Our 2 teenage boys never want to do anything! Any ideas?

Savvy_Sue

barnaby-bear wrote: »

http://www.pgl.co.uk/PGLWeb/about-us/news-and-media/Introductory-holidays.htm
Can't you just let pack 'em off and do stuff away from you and perhaps develop an unhealthy interest in girls... use the time to yourselves. Win-win...

But if you want to go with them, then the family holidays I mentioned run by Manor Adventure (and possibly others) are GREAT fun. They got to laugh at us, we got to laugh at them, but we didn't have to send them to bed, get them out of bed, check they hadn't lost anything, nag them to wash up / clear up, or cook for them. Bliss! And, BTW, I am not at all 'active', and bottled out of anything involving confined spaces, heights, and mud. That was fine!

harryharp

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

But if you want to go with them, then the family holidays I mentioned run by Manor Adventure (and possibly others) are GREAT fun. They got to laugh at us, we got to laugh at them, but we didn't have to send them to bed, get them out of bed, check they hadn't lost anything, nag them to wash up / clear up, or cook for them. Bliss! And, BTW, I am not at all 'active', and bottled out of anything involving confined spaces, heights, and mud. That was fine!

Yes, that place you mentioned does look great, Savvy Sue. The problem we might have is that our youngest, the 12-year-old is quite shy, and may feel uncomfortable being with loads other kids he doesn't know. However I would much prefer to go somewhere together, like you said, than just 'pack them off' to some place on their own. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, put those sort of PGL type places just seem to be for parents who want to get rid of their kids...

I'm looking into the Geocaching idea too...we are thinking about going out somewhere next week to look for our first cache. I'm a bit daunted by it, but I shall report back on how it goes!

Thanks once again for all the great ideas and support.

hustle90

''Well, neither of them are into the usual 'boy' stuff like football and other such sports- either watching or playing''

I'm 17 and male and HATE football and things like that. You'd be surprised actually how many boys aren't into football and rugby and the usual male stereotypical activities. :P

Fuchsia_a

harryharp wrote: »

A while ago they were both into Warhammer in a big way, and used to spend a lot of time making models and going to the Games Workshop to have games with other kids there. Despite the small fortune we spent on box sets, etc. I did think it was GREAT- as they were doing something creative and it got them out and interacting with other kids. But sadly, they have lost interest, and I can only hope they come back to it again in the future.

I've been into computer roleplaying games and similar since I was young, and I found a lot of them are a heck of a lot more stimulating for the imagination than Warhammer (no offence to wargamers, but I prefer plot-based games to combat). It could be that they've grown out of games that revolve purely around strategy and combat and have gone onto games that involve more roleplaying, making the computer games more appealing to them than Warhammer.

If they enjoy games like WoW and Neverwinter Nights, you might want to try getting them a set of dice and some tabletop roleplaying books - Dungeons & Dragons, Vampire or similar - or taking them to a roleplaying day or club. Most are friendly and you could probably find someone who'd be willing to run an introductory game. Many roleplaying books use the same rules as the popular computer roleplaying games, so they'd also find it relatively easy to pick up. Also, encouraging them to play non-computer roleplaying games could lead to them having a go at live roleplaying or reenacting, which both often involve being out in the sunshine running around, if you're worried about the lack of exercise.

I think banning their hobbies could make them very unhappy - it certainly made me unhappy if my parents unplugged me from my computer or console and forced me to go outdoors - but I was quite glad to be nudged away from the computer to sit and play games at a table instead.

Februarycat

My son is the same, always on his Xbox360 or PC, and never wants to go out. I have said to him why dont you go out with friends, but he says there is nothing to do, only swimming or play football, and he is not a fan of either really. I suppose I should be pleased as at least I know where he is and not roaming the streets like some teenagers do, but I do worry that he is not socialising. But he has said he is happy.

poet123

emma12345 wrote: »

I have this problem too. My 14 year old never wants to do anything except play World of Warcraft. It's frustrating I know how you feel.

We're planning on dragging him away from his computer and taking him to Warmwell holiday park (in the Hoseasons brochure) for a short break. Have never been there before but they seem to have stuff for teenagers including a dry ski slope and skating. It's near to Weymouth. As I say I've never been there before so I don't know if it's any good though.

This thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=627301 has some more ideas.

We stayed at Warmwell some years ago and our (then) teens did enjoy it,and so did we.

Good luck!!:D

pandora205

This sounds familiar! My 16 year old is/would be like this if he could.... Here are some things I have tried with varying success (I have three DD14, DS 16, DD19- none of whom are that wild about coming on holiday or days out with me!):

• Centerparcs including paintballing, archery, badminton, horseriding gym and Aquasana for daughter, family photoshoot - great fun and fab pics. Not everyone did everything!!
• Trip to Amsterdam: travelling on trams, canal boats, eating out (pizza mainly!), quick dash through galleries spotting paintings from 'Top 10' book, street markets
• Day out locally (Milton Keynes) including bowling, Laser Quest, 'City Limits' amusement arcade, cinema and eating!
• At home: banning PC and TV and playing board games, eg. Monopoly, Risk, Trivial Pursuit (with kids quiz book), Cluedo. I bought World of Warcraft board game which is still waiting to be played! They also like 'gambling' with either cards or roulette.
• Make your own pizza (at home again). I make the bases they do the toppings.... this is also good for a sleepover.
• Shopping! We rarely go out en masse now though have done after Xmas when they have money and vouchers to spend... each of them chooses the next shop to visit and we all go in!
• I also book holidays that they don't want to go on - checking that there isn't an internet connection! This year we have a house booked in St Ives that's virtually on the beach. They're not all keen on swimming/surfing but do like barbecues. Its not too huge a town so they should be able to come and go.... and again there are interesting shops. I'll take CDs for the car including stories (I have Golden Compass this year - it's a long way to Cornwall). I'll also take a stack of books which they wouldn't necessarily choose but do enjoy when they don't have much else to do!
• Day trip to Calais by coach just before Xmas, again with money to get stuff.... This was more popular that I thought it would be.

It sounds like we live on pizzas in this house reading this!

I've never heard of geocaching which looks very interesting... I just asked DS and he thought so too.
Can anyone simplify this as the website looks a bit complicated. What do we need (to do) to get started? Is this just for organised days or for any time?

barnaby-bear

harryharp wrote: »

Yes, that place you mentioned does look great, Savvy Sue. The problem we might have is that our youngest, the 12-year-old is quite shy, and may feel uncomfortable being with loads other kids he doesn't know. However I would much prefer to go somewhere together, like you said, than just 'pack them off' to some place on their own. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, put those sort of PGL type places just seem to be for parents who want to get rid of their kids...

The PGL stuff does family holidays too....
http://www.pgl.co.uk/PGLWeb/about-us/news-and-media/Family-Holiday-Offers.htm
However I would add as someone geeky shy and slightly autistic being on the receiving end of a pseudo-PGL type holiday was the best thing that ever happened to me... 100 years ago 12 year olds were at work as adults packing them off alone to some type of camp isn't cruel or dumping them but letting them find some independence even if artificially might be a positive

chardonnay_2

we have taken our two games crazy boys to pontins and centre parcs. at pontins the loved the freedom as the entertainment rooms were next door to the arcades where they played and made friends, and at centre parcs they loved the pool and playing sports

harryharp

Fuchsia_a wrote: »

If they enjoy games like WoW and Neverwinter Nights, you might want to try getting them a set of dice and some tabletop roleplaying books - Dungeons & Dragons, Vampire or similar - or taking them to a roleplaying day or club. Most are friendly and you could probably find someone who'd be willing to run an introductory game. Many roleplaying books use the same rules as the popular computer roleplaying games, so they'd also find it relatively easy to pick up. Also, encouraging them to play non-computer roleplaying games could lead to them having a go at live roleplaying or reenacting, which both often involve being out in the sunshine running around, if you're worried about the lack of exercise.

Thanks Fuchsia. Older DS does have a set of strange-looking dice which he uses to play Dungeons and Dragons with one of his friends when he comes round. I don't quite understand how it works but the only other piece of equipment that they use apart from the dice is pen and paper! His says you can buy a book which explains more complicated rules. Is this the sort of thing you mean? The trouble is finding other people who want to play it with him...apparently it's definitely NOT a cool thing to do.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a role-playing day or club. Are there actually such officially-organised events?

I mentioned the idea of reenacting- we used to know someone who was heavily into this, and I think it may be the sort of thing older DS would be into. He reckons you have to be 16 though- do you know if this is true?