At-Home Activities for Teens and Tweens

Shila said:  Science appeals to all ages! Tweens and teens can get ideas from their science teacher or browse this list of easy science experiments and select an inspiring one to try at home. It's jaw-dropping fun, and educational too!

Alexandra F. said:  Yoga is a calming and centering activity for teens and tweens, and one easily done from home thanks to the many free yoga videos available online. If yoga doesn't interest your teen, there are lots of great (mostly free!) online workout videos that will help them stay active and fit, including pilates, kickboxing, dancing and more.

Shila said:  If your teen is often clamped in headphones listening to the latest beats and pop hits, turn that musical passion into a plan! Encourage your child to make a playlist for themselves, for a friend or family member, or even for a party or travel. I know that I'd personally love if someone young and cool could make me new running playlists every month or so! ;)

Alexandra F. said:  My teen and tween love to ask our Google assistant to give them Jeopardy-style trivia questions, but they also enjoy going through our many trivia-style board games and pulling up random cards to test their knowledge. And, since they were introduced to the Kahoot platform in school, they'll sometimes create trivia challenges for one another on there, too.

Alexandra F. said:  Whether they use polish or not, giving their hands and feet an at-home spa treatment will keep teens occupied and their fingers and toes looking their best!

Alexandra F. said:  The explosion in popularity of podcasts means teens and tweens are sure to find one that fits their particular interests, and they are great for listening to while on walks around the neighborhood, working out, doing dishes and otherwise helping out around the house!

Alexandra F. said:  Whether your teen (or tween) prefers jewelry, personalizing their room, or simply expressing themselves creatively through art, they are sure to find a DIY project they'll enjoy on our big list of craft ideas for teens.

Shila said:  Not only will your adolescents fill the hearts of others, it can fill their own, too. In addition, this experience could come in handy for a college essay or job interview. Teens can look for volunteer opportunities in their own community, such as visiting a nursing home or helping at a soup kitchen or shelter, and even explore ways of volunteering from home.

Shila said:  Cooking is one of the most practical and best activities for teens and tweens! Teens can start with easy recipes for kids that may not require an adult to be present the whole time, then move on to more advanced dishes as they progress in skills and confidence. Plenty of family-approved Crock Pot recipes require no stovetop flame at all.

Alexandra F. said:  Teens can gather a group of friends - or even family members! - and agree on a new book to read together. Book discussions can happen once everyone is done with the book, or every few chapters, and can be done over video chat if gathering in person is not possible or practical.

Alexandra F. said:  Though it seems like magic to me, thanks to my son I now know there are several algorithms you can learn to solve this classic 3D puzzle, as well as multiple versions of it beyond the traditional 3x3 cube. Teens and tweens can spend an afternoon or many learning these, or even trying to break their own records for how quickly they can solve it.

Alexandra F. said:  Pull up a good list of riddles to keep teens and tweens thinking and problem solving. The TEDEd YouTube channel has some great - and difficult! - video riddles that my teen likes to tackle.

Shila said:  Even novice runners can set a goal and condition themselves by mastering small intervals at a time. For example, if your teen's goal is to run one mile non stop, she can aim for a quarter mile at first, then a half mile, then three-fourths of a mile and finally, the full mile. They will enjoy the runner's high and perhaps sleep better at night, too.

Shila said:  Browse a selection of some the best books for middle schoolers or books for high schoolers and encourage your teen to get lost in a new book, or better yet, series of books. Help them create an environment where it's most cozy and fun to read, such as on a picnic blanket outside with snacks, or inside tucked in a bean bag chair, warmed by the fireplace, etc.

Shila said:  Encourage your tween or teen to wake up every morning and take a single photo of themselves from the same angle every day for a full year! Later played in a slide show, their time-lapsed album is a hoot to view come year end. Bonus: if you have even younger children, assign your tween or teen the duty to create a time-lapse album of them too.