This post offers 55 clever ways to get your teenager out of their room.
Nearly every parent of teenagers will deal with the struggle at one point or another… how to get their teenager out of their room.
As parents, we have a tendency to worry about everything. But, when our teen begins spending a little too much time alone in their bedroom, we fear the worst.
Are they depressed? Did something happen that they’re not telling me? Is this normal? Have I lost my child forever?
But, before you freak out that your kid only leaves his room long enough to go to school or grab a plateful of Oreos, try not to worry too much. According to Dr. Peter Marshall, child psychologist and author of “Now I Know Why Tigers Eat Their Young,” not only is your child’s need for alone time and privacy normal, it’s necessary.
“Although it’s tempting to think they’re just goofing off when they’re alone, they’re actually spending a large part of their time thinking about things, trying to figure out who they are and who they want to become. Teenagers have a lot of growing up to do and they need the space to do it.”
Still, it’s incredibly frustrating for parents. We miss our kids and we want to be with them.
So, how do you get your teenager out of their room and get them interacting with you, your family and their friends again? Sure, you can lay down the hammer and threaten them to join the rest of the living (or else), but if you want them to actually want to come out of their room, it all boils down to the three F’s.
Food
Teenagers love food. Whether it’s sizzling bacon on the stove, a box of fresh doughnuts, a homemade batch of brownies or their absolute favorite home-cooked meal, one of the all-time best ways to get your teenager out of their room is by catering to their insatiable appetite. Seriously… it works every time.
Fresh Air.
Nothing clears the mind faster, relieves stress or puts life (and all its daily pressures) into perspective than a day out in the fresh air and sunshine. Just like when our kids were toddlers and we would take them to the park to wear them out, teenagers need plenty of fresh air – they just don’t realize it. Help them escape the confines of their bedroom by planning outdoor adventures. Everything from hiking and biking to swimming and camping will do your teen (and your relationship with your teen) a world of good.
Fun.
Teenagers are notorious for having a short attention span, which means they get bored quickly. Oftentimes, teens hang out in their bedroom because “there’s nothing better to do.” Keep them occupied and energized by planning fun things they love to do (be sure to let them take part in the planning). Taking them go-karting, indoor rock climbing, on a fun shopping spree, out for a spa day or to an amusement park might be just what they need to spark their enthusiasm and get your teenager out of their room.
If you’re totally stumped on how to get your teen out of their room, here are a few more fun (and specific) ideas to consider!
1. Make Their Favorite Meal (Ask them to make it with you so you can teach them a thing or two about cooking.)
2. Bake Anything with Chocolate
3. Take Them (and Possibly Their Friends) to an Amusement Park
4. Turn on Their Favorite TV Show
5. Teach Them Something They’ve Been Wanting to Learn (My husband has been teaching my son about the stock market – he even helped him set up his own account and gave him some money to invest. Now my son interacts with my husband all the time!)
6. Take Them on a Mini Shopping Spree
7. Plan a Pool Day with the Family
8. Let Them Invite Their Friends Over (Here’s a few benefits of being the hangout house for your teen and all their friends.)
9. Get a Puppy Under the Condition that Your Teen Has to Manage Puppy Care
10. Encourage Them to Get a Job So They Can Make a Few Bucks (Here are a few tips so they can ace their interview.)
11. Keep Asking (They need to know we want them with us.)
12. Ask Them to Go Hiking
13. Sign Them Up for a Gym Membership and Encourage Them to Get Fit
14. Have a “Family Dinners Together” House Rule
15. Go Geocaching Together
16. Encourage Them to Volunteer Once a Week
17. Take Them on a Camping Trip
18. Buy Them Doughnuts
19. Challenge Them to Run a 5K (alone, with you or with friends)
20. Plan a Family Road Trip (Get them involved in the planning.)
21. Take Them Rock Climbing
22. Spring for Lunch at their Favorite Restaurant
23. Let Them Choose Something They’d Like to Do… Anything
24. Help Them Buy All the Supplies for an Experiment They Can Conduct with You or Their Friends
25. Take Them to a Cool Museum They’ve Never Been To
26. Think Techy: Take Them to a Computer, Cell Phone or Gaming Store to Look or Buy
27. Take Them to the Movies
28. Surprise Them with Concert Tickets
29. Take them Ziplining (A little adventure goes a long way.)
30. Take a Trip to the Beach
31. Go on Bike Ride
32. Take Your Daughter for a Mani-Pedi (Here are a few fun nail trends!)
33. Teach Them How to Drive
34. Rent a Segway and Explore the Nearest City for an Entire Day
35. Take Them Indoor Skydiving
36. Take Your Daughter on a Spa Day
37. Spring for Them to Go Go-Karting with Friends
38. Let Them Host a Party (Party Ideas: Gaming, Pool, DIY Crafts, Spa, Netflix Movie Marathon, or LAN Party)
39. Host a Family Video Gaming Night (with plenty of junk food they love)
40. Take Them to a Baseball, Football, Soccer or Basketball Game and Eat Buckets of Popcorn
41. Visit Their Favorite College Campuses
42. Go to the Zoo
43. Have an Old Fashioned Family Game Night
44. Build Something Together
45. Take Them and Their Friends to a Water Park
46. Make Bacon (Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it.)
47. Sign Them Up for a Camp or Class They’ll Love
48. Update Their Bedroom and Let Them Pick the Paint and Shop for New Accessories
49. Take Them on a Weekend Get-a-Way (Let them choose when and where.)
50. Start Cleaning Their Room (Warning: this might drive your teen nuts.)
51. Take Them Horseback Riding
52. Rent a Jet Ski for the Day
53. Bring Them to Work with You
54. Help Them Plan a Trip
55. Teach them How to Fish
How do YOU get your teenager out of their room? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section!