Teenagers getting bored

[rode2nowhere]

I have 2 teens, 16 and 15.....when we go camping all they do is lay around because they have no internet for their games or youtube videos. Any good ideas for something I can do or bring to occupy them or should I leave them at home?

[rode2nowhere]

have to figure out something,,,,,,,,,great suggestions, I am reading them all

[rekoj71]

If they have time to be board, they will be.

Some people's definition of camping is just relaxing and doing nothing, sounds good to most adults (even me) but absolute nightmare for a kid of any age. Bringing the bikes along didn't do any good unless there was a special place to use them. If it was just around the campsite or RV park, they just stayed on the rack and never got used.

As many have said, have a plan and include them in it, if not let them plan it. May not be what you consider fun, but the memories of at least doing stuff with your kids while you still have the chance will be worth it.

The best times I remember camping and my parents remember camping were the times my sister and I got to bring friends (needed a tent for space but that was fun too), and also the times when we had a base camp but were always doing something or going somewhere. The stories we bring up and share about those times still makes us laugh.

My daughter 13 is hooked on Pintrest, and my son 15 is hooked on video games, but that is when they are at home and not doing anything else. Even if we aren't camping but just decide to take a day trip to a NP or even a Historic site, they finish the day thanking us for taking them there, while I am usually stressing over weather or not they will have a good time, they always do. Of course they would prefer an amusement park but mine understand about budgeting and why we can't do that very often.

I guess my point is that the more we kept things moving and not just relaxing, the less time they got to get board and then they were enjoying themselves more. Worked on me when I was that age too, even though we didn't have as much electronic stimulation as they do now, once my kids are moving they seem to totally forget about their internet and video games.

[2112]

We let them bring a friend. We pitched tents for their sleeping quarters and hangout. They were more apt to go explore and complain less with a friend.

[cheteckie]

On vacations of all types, each member of our family was in charge of one day where s/he would plan the activities. Complaining by the others was not allowed, because each would get a turn to do things s/he wanted to do. We would set a daily budget for activities. The kids are now in their 30's, and we still go on family vacations, and now kids and spouses each get their day!

[Matt_Colie]

You have a bad age there, but there is hope. Part of the problem is what you call camping.....

If you go to a parking lot with a swimming pool, that will wear out fast. About the only option there is if they have come to appreciate the opposite sex. It they are internet addicted, there is little hope. Unless one is musically inclined, then music will attract others.

But, if you go to a campground that has nature nearby, the get binoculars, a bird book and an animal book and start the competition. When they are into finding more than the other has, hang on. Geocache can work well at this also. Music can work here too.

If things are getting tight, bring a tent to put them out in for the night. That is closer to real camping and you might just start something.

Matt

[Naio]

Yeah, leaving them home alone really depends on the kids and who their friends are. My friend group parents left us alone for the weekend all the time. But we were not partiers.

I agree with 'bring their friends' kids that age, their friends -- online and in person -- are the most important thing in the world to them. And they are not like little kids (and maybe adults) who can socialise with anyone who happens to be there.

[rolling_rhoda]

shum02 wrote:

I am a Scout Leader.......... and that advice is so 40 years ago. 1974 has come and gone and kids today do NOT care about that. Try that and I guarantee they will absolutely not want to come on the next trip.

Ask them what they want then come to a compromise. I've been a Troop Leader for 10 years, ask them what they want. Kids want to have input, they want to be involved, they want to be part of the process.

Agreed. A Scout Manual, planning and preparing a meal, a hike where you describe plants and trees, those ideas worked when my boys were about 5-9 years old. Not for today's teenagers. Our last big family trips, I gave everyone a list of things to do in the area, and had them choose six. We did some things together, and split up for others. It worked really well.

I am not comfortable leaving two teens home alone. Three of youngest son's classmates, home alone, had a party show up at their house after word got around that parents were gone. One friend opened the door for three or four more people, who let in about forty more with booze or worse. Police were called, kids fined, vacations and carpets ruined.

[atreis]

2gypsies wrote:
Geocaching with the GPS is lots of fun for the whole family. It takes you to places you'd never dream of going. Our grandkids love it. Many times you can find caches near the campground - no driving involved but perhaps a hike.

X2 - I didn't think of this one in my earlier post. My kids have recently gotten into this (both finding, and creating new ones). It has an alluring combination of outdoorsyness combined with technology, along with the reward at the end of searching and eventually locating the cache (leveling up).

[rode2nowhere]

I will see if they can get a friend to come, but I think they have outgrown camping, for a while anyway

[DutchmenSport]

Honestly ask them if they really want to go camping any more. They are at the age when kids really start seeking their own independence. If they say they do not, then leave them home. One of two things will probably happen. 1) They will feel left-out and a bit "lost" without parents home, and realize they have to do things themselves, they will want to go with you the next time. Or, they will enjoy their new freedom and want to stay home alone always. Either way, you need to respect their changing needs. Your camper, your home, your job, your lifestyle ... is just that ... "your's", not theirs. They need to be let loose a little so they can discover what THEY are wanting for their lives. Camping may not be one of them.

When our kids turned 15, they no longer camped with us. When they turned 16 they were both working part time jobs. They didn't have time for Mom and Dad any more. Now, we are grandparents of 5 kids. And yes, because we did give them the liberty to make choices themselves, huh!... well ... my son and his son are living with us now ... can't get rid of them, and they occasionally, when work permits... they go camping with us! Imagine that!

[2gypsies1]

Geocaching with the GPS is lots of fun for the whole family. It takes you to places you'd never dream of going. Our grandkids love it. Many times you can find caches near the campground - no driving involved but perhaps a hike.

[Gonzo42]

I think its a great idea to get people of all ages off the machines for a while. OK, they can use the machines for a while, but not all day and night.

On the other hand, if their machines have a GPS capability, how about inventing some games where they could use that?

I'm teaching one of our granddaughters chess. Not easy to do, but it teaches important logic and strategy.

She does enjoy board games, especially Monopoly, so it works for us.

[toedtoes]

shum02 wrote:

Pepperoni wrote:

rode2nowhere wrote:
I have 2 teens, 16 and 15.....when we go camping all they do is lay around because they have no internet for their games or youtube videos. Any good ideas for something I can do or bring to occupy them or should I leave them at home?

Buy them a Boy Scout Handbook and a fishing rod for each. By that age we had permanent shelters built and stocked all down the river and local lakes. At night we built a fire, threw some foil-wrapped veggies (corn, potatoes) on the coals, and fished all night.

We all got drivers licences that year, and joined the army at 17.

we still fish the old spots.

I am a Scout Leader.......... and that advice is so 40 years ago. 1974 has come and gone and kids today do NOT care about that. Try that and I guarantee they will absolutely not want to come on the next trip.

Ask them what they want then come to a compromise. I've been a Troop Leader for 10 years, ask them what they want. Kids want to have input, they want to be involved, they want to be part of the process.

I agree. If the kids aren't interested in fishing, building shelters, etc. already, they aren't going to want to start now. Letting them have input into what they want to do is an excellent idea - it makes them responsible for their own fun (which means if they are then bored, they have only themselves to blame).

[K_Charles]

When we were kids my brother and I would go look for bored chicks at the campground but I guess that was a different time. Kids were harder then grand kids. Then we had to come home and go to work, then with the grandkids we could go anywhere and do whatever they wanted. Now 2 of the grand kids ask us to need them where they take there kids and we watch them do the same thing we did with our kids. I think they just like you to be involved in there life and they will be fine.

[SwanInWA]

I second (or third or fourth) the friends suggestion. We always let our two boys bring friends.