What do teens do for fun?

[Anonymous]

DS 15- hang w friends at someone’s house - they like board games, video games or watch sports, eat a lot of snacks. They are outside a lot on bikes when it’s nice (we border some parks and lakes and they roam around there). They go HS sports like football and basketball. They hang at the pool in the summer and play tennis. They go ice skate or climbing gym. During the snow days they were out sledding and playing. I guess they are a bunch of extroverts bc they are always making plans to hang. Sometimes it’s exhausting bc they don’t drive yet! Kids are always showing up at our house.

Younger DS 12 has a large neighborhood friend group but they don’t yet go places other than the rec center for drop in bball, which they can bike to. They bike around a lot and end up at someone’s house. Play a lot of pickup football and bball. And a fair amount of video games and watching football. Most don’t have phones yet so they still roam to find each other . Also spent a lot of time at the local sled hill on the snow days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm with you op, I was a high school aged teen in the late 90s and things were largely the same as you described. My friends lived in the neighborhood with me so we didn't even need to go out to have fun. It is sad all teens seem to do us screens and organized activities. We also managed to have fun without getting into trouble as well.

If you bother to read the responses here, many many teens are having a similar experience. I think just like in the 90s you'll find a mix of kids....some that stay home and play video games and read, some that are overscheduled and don't have time to do anything other than planned sports/instrument practice/etc and some kids that do a mix of activities (including hanging out with friends in person and online and some time in organized activities). As my teen boys say..."It's not that serious bro."

[Anonymous]

The phone has replaced a lot of things. I used to write notes to my friends in class. I read a lot of magazines. I watched a ton of tv including having mtv on A LOT. I was on the phone constantly and that drove my parents crazy. I’m pretty sure I talked on the phone for hours daily ages 12-16. When I got older, I was able to go out more because friends drove and I spoke on the phone less.

[Anonymous]

My 16 year old spends time with her friends for fun and yes they do go bowling (occasionally), movies, mall. Plus they go out to restaurants, theme parks in the summer, parties, football games in the fall. They often just hang at each others house and talk, gossip, much like I used to do growing up.

I’m urging my kid to get a job to pay for everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm with you op, I was a high school aged teen in the late 90s and things were largely the same as you described. My friends lived in the neighborhood with me so we didn't even need to go out to have fun. It is sad all teens seem to do us screens and organized activities. We also managed to have fun without getting into trouble as well.

I feel I should chime in to correct your impressions. Kids do the same crap we did growing up! Promise!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The phone has replaced a lot of things. I used to write notes to my friends in class. I read a lot of magazines. I watched a ton of tv including having mtv on A LOT. I was on the phone constantly and that drove my parents crazy. I’m pretty sure I talked on the phone for hours daily ages 12-16. When I got older, I was able to go out more because friends drove and I spoke on the phone less.

+1. My parents complained that I watched too much TV, that I always had the phone tied up, and I bought every Teen Beat-type magazine I could get my hands on.

It does change as they get older and can get out and about on their own (e.g., getting drivers licenses). And even more as they get to be young adults and don't have the free time.

[Anonymous]

Kids are definitely busier now. It’s hard to balance social life with school and activities. But they manage. My teen likes to spend as much time as possible with friends. During the week there is lots of FaceTiming/calling between studying, and on weekends they’re out doing stuff together.

[Anonymous]

My senior watches movies with his friends (at theater or someone’s house), goes out to eat after their school activities, they play games such as cards against humanity and Code Names, they sit around a fire pit.

Code Names is really popular with teens/college kids. If you don’t have it, go buy it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My senior watches movies with his friends (at theater or someone’s house), goes out to eat after their school activities, they play games such as cards against humanity and Code Names, they sit around a fire pit.

Code Names is really popular with teens/college kids. If you don’t have it, go buy it!

I can confirm code names is popular!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm with you op, I was a high school aged teen in the late 90s and things were largely the same as you described. My friends lived in the neighborhood with me so we didn't even need to go out to have fun. It is sad all teens seem to do us screens and organized activities. We also managed to have fun without getting into trouble as well.

I feel I should chime in to correct your impressions. Kids do the same crap we did growing up! Promise!

Why do you sound so offended? I'm sure some kids still do the same things we did. But, alot don't screens and activities are way more prevalent.

[Anonymous]

DS16: Nearly every weekend he has club/sports tournaments and that's fun for him.

In free time, meets friends to play their sport in an open gym somewhere, also goes to mall to hang out, see other kids, go to movies, shop, buy a new sweatshirt or whatever; rides bikes downtown to meet friends, get a bite to eat, get boba; plays beach volleyball in summer; goes to school or local university sporting events

Occasionally goes to parties or sleepover with his teammates (they watch movies or play pool in the basement, eat a lot) or other regular parties; dad will take him and friends for a day of skiing/snowboarding in winter.

He does play video games (also with friends/teammates) or they watch a sporting event online and discuss. I equate this with my spending hours on the phone with friends back in the dark ages.

[Anonymous]

DD and friends go to the local Starbucks, hang out for a while and then walk around the area. They also like to go to Tysons and walk around looking at clothes and Sephora.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm with you op, I was a high school aged teen in the late 90s and things were largely the same as you described. My friends lived in the neighborhood with me so we didn't even need to go out to have fun. It is sad all teens seem to do us screens and organized activities. We also managed to have fun without getting into trouble as well.

I feel I should chime in to correct your impressions. Kids do the same crap we did growing up! Promise!

Why do you sound so offended? I'm sure some kids still do the same things we did. But, alot don't screens and activities are way more prevalent.

It’s your imagination that I’m offended. I was responding to this comment: “It is sad all teens seem to do us screens and organized activities.”

I didn’t want that poster to think that was the case.