Half term shortly. What do your younger teen boys do? Do they go out with mates?

[rachelhelen82]

My DS is only 11 but will happily spend half term glued to his PS4/iPad/iPhone - it’s always a battle to get him out of the house but as he’s too young to be left on his own we’ll be having plenty of disagreements. I certainly don’t want to spend a full week stuck in the house!

[Jakey Neverland]

14 nearly 15 yr old, he never goes out with any friends.

[princess allie]

My son is just 12. He loves to stay in on his games, but I still make him go out with me sometimes. Although I don’t need childcare as I work in a school and get the holidays off, I’m thinking about booking him in to an outdoor activity week that one of his friends is going to, as I think it will be good for him.

[not2old4disney]

Eldest ds about to turn 15, rarely goes out - he and his friends socialise online mainly, usually on their xbox's - if they do go out its usually to the cinema and then to somewhere to eat. He is still quite happy to come out for the day with us though.

Younger ds about to turn 14 is out with friends constantly - playing football/basketball, skateboarding, cycling, swimming, his devices are also well used but tends to be when its too dark to be outside or the weather is rubbish!

[Princess Alison]

Mine is 11 and will also be attached to the PS4. He may go a friends house or have one here but they will still play on the console!

I will take him out and we mums usually try and get a few boys to meet in the park for a bit of a kick around.

But mine is already exhausted being near end of term so I don't mind him just relaxing

[SuziQz]

Much the same story here, DS is now 13 and would quite happily spend all of half term in his pj’s playing on his PS4. Various friends come and go online all day so he’s often chatting to someone. He’s never been a big sport fan but he did start playing golf when he was 7, thanks to my mum. That means he usually has 1 or 2 competitions or friendly matches each week during the holidays, especially in the summer. At least that means he’s in the fresh air for 5 hours and giving his square eyes a break

[TheHughesCrew]

My boys, Yr 7 and Y9, would definitely spend all day on the Xbox or watching YouTube given the choice. Probably whilst chatting with friends online while they’re at it.

But... they won’t be allowed on it as much as they want

Youngest has athletics performance camp, we’re going out for afternoon tea for my Mum’s birthday and will spend a day in London with friends. They will also have homework to do.

But yes, in general, very different to my childhood. I would have been in town, or lazing around friend’s houses at their age.

I’m glad to hear others are in a similar situation!

[Floridaagogo]

13 year old exactly the same.Lives on line chatting.Sometimes they go for a kick about then walk into town to Burger King.He is having a sleepover here which I am dreading.Last time they went to sleep at 9am the next day 😪😪😪

[Jan]

Thanks everyone. Your responses show me that DGS is reassuringly normal! I do feel a bit sorry for him though as he does get bored sometimes and would love to go and play some outdoor sport. He had to stop playing football as he has Osgood Schlatter’s disease (knees) as he has grown tall much too fast. At least he now has found Taekwondo. White belt test on Saturday.

[JoJo88]

Both of mine spend a lot of their spare time gaming with their mates, although they don’t have a lot of spare time. The youngest 14, does get together with his maybe once a week to ‘hang out’, but invariably it’s at someone’s house, so they are still gaming, only difference being they’re in the same room as each other! The eldest, 17, meets his mates at the local football club from time to time to watch matches on the big screen, but they both go along to watch actual games with their respective mates, so I suppose they have a pretty good balance. That’s in between football training/matches/coaching which takes up a few hours each week too.