If you have a tween or teen in the house, you've probably gone through the experience so many of us encounter: The same child who once happily tromped through the forest for hours on end would now prefer to never, ever leave their room again, Thank You Very Much. The same kid who insisted on waking you up at 5 a.m. just to hang out every Saturday morning now regularly sleeps in until 10 or 11 a.m., only exiting their room for sustenance or maybe video games and then crawling back into their lair.
It might not always seem like it, but even our very adorable angsty teens and tweens still need and want to enjoy active family time — but coming up with activities that will please said angsty teens and tweens is a whole other challenge unto itself.
Learn TikTok Dances
If your tween or teen loves TikTok and also loves not leaving the house, one way to be active as a family might be to learn a few TikTok dances together. Be prepared for the possibility that your tween/teen will not want the videos shared publicly or with friends — but also that they might!
Finding the dance trends isn't too challenging but might require you to spend an hour (or seven) on TikTok. Good luck!
Team Up With a Personal Trainer
This one might be tricky depending on whether or not gyms are open near you, and it can also be expensive, but if you have the means, it could end up being a lot of fun. While some tweens and teens might not be into going to the gym to work out with a group of strangers, it's possible they would enjoy having a personal trainer (at a gym or who comes to your home) for the family to work out with together. They can also make their own fitness goals and support the rest of the family in theirs.
Turn Chores Into Activities
If your tween/teen is always hitting you up for extra funds and you're always trying to get your tween/teen to hang out with you and be active, try coming up with ways you can both get what you want. There are plenty of household chores that can be collaborative and that you can throw $10 or $20 at. Try washing the car, tending to the garden, or walking the dog together — but make sure your tween/teen leads the way, so they're earning those funds.
Try One-on-One Activities When Needed
While physical activity and exercise are good for most of us, the fact of the matter is that not every kid enjoys them. Sometimes, that might just be because a child had a bad experience in a group activity. If that's the case for your tween or teen, consider taking them out to engage in a sport or activity (such as tennis, soccer, and so on) one-on-one instead of with a whole group of kids they don't know.
Try Bowling!
Bowling is the type of activity that's appropriate for all ages, and that most people seem to really enjoy. You can take it as seriously as you want to or not — there's no pressure to be a world-class bowler each time the family goes out. Let your teen or tween pick their own ball, set up everyone's names, and order some snacks — and then just have fun!
Take a Walk Before or After a Family Meal
Your tween or teen might not want to do a whole hike every day or week, but you could try gently cajoling them into taking a walk together before or after a family meal. Walks are a great way to check in with each other without putting too much pressure on it, and they can be as long (or as short) as you want.
Join a Walk or Run for a Good Cause
If your tween or teen is a philanthropist at heart, sign up for a charitable walk or run for the cause of their choice. This is a great way to encourage your child's natural interest in giving back and to get them outside to train and participate in the event.
Get Into Geocaching
If your family hasn't tried geocaching yet, what are you waiting for? You can use the site Geocaching.com to find sites where other users have buried surprises, which you can then uncover and either take for yourself (while replacing with something else) or leave for the next group to find.
Combine Multiple Interests
If your kid is super into screens, here's a fun way to combine that interest with your desire to have your tween or teen outside and moving around more: offer to film your tween or teen as they learn a new physical skill, which will help them keep tabs on their progress. It'll also provide tons of content if your child is a budding social media talent.
