top of page

Tips for Holidays with Teens

Writer's picture: Leafy FieldsLeafy Fields

If your family is anything like ours you may often find yourself running to catchup with your ever maturing children. You just get the hang of holidays with your ‘little ones’ and bam you realise you have tweenie or teens on your hands and their holiday ‘needs’ have completely changed. - less zoos or building sand castles on beaches - more lazing about in the sun hooked up to WiFi or having adventures on high ropes, bikes or segways - maybe paddle boarding or scrambling through the mud on an assault cause.


It can be a shock to find things have changed towards the end of primary and start of secondary school, Holidays feel very different. This is a precious transition time as your child starts to become more grown up - if not independent. Special interests may change without warning and all of a sudden you have a photographer, artist, plant specialist or historian on your hands.


They may not want to come on many more family holidays… you can feel the shift in the air with young adulthood on the horizon - so each last experience is precious.


The last visit to Santa.. when you realise you are more excited than the kids at seeing the jolly old elf. The last time trailing around the neighbours for trick or treat - and the end of looking out for play parks. Things are changing … there is melancholy at the changing of times but there are new exciting adventures ahead - maybe a visit to a Christmas light trail instead of Santa, decorating the house for Halloween and handing out sweets to visiting children instead of knocking on doors and for holidays following special interests is the key. As Lego became warhammer - a visit to the warhammer shop became part of our holidays.. followed by glueing and painting - then finally a game between siblings of these hugely complicated little armies.


We have found holidays with teens is about making special moments to connect and build on family relationships, hoping to build foundation for our young adults to want to be around us and their siblings in adulthood.


Whole family board games have proved very popular with our tweens and teens. Obviously careful selection is needed to ensure it is a fun experience - not too much reading, plenty of scope for cheating and we also set time limits to prevent anyone becoming too tired and frustrated. We often play in teams to even up abilities and keep the games moving.


Some holiday board games we enjoy are chess, the ‘yes and no’ game, the sock game, dobble, monopoly and more recently cluedo. I like to keep an eye out for new and unusual games - I would love to hear your family favourites.


Our teens also love a campfire - building it and getting the flames going, then toasting a marshmallow or roasting some crumpets. Enjoying the crackle and flicker into the evening.


BBQs are great fun for teens too, a chance to help with cooking the burgers or kebabs over hot coals with parent - can be very rewarding.


Then follow the special interests - plan some time for a few activities that are focused on their special interests - even if the family splits up to head in different directions for these specific activities.. horse riding, visiting castles, drawing on the beach, climbing high ropes or visiting museums for cars, tanks or planes. When you come back together in the evening there will be lots to talk about.

Lego becomes warhammer
Lego becomes warhammer

If you have got to the point where you can all ride bikes then a trip to a Forrest like Holden hill might be fun, exploring trails together in the woods, discovering views, hidden play areas and enjoying the freedom of riding off road away from traffic.


On wet days you could swap the zoo for lazer tag, a virtual reality games session such as gamer ready or an escape room adventure.


Our teens love Glamping holidays with the freedom to enjoy a campfire or relax in long

grass on the WiFi. Board games together in the evenings and a few days full of more adventures activities. We are very lucky here in Devon to be surrounded by lots of teen activity opportunities.


Holidaying with teens is a precious adventure, even though life is moving on, there is still plenty to enjoy together as a family.


At leafy fields Glamping our safari lodges are great for holidaying with teens - lots of space, cosy beds & sofas and of course we have WiFi on the Glamping field. Make the most of those teen holidays before they disappear off with friends.



Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page