“I’m Boooored.” Fun Activities for Tweens

Tweens, the awkward age where you are not yet a teen, but not exactly a little kid either. The problem with this age is entertaining the kids. Here are a few ideas for fun activities for tweens:

1. Making Movies. Give your tweens a video camera and a time limit, and have them come up with a sketch. They can act out a comedy, drama, or tragedy. Have them create costumes, and write and memorize a script, as well as film it. You can then do a showing with the whole family, or neighborhood. It will be tons of fun for them to make, will take them several hours to finish and perfect, and will provide everyone with great memories And, with digital video recording becoming easier and easier, it is not outside their realm of capability without help.

2. Mini golf, bowling, ice-skating. Tweens love activities like these. They are physical, which is great for their health, and they can be social, which means your tween will love it. Usually the cost is low, and the activities can take a nice long time, which means your tween can be entertained for hours. You can pay for them to get into a roller rink, then come back and pick them up a few hours later. Their friends can meet up with them, and they will have a blast. Just be sure to set rules about them not leaving the facility without you, and not meeting up with boys, etc.

3. Video gaming. Tweens love video games, and luckily for the tween and the parent, not all video games are violent, etc. some are actually very educational. A video gaming system and a variety of games can be a fun activity that tweens will go back to again and again. Don’t have a gaming system? Computer games work just as well. Sites like PBS sprout have great games for younger kids, and Nickelodian has games perfect for tweens. These are usually free, and can provide hours of fun!

4. Baking. A fantastic way for tweens to pass the time, and an activity most really enjoy is baking. You can teach them to bake and decorate cakes, bake cookies, cinnamon rolls, pies, danishes, tarts, and more. The fact is, the possibilities are endless, and this means that each day your tween can take on a new challenge in baking. Help them learn to bake from scratch rather than a box. They can make muffins to go with breakfast, hoagie rolls to have lunch sandwiches on, and a black forest cake for dessert after dinner. Ask them what they want to bake, and provide them with some supervision, and the supplies they need to be creative at it. Just remember, to help them learn responsibility they should clean up any messes they make while baking.

5. Board games. Tweens love games of all kinds, from video to card games, but board games are a great way for tweens to pass the time. Games like monopoly can help tweens with concepts of ownership, simple math, loans, and more. Choose board games carefully, and watch as your tween learns strategy and becomes a formidable opponent.