-15. I used to spend all my time with out with friends.

Can't be a recent thing as I didn't have a PC, mobile or games console at that age which was 20 odd years ago.

SingleSue

shellsuit wrote: »

I didn't want to spend time with my parents, or anyone elses when I was 12-15. I used to spend all my time with out with friends.

Can't be a recent thing as I didn't have a PC, mobile or games console at that age which was 20 odd years ago.

Same here, my parents were always commenting on never seeing me in my mid teenage years. The idea of being with my parents or anyone elses was horrendous as it gave the impression I needed someone and being so independent, that was the absolutely worse thing.

Or if not out with friends, doing dance training or working, I had my nose stuck in a book in my bedroom....no mobiles, PC's or games consoles back then either.

Eldest is the same, if he is not out with his friends or working, he will also have his nose stuck in a book....we barely see him to be honest now. He could in no way be called lazy or inactive, he is pretty much on the go all the time and as I said before, walks everywhere (his part time job is a 1 hour walk to get to).

My children also do not expect everything to be given to them, they know if they want something, then they have to save for it.....and they have, eldest saved the money from his part time job to get his Ipod, middle saved his pocket and birthday money to buy a Wii and youngest saved his money plus sold his DS to buy a second hand Ipod 2nd gen.

caledonian_princess

When I was 13 I wouldn't have been up for a day out looking round museums either, even a shopping trip to Manchester wouldn't have been appealing unless it was with my friends. My parents (who were perfectly nice, normal people) were a constant source of embarrassment for me and I hated having to go anywhere with them. I can remember being sat on a sunny beach in Cornwall under a sunshade with my nose in a book and wearing a favourite blue pullover which had holes in it refusing to acknowledge that the rest of the family existed. My Mum tells me that she despaired of me but I eventually became human again and so will your daughter.

Flora_Poste

It's the same here... A 9 year old who wants to go everywhere and an almost 14 yr old who doesn't want to go ANYWEHERE!

It is hard. I compromise by sending the 9 yr old out with family and friends on any trips that are going and insisting the teenager does something at least every other day. Either he can think of something for all of us or go out with a friend or come to Tescos with me. It's been working OK and only two more weeks to go.

In fact he's been quite happy to come food shopping lately and has taken an interest in cooking which was unexpected

loobs40

Has anyone else noticed how easily teenagers can transform from the neanderthal to smiley,friendly communicative people when they want some

a) money
b) a lift

and when they have got what they wanted they transform back.

Savvy_Sue

loobs40 wrote: »

Has anyone else noticed how easily teenagers can transform from the neanderthal to smiley,friendly communicative people when they want some

a) money
b) a lift

and when they have got what they wanted they transform back.

:rotfl: yes ...

I had something else 'odd' the other day: DS3 wanted a lift, whereas he normally bikes everywhere. It wasn't far, he could have walked - couple of miles - but he didn't want to bike because he thought he might be going somewhere else afterwards with a bunch of mates who wouldn't have bikes.

So we agreed that he'd wash up BEFORE going out, and I'd give him a lift.

And then of course he wanted a lift home too! Because his mates WEREN'T going on anywhere else. :mad: