50 Fun Family Activities Your Tween or Teen Will Actually Enjoy

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Remember when your kids were little and wanted to spend every waking second with you? They begged you to play and jumped at any chance for family fun.

Then they became tweens and teens, and suddenly the roles reversed. Friends, sports, jobs, and screens all seem to come before us, and we’re left longing for more time with them. Getting them to put down their phones and come out from behind closed doors can feel impossible.

If you’re stuck in a rut, this list is packed with tween- and teen-approved ideas, from deeply bonding moments to silly adventures full of laughter.

Why is family time with tweens and teens worth the effort?

Even when they act like they’d rather be anywhere else, time with you matters more than you might think:

• One-on-one time grows, even as family time shrinks. A Penn State study that followed families for seven years found that whole-family time dropped as kids got older, but one-on-one time with a parent actually went up in the early and middle teen years. More one-on-one time with dads was linked with higher self-esteem.
• Feeling close to family is protective. In a large national study of teens in grades 7 to 12, feeling connected to family was linked with lower risk across nearly every health risk the researchers measured.
• Giving back is good for them, too. In a study of 10th graders, those who volunteered an hour a week for 10 weeks showed healthier hearts than students who hadn’t started yet, and the ones who grew most in empathy improved most.

The fun isn’t extra. It’s how connection gets built.

How do I get my teen to actually want to join in?

• Let them choose. Share this list and let everyone pick a few favorites. When it’s their idea, the groaning stops.
• Plan it ahead. Put it on the calendar so it doesn’t compete with last-minute plans with friends.
• Don’t force the fun. I’ve been guilty of trying to make fun happen. Tweens and teens can smell forced fun a mile away.
• Leave the lectures at home. This isn’t the time to bring up grades, chores, or disagreements. Just enjoy them.
• Make time for one-on-one. A coffee date with just you can mean more than a whole family outing.

• With a tween, try saying: “Pick one thing on this list you’d want to do this weekend, and I’ll make it happen.”
• With a teen, try saying: “I miss hanging out with you. Want to grab coffee Saturday? Your pick where.”

50 fun family activities your tween or teen will actually enjoy

Fun at home

1. Join them in their favorite video game.
2. Ask them to teach you something they’re good at (a video game, crafting, makeup, painting, whatever their hobby is!).
3. Ask if you can watch their favorite YouTuber or TikToker with them (and try not to roll your eyes too much!).
4. Play cards or a board game. (Here are our 18 hilarious family games for tweens and teens.)
5. Work on a jigsaw puzzle over several days.
6. Read jokes from a joke book or play Mad Libs.
7. Have a karaoke night. (A Bluetooth karaoke mic makes it extra fun.)
8. Play music, dance, and video each other. (Fair warning: they might find it so funny they Snapchat it to their friends, just like my daughter did!)
9. Pull out old family videos and photo albums and reminisce.
10. Start a TV series together. (Need ideas? Try these binge-worthy TV shows to watch with your tween or teen or these 75 fun family movies.)
11. Make vision boards. Cut out pictures you love and paste them on poster board (dream house, dream trip, dream car), then share them with each other.
12. Stargaze. (Make it extra fun with a stargazing app like Star Walk.)
13. Read the same book and talk about it together each week.
14. Listen to an audiobook as a family.
15. Tackle a project together: organize the garage, sew a quilt, make a home decor piece, or try woodworking.

In the kitchen

16. Cook their favorite meal and dessert together.
17. Pull out an old family recipe and cook it together.
18. Host your own “cooking show” challenge: gather random ingredients and each create a dish. (Watch Chopped for inspiration.)
19. Take a cooking class together.

Get moving

20. Try an indoor rock climbing wall.
21. Go laser tagging.
22. Hit an arcade.
23. Play pool or ping pong.
24. Go ice skating or rollerblading.
25. Play indoor mini golf. (Look for glow-in-the-dark golf. So fun!)
26. Go bowling.
27. Jump at a trampoline park or race go-karts.
28. Work out together.
29. Go to a football game.

Get outside

30. Take a family hike or bike ride, and let your kid pick the trail.
31. If your teen is learning to drive, let them drive you somewhere fun. It turns a nerve-racking skill into one-on-one time.

Out and about

32. Try an escape room together. It’s teamwork, it’s thrilling, and nobody has to talk about their feelings.
33. See a movie of their choice (as long as you’re okay with it).
34. Go to a play, a concert, or the theater.
35. Visit a museum.
36. Let them pick an adventurous destination for a day trip.
37. Try a restaurant with a cuisine none of you has tried, and let them choose.
38. Check your local library for special events. Ours offers craft lessons, book clubs, and more.
39. Browse the little shops downtown.
40. Learn something brand new together.

Silly challenges and treats

41. Take them to a coffee shop for a treat and some great conversation.
42. Paint pottery at a local studio.
43. Do makeovers: at a makeup counter, or let them give you one.
44. Give or get manicures, pedicures, or foot massages.
45. Hit a thrift store and challenge each other to create the ugliest outfit. If you’re brave, model them and let your friends vote on social media!
46. Go discount shopping at a “bin store.” Tweens and teens love browsing the random finds, and you might score a deal!

Give back together

47. Serve at a homeless shelter or food pantry.
48. Volunteer at an animal rescue.
49. Visit residents at a nursing home.
50. Serve together at church, like helping with the kids’ ministry or a meal.

Questions moms ask about family fun with tweens and teens

What do you do with a teenager who doesn’t want to do anything with the family?

Start small and let them lead. Ask them to pick the activity, keep it short, and try one-on-one time instead of a big family outing. Joining them in something they already love, like a video game or a favorite show, is often the easiest way in. If they’ve been pulling away, you might find My Son Is Pulling Away and It’s Breaking My Heart helpful too.

What are free things to do with teens?

Game nights, cooking challenges, hikes and bike rides, stargazing, family video nights, library events, volunteering, and watching their favorite YouTuber together don’t cost a thing. For the holidays, try these 20 holiday family activities that don’t cost a thing.

How often should we do family activities with teens?

There’s no magic number. A regular rhythm, like one family night a week plus little one-on-one moments, often works better than a big outing once in a while. Everyday moments like dinner and car rides count too.

Should I make my teen come to family activities?

It’s okay to expect them at a few things that really matter to your family. For everything else, inviting works better than forcing. Give them a say in the plan, and they’re much more likely to show up with a smile.

Rediscover how much fun your kid is

Mama, family fun with tweens and teens isn’t about doing it perfectly. It’s a chance for you to relax, too. Go with the flow, rediscover how fun your kid really is, and remember to laugh often.

These years go by so fast. I’m grateful for every silly, sweet moment God gives us with them, and I hope this list helps you find a few more. For more ideas, see How to Make It a Great Summer With Your Tweens and Teens.

xo Sheryl

About Sheryl Gould: Sheryl is the founder of Moms of Tweens and Teens and a Parent and Relationship Coach with 18 years of experience helping moms stay connected to their kids through the tween and teen years. She’s a mom of three, author of SOS! The Technology Guidebook for Parents of Tweens and Teens, and host of the Moms of Tweens and Teens podcast.