Advice on teenage home boredom amid Coronavirus

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MarthaSo

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Hi, I hope you are all doing ok. God protect each of you and your loved ones and everyone.

I have a 20 year old military son who might quit his job, a17 year old daughter who quit her job and my baby’s daycare closed so we’re working from home.

Aside from chores, my daughter still has remote school work, any ideas on what to tell them to do.
I have pray, read a classic, art, exercise, cook with mom. I don’t have anything on a schedule, just a list of ideas on our kitchen board.

I’m afraid of being too lax, should i insist on a schedule?

My baby just woke up! I appreciate your ideas everyone ❤️
 
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Journaling could be fun! who knows, maybe it will be like a modern day Diary of Anne Frank.

Maybe they can start crafting and sell what they make on Etsy?

Maybe they can call their neighbors and ask if there is anything THEY need that your kids could help with?
 
It’s a good starting point to have those options. If you’re son is looking at getting out of the military, try and talk to him about his reasoning why he wants to leave (assuming you haven’t done that already) even just sitting down and talking to him about his plans expresses interest. Try finding out all of their hobbies and try incorporate that into the day as well or be on the look out to talk or show those things to them as well. With your daughter as well maybe have some bonding time too with the baby as well or ask for her help when you need to cook something, even gardening too is a great way to bond with them too, but it’s all about their personalities too, just remember too that space is also important in those ages.
 
redbetta said:
They are old enough to find something to do.
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I tend to agree with this. A 17-year-old and a 20-year-old, who presumably have access to the internet as well as their own books, interests etc, should be able to plan their days without depending on their parent to plan their day or give them stuff to do.
 
Crafts. If you have a yard tell them to spend time outside. Read. Kindle apps are free, and if you go to your library website you can find ebooks available for checkout.
 
You could ask them to draw up their schedule in the evening for the following day. It would be interesting to see if they can stick to it.
 
Even older teens fall victim to “Mom, I’m booooored! “

Have them make dinner. Let them plan the menu, and cook the meal, and you can sit by to answer questions. Recently my sons have really become interested in cooking— in their early twenties and thirties. We often discuss food and recipes and “how do you make…?”

It’s a great time for purging closets and bookcases. (Especially if you are going to be moving soon, @MarthaSo. Have them box up stuff they are not going to use but still want to keep.)

I started deep cleaning my bedroom one day, windows open, Murphy’s oil soap in hand. It left a lovely scent for days afterward.🙂.

Have family movie nights scheduled, even if it is daytime. Shut the blinds, make popcorn and watch some movies or binge watch a series on Netflix.
 
Send them out for a run. Miles and miles of running. Seriously.
 
yeah i just wanted ideas because if i leave it up to my daughter she’ll be in her room a lot and i just wanted to guide her to do other things, give her ideas , she might be bored and welcome them. I’m just not creative
 
that’s exactly what stopped me from saying i was bored when i was little , there was always something to clean.
 
This is very helpful and encouraging thank you!!! I love all these ideas❤️
 
. . . . Could you order or pick up some 1000+ piece puzzles
A garage or basement or storage room that needs cleaning out and organizing?
Fence painting or house painting?
Landscaping work around your yard?
Crafts of some type? (My young adult son just texted me updates to a kit he ordered to build miniature military vehicles and scenes… he’s putting together the tiny pieces with tweezers! LOL… and painting it all - pretty time consuming, but he said he gave up gaming for Lent so this is a great craft to take up!)
Board games (my kids always called them ‘bored’ games! But once you get them playing, everyone seems to have a great time).
Study and research online - they can fall down the rabbit hole researching a interest in history, artists, a genre’, etc. of their choice.
Job searching for the military son… yes, jobs are still posting positions now even though interviews are being put off or done online.
Hiking or walks in nature areas or woods around your home?
Learning crocheting or knitting.
Learn to sew.
Adult coloring and artwork - have them print off or design their own intricate art to color.
Writing. Have them start a novel or a ‘book’ of poetry and discover their inner author.
Organizing home photos or uploading photos ordering books or prints of them.
Repaint their bedrooms and move things around.
Start organizing the house with ‘donation’ ‘throw out’ and ‘keep’ piles.
Got old instruments around? Dig them out. Music online. Flute, trumpet, guitar, etc. learn to play or maybe pick it up again if they haven’t played since 8th grade or something.
Cleaning. Dusting. Vacuuming. Helping keep the house clean and sanitized.
Organize the pantry and deep freezer and plan meals during this ‘isolation’ period.

Um, those were just off the top of my head - brainstorming. Maybe a few will help???
 
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In my neighborhood there are older teens offering to babysit, offering to shovel walks, walk dogs, etc.
 
What great ideas! Thank you. Even though i’m in my 40s my own mother still gives me great ideas. They are not reserved for the young.
 
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Ha! We’re pretty close in age - but my mother never even gave me ideas when I WAS little!! And I don’t think I’ve ever bothered to try to go to her for advice for anything… 😉 My Dad was our ‘go to’ parent for skills, knowledge, ideas, education. LOL.
 
MarthaSo said:
I’m afraid of being too lax, should i insist on a schedule?
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Yes, a schedule is good for everyone and reduces conflicts
8 everyone up, take a shower now or at end of the day
9 breakfast followed by morning chores (dishes, tidy up the house), everyone pitches in.
10-11:30 Something educational
Lunch followed by something fun, a board game or play outside. No TV.
2-4 more educational or skill activities
etc.

A schedule makes the time pass and sets expectations.
 
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