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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If your son is an introvert, it's good for him to "veg" on the weekend, even if that involves some tv etc. He needs to recharge for the week.[/quote]

He's actually an extrovert which is why I'm trying to help him.  His sister is 12 and an introvert and really needs alone time and is great puttering around and doing crafts etc.  He's not.  I wish he had "hobbies"...

Thanks to everyone who I answered.  I appreciate it![/quote]

f he's an extrovert, have him do his own legwork to find something that will interest him and let him just taste something totally new and unusual without pressure to compete. He can look at the parks and recreation department catalog for whatever county or city you're in and find a ton of age-appropriate classes that only last six 10 weeks -- long enough to try something new but short enough that it's not some huge, all-year-long commitment if he finds the activity isn't his "thing." Would he want to try out an individual sport? Think fencing, golf, tennis. Does he like gaming? Maybe he'd like to try programming his own game--there are classes out there for teens to do just that. There are cooking schools in the area now offering kids' and teens' classes, if he'd like that. And so on. There are community centers, rec departments, arts centers all over the place. Get online with him and have him check stuff out--he might say "I have no interest in X" if you suggest it, but if he sees the offerings at local places he might want to try it or something else. He's had the long commitment of a team travel sport -- let him know that you're willing to pay if he wants a taste of something totally different and individual.

Also, it's GREAT that he is willing to volunteer. What are his interests and why can't you find a good fit-- is it age? Some volunteer jobs cannot take anyone under, say, 18 or 16, but there are things out there for kids of 14 if he asks about it. He could check the libraries; they use teens as volunteers younger than some other organizations do. He also might want to check with your county for volunteer opportunities --for instance, Fairfax County publishes online an annual list of volunteer openings for all ages and it's a long list; kids his age are always needed at one-time events such as pulling up invasive plants in local parks, or acting as staffers at festivals etc. He has to go out and look up these things, though, and ask about them. Family shelters also probably would welcome his help with anything from serving food to helping with minor repairs to reading to kids--have him ask at local shelters. (The key here is HE asks, he researches....that will keep him busy too!).

If he's into science or math, and likes competitions, he could look into whether his school has Science Olympiad or Math Counts teams. They often meet for coaching and practices on weekends. Or he could join a club at school that does weekend activities-- at our middle school, there was an "eco club" that did yard work around the school building. An extroverted kid also might like drama either in school or as a weekend class -- local theatres like Encore Stage in Arlington and Imagination Stage in Bethesda have a LOT of teen classes in drama etc. on weekends.

I think that somehow a lot of parents and kids in this area tend to put "activities" into a tiny box that only includes sports, gaming and "hanging out," but an extroverted kid who is actually willing to volunteer and who is looking for things to do with his time has so many more options around here depending on his interests. He can go with something more intense and longer term but he also can choose a short-term class purely for fun (maybe ask a friend to take it with him), or he could volunteer -- surely someplace would really want to have a kid like him! Good luck!

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