Amidst the occasional chaos of the month of December, how will you spend time with your family? What does Christmas with teenagers look like in your home??
With college-age sons/daughters returning home, high school students frantically finishing assignments before Christmas break, and rehearsals for school concerts and theatre productions along with Christmas shopping, office parties, and house decorating … where does my family fit it??
A few ideas to consider:
Have a video game tournament
Allow your teen to choose the game and the medium (handheld, xbox, playstation, ipad, or even something on Club Penguin!). Please do consider the game rating especially with younger siblings.
Have Fondue for dinner
Great meal for conversation. Work together to cut everything up. Ask the aspiring chef in the family to find recipes online for dipping sauces.
Play a board game after dinner
Really!
Newer options: Settlers of Catan, Pandemic, and Heads Up!
Classics: Life, King Oil, Risk (if you have a looooong evening)
For the adventurers: Twister, Wii Sports
Serve together
Google “volunteer in (put your city or county)” and find places who need you. Call your church and ask where they need help. Christmas season often brings added responsibilities to the church staff. Families can help lighten the load.
Go for a walk in your neighborhood
Bonus: Go at night to enjoy the Christmas lights!
Skype extended family members
Spend an hour connecting with family across the miles. Video call (Skype, Facetime, Google chat) for about 10 minutes to each household. They will LOVE seeing your entire family … way better than a 2D Christmas card. Word of Patience: Older family members may need a phone call tutorial for the initial download and account set-up.
Conference call with family members
Get an account at freeconferencecall.com. Share the phone number and access code with family members far and wide. Enjoy a voice family reunion on Christmas Eve!
Geocache!
Get into the secret world of global “treasure” hunting. So fun for all ages! Register online to get clues and locations. Supplies needed: Smart phone with navigation setting turned on or a GPS.
Watch a sunset together
Find a west-facing field. Figure out the time of sunset. Enjoy. (I hear sunrises are pretty amazing, too. But that is WAY too early for me.)
Learn to make towel animals or something new together
Search “how to make towel animals” on YouTube, gather towels, commence the laughter! Or, find something new to do together… what about an archery introduction class or how to swing dance??
Play your favorite songs
Gather around the computer, go to YouTube, and each family member share their favorite song…with lyrics (you know, sometimes, the lyrics are a bit difficult to understand). Talk about the songs and why it’s your favorite. Caution: NOT the time to be judgmental or critical!
Bake cookies
Whether slice-and-bake cookies from a tube or cut-out cookies with gourmet icing, cooking together always brings tasty rewards!
A Caution for Christmas with Teenagers…
While I can hear the lovely Christmas music playing in the background and smiles and hugs all around, we sometimes sabotage our efforts at family fun. May I make a few suggestions?
1. Consider everyone’s calendar. Even a 6th grader has important projects and activities!
2. Consider everyone’s interests.
3. Stick with the amount of time you and your family agree with. Even Dad will be ok with 30 minutes of towel folding…as long as you put the towels away after the agreed upon half-hour.
4. Refrain from lecturing, teaching, and criticizing. Not the time. Not the place.
Enjoy the blessing of your teen and your entire family this Christmas season!!
What other activities would you suggest for teens and families?
Posted by Sharon R Hoover
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These are some great ideas. I think I will do one activity a week. In can see how important it is to spend time with family! It’s spring, but I am doing these ideas. Thanks for sharing! ?
I hope these ideas are working for your family! I’d love to hear new suggestions as well. :)
Great ideas & love your tips about considering everyone’s interests & schedules! I’ve learned that by follow the lead of my kids, I’ve often found new interests I never would have tried if it weren’t for them suggesting the idea :)
Our children do indeed come up with great ideas! Thanks for the reminder, Jacquie, to just ask them. My children keep me updated and exploring lots of new games and activities.
One idea: a subset of “serve together” is to combine Christmas caroling with, say, collecting perishable food for the local shelter, or giving away baked goods to shut-ins, or do the caroling at a retirement home or nursing home.
Thanks for these ideas, Monica! Caroling would be a great way to stay around the shelter or retirement home longer and be able to interact with the guests and residents.
Love these ideas! We only have one “teen,” but it’ll work for some younger ones, too. Thanks!
I agree! Many of these would work well with younger siblings…while also being able to really engage the teens in our midst. Let me know how it goes. I’d love to hear how you adapt them to your family. Thanks for stopping by, Monica!