What do teens do for fun these days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I so wish he was out Fridays and Saturdays. I don't mind driving him and any other kid. But OMG, he messages his classmates "oh, I got hW", "oh, I am staying in watching Commanders". That's so boring.

This is a typical weekend for my senior DS. He and his friends do fantasy football and love watching as many games as they can. Also occasionally go bowling, go to a school sports event, hang out at a coffee shop.

DD and friends seem to hang out at home a lot, watching movies. Or walk to a coffee shop or similar. When weather is nice they like to go hiking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, ignore the American footballers- that may be popular in rural areas, but not so much in suburban or urban areas. There are some areas in the DMV where underage drinking and drug use is tolerated, but that is not the norm. It’s a slippery slope.
Encourage your teen to join community teen clubs they are interested in - they will make friends there.

You are so wrong. We live in DC. My son and all his friends are really into football. They aren’t playing on the high school team. They are fans. They are in a fantasy football league. They get together, eat pizza and watch games together. They play touch football in the snow on their snow days. So the popularity is following the sport.

This, American football is about being a fan of the pro (or college) sport, not playing it yourself. My son loves soccer too and follows a couple UK teams but Fall is pro football/fantasy league time. He played soccer for years and is now on a rec team in college, but never played football.

Consider signing him up for a rec soccer league to find other fans. And, he should go along if invited to watch a football game at someone's house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are new to the area and my social teen DS is suffering because he cannot find anyone to hang out with on weekends. They are either doing their HW or being homebodies. We moved here from Europe, teens are everywhere, hanging out in coffee shops, dance clubs for teens, arcades...It's so weird here...

Yes, he joined clubs at his HS but it's not the same.

Where are you physically? During warmer times (Spring, Summer, Fall), downtown Bethesda is packed with teens. Tenleytown in NW DC usually has lots of teens hanging out at the fast casual / fast food places. HS sporting events (football and basketball) are usually popular to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are new to the area and my social teen DS is suffering because he cannot find anyone to hang out with on weekends. They are either doing their HW or being homebodies. We moved here from Europe, teens are everywhere, hanging out in coffee shops, dance clubs for teens, arcades...It's so weird here...

Yes, he joined clubs at his HS but it's not the same.

This area is the absolute worst for socialization. I’m sorry OP. My teen went to Denmark for a semester and loved the clubs, museums, libraries, pubs, coffee shops, and her absolute fav was a board game bar.

I'm sure you know that the DC area actually has all of those things. Of course, the board game bars are generally for adults aged 21 and up, given our drinking age rules. But your teen has plenty of other choices.

ok name them

Uh, the board game bars? Like Board Room in Dupont Circle? Or the museums, libraries, coffee shops, dance clubs, etc...?

No all the things teens can do. You said there were plenty

Do you want me to list all of the museums? Probably not, as you know there are plenty. Do you want me to list all of the coffee shops? No, as you know there are plenty. Do you want me to list all of the libraries? No, as you know there are plenty. Do you want me to list all of the clubs? Probably, since they are more limited... the Black Cat is a good one for teens (and often has dance parties), DC9 is another good option. They could also try the Anthem and the 9:30 Club. Many Korean BBQ places have dance/karaoke for teens as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I so wish he was out Fridays and Saturdays. I don't mind driving him and any other kid. But OMG, he messages his classmates "oh, I got hW", "oh, I am staying in watching Commanders". That's so boring.

This is a typical weekend for my senior DS. He and his friends do fantasy football and love watching as many games as they can. Also occasionally go bowling, go to a school sports event, hang out at a coffee shop.

DD and friends seem to hang out at home a lot, watching movies. Or walk to a coffee shop or similar. When weather is nice they like to go hiking.

hiking and coffee shops? sound like SAHM

[Anonymous]

My teens (14 and 16) go to friend's houses, HS games (football, basketball), restaurants with friends (chipotle, etc.), Rio in Gaithersburg (when weather is nice), movies, ice skating, concerts, and a lot more. There's also a rock-climbing gym near us which they like and a trampoline park that's pretty popular with teens. They have glow nights (neon) with music on Friday and Saturday nights. In the winter, they plan day trips to go to snowboarding or snow tubing and in the summer, they go to the pool and go on trips to the beach. This area is actually pretty great for teens.

[Anonymous]

Teen boys here are boring, compare with girls (lol). My son never wants to get out of the house and my daughter is looking for opportunities to hang out with her friends all the time. I invite my son's friends over but they ended up playing games in his room... I suggest to look for volunteer opportunities and sports clubs to meet more people

[Anonymous]

OP, I’ve got 3 teen boys. At this point they largely make friends through school or organized activities, but mostly school. I don’t know of any teen clubs that are for kids under 18, but some kids have fake ids and go to clubs in Georgetown.

As for sports, google your town name and the sport, for instance McLean has almost every youth sport imaginable. I haven’t had a kid in the league for a few years so this might have changed, but the rec version of soccer (football) for high schoolers in Fairfax County was called the Suburban Friendship League.

It’s tough to make friends and winter doesn’t help, but his best bet is at school. The American football season will end by Feb. 10th but for sports enthusiasts basketball is ramping up too.

[Anonymous]

Play outside with neighbors. Sledding.
Read. Friends houses. Play/talk with siblings. Chores. Clean room. Help cook. Talk or play with parents. Legos. Games on own. Talk on phone with friends. There is no end to what kids can do.