Ordinary Life

by Kristin M. Lesney

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25 Fun Winter Activities For Your Teen

This post is created in partnership with Stress Health, an initiative of the Center for Youth Wellness. All opinions are our own. 

When it comes to raising my daughters, I always knew that the baby stage was tiring and hard in its own way. Raising a teen has proven itself to be a different kind of challenging. I’m dealing with an actual person who comprehends so much that is being thrown at her. 

Raising a teenager means that I have so much moreto do to connect with her. With all the pressures fromschool and friends and her amazing grades this winter, I want to encourage my teen to have a little fun. It’s important for my child’s mental health that I continue to build up her self-esteem and ensure that she’s happy and healthy. 

I know my teen can get stuck in the “I’m so bored and I have no friends” state of mind. A lot of families in Southern California travel during holidays. But in our family, there aretwo working parents,andwe have to stay at home. We don’t take vacations away like many of her peers, and it can become rather lonely after weeks away from school. This list is just a fun list to inspire you to get out and have some fun with your teen. 

25 Fun Winter Activities For Your Teen

  1. Go ice skating. 
  2. Go sledding.
  3. Build a fort or “teen cave.”
  4. Bake cookies.
  5. Go on a winter hike. 
  6. Get a manicure.
  7. Build a fire and roast marshmallows. 
  8. Go star gazing. 
  9. Do online workout or dance videos as a family. 
  10. Visit a museum. 
  11. Take an art class. 
  12. Host a movie marathon. 
  13. Try a new recipe for dinner. 
  14. Build a website. 
  15. Visit the library. 
  16. Find an indoor waterpark or pool. 
  17. Plan a Valentine’s Day party. 
  18. Host a sleepover. 
  19. Learn a new craft project. 
  20. Play a board game. 
  21. Create your own day spa with homemade facials. 
  22. Create a video or book. 
  23. Go on a digital detox. 
  24. Create a daily mantra and print it out to read every day. 
  25. Take the time to organize spaces that may need it. 

You can learn more about the effects of toxic stress on children at the Stress Health website. You can find out if your children are at risk and what you can do to help them.

girl on mattress
Parents who suffered severe emotional distress in childhood are also more likely to have children who miss developmental milestones
or experience behavioral or emotional problems. For this reason, it’s important to become aware of your own trauma and how it may have affected your own parenting, so you can decide whether it’s time to change your parenting playbook.
How do you encourage your kids to cope with stress? 

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Comments

  2. That is a great list you compiled! I love the “stargazing” one. I wish I lived in an area where you can see the stars at night! I’m sure teens would love that!

  3. great list indeed.. and we do many of those with a teen and a tween in the house..
    as for me, i would like to add runner to my list of what i do.. working towards it..but got the dorky dancer part right for myself too:)

  5. Those are all really great ideas. I don’t have a teenage in my life but my niece acts like one so I think she’ll like to do a few of those activities.

  7. these are all such good ideas…. especially for someone like me who hates being trapped in the house during the winter months. the spa day at home idea is so fun!