My 14 year old is on her phone or out with friends.

She has chores she has to do, and some studying. She has to walk the dog. She has to help make dinner and then eat it with us. Sometimes she'll continue hanging out with us past dinner cleanup, sometimes she's right back to her phone.

She's limited on school days so on days when she doesn't have school I think she goes a bit nuts. Sometimes she's reading something, sometimes engaging with social media, sometimes chatting with friends, and sometimes watching shows. Since she separates easily from her phone when asked (e.g. no fights when I ask her to take the dog for a walk, or come help make dinner) I'm not particularly worried about it. If she couldn't put down her phone and walk away, that would worry me. If she didn't do things with friends outside the phone, that would worry me. I wish she did other things to pass the time, but here I am posting on DCUM so I kind of lack the moral high ground.

Anonymous wrote:I love the idea of making a list of chores for my kids (12 and 13 years old boys) to complete on non-school days. How about we all post some different ideas to include on our lists for the upcoming teacher workdays?? We've got some good ones already, and here are some of mine...

- Walk to dog for at least 30 min
- Pick up sticks in the backyard
- Wash the car
- Sweep off deck and driveway

Maybe empty dishwasher and/or wash dishes? (But my boys usually always do this in the morning after breakfast before everyone leaves for the day.)

Any others to include?

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Once the tree pollen season is over they can wash the windows. Inside and outside. That was my chore as a kid. Washed and dried with newspaper since I was about 10.
Weeding. Already tons of garlic mustard on our lawn

Does she have sports or other outside activities?

I love the idea of making a list of chores for my kids (12 and 13 years old boys) to complete on non-school days. How about we all post some different ideas to include on our lists for the upcoming teacher workdays?? We've got some good ones already, and here are some of mine...

- Walk to dog for at least 30 min
- Pick up sticks in the backyard
- Wash the car
- Sweep off deck and driveway

Maybe empty dishwasher and/or wash dishes? (But my boys usually always do this in the morning after breakfast before everyone leaves for the day.)

Any others to include?

I make my 15 yr old do things without her phone. "Come help me cook this." "Fold laundry with me." "Run to the store to get a roll of quarters please." All things she needs to put down her phone for.

What I do for spring break and other no school days is give my kids a list of stuff they need to get done and as long as they do it, I'm fine with the phone time. That way, at least I know they did something productive.

This week's list includes: clean out binder for 4th quarter, clean out room of clothes that are wrong season (might be too early I know it might snow), chores with the dogs, etc, call grandparent that is sick....

16 year old girl. Goes out with friend(s) occasionally. Otherwise will sit and be on phone all.damn.day.

I feel like other teens may have possession of their phones but aren’t active on them all that time? Or are they?