12 Ways to Entertain Tweens

Tweens are at that funny age where they aren’t old enough to completely reject the idea of hanging out with mom and dad, but are still old enough to want to be doing their own thing.

Plan a few fun activities that both you and your tween will enjoy for a fun bonding experience that will switch up their usual after-school computer session. Here are a few fun activities no tween can say no to – even if they are too cool for school!

Card games and tricks – Since this generation’s idea of a card game is solitaire on a computer screen, you can take this opportunity to teach them some card games of your youth! If card games aren’t their idea of fun, why not teach them a magic trick or two?

Redecorate their room – Your child is maturing, so their bedroom should, too! You don’t have to lay out the big bucks to redo the space, either. Reuse and refurbish their current furniture and check Pinterest for some fun DIYs you can do together.

Mommy-Daughter spa day: If you've got a daughter, she'll love being able to pamper herself just like you do. Getting a matching mani-pedi is a great time to catch up on what’s new in your daughter’s life.

Father-son construction job: Start a building project with your son for some quality bonding time. He may not be interested in hard labor, but once you suggest building a new entertainment system for his game consoles you can bet that’ll spark his interest.

Family fun video game: Since it’s no secret that tweens love their video games, why not try to meet them halfway by purchasing a family friendly multi-player game? Hasbro has several versions of “family fun night” video games with popular classics you and the kids will love.

Arcade: If you’re having trouble getting your gamer out of the house, suggest taking their gaming activities to the arcade. Along with the standard games, they usually have activities like table hockey and bumper cars that you can partake in, too.

Dine-in movie theater: Kids at this age are still young enough that they won’t always refuse to be seen with you, so take advantage of this and take them on a unique food and dining experience. AMC Theaters recently opened up several dine-in movie theaters around the country where you can eat a full meal while enjoying your film on the big screen.

Go to the dog park: Watching your pooch at the park is fun no matter what age. If you don’t have a pet, you can still take a trip to your local dog park and watch the dogs interact with each other and play freely.

Go swimming, no matter the season: Impromptu swimming trip in the middle of winter? You can bet your kids will be psyched for the trip! If you don’t have a public indoor pool available for use, visit a local hotel with a pool and book a night for a unique “staycation”.

Movie-marathon: Have an all-day movie marathon with the kids. Choose a film with a number of sequels to keep the theme going such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or Planet of the Apes. You can even encourage the kids to whip up some movie treats in the kitchen with you to really make it a movie theme party.

Karaoke night: Most people are turned off from karaoke simply because they don’t like to sing in front of people. Make your own Karaoke night exclusively for friends and family. Choose current hits so they know mom and dad still know how to get down.

Bake something ooey gooey: When all else fails, suggest picking a not-so-skinny dessert recipe. Your child more than likely has an overactive sweet tooth at this age, so they will be more than willing to taste test the batter and help mix in all the chocolaty goodness. Check out this gallery of must-try cupcakes for some delicious ideas that will satisfy any sweet tooth.