3 Holiday Activities That Keep Teens At Home

Tips to make this Thanksgiving a memorable one!

With the holidays around the corner, it is important to start finding ways to bring the family together and then gathering the necessary supplies to make it happen. As a person who recently used to be a teen, I have come up with three ideas that will make that first step a little easier. It’s up to you to actually take my advice and make this Thanksgiving one of the best ones yet. Or at least ways to keep your teens home a little longer than last year. This includes: Hosting a game night, flag football tournament, and volunteering as a family.

A game night with the family is the perfect way to bond with the family while also keeping the kids engaged in some light-hearted, or competitive, fun. This is an easy, cost-effective way to bring the family together. All you will need to do is grab a deck of cards from your junk drawer, set up an extra table or two along with some chairs, and maybe dust off those boxes of apples to apples or charades in the basement that haven’t been touched in years. Or, better yet, download the Heads Up app on your phone! Not only is game night a great family bonding experience, it is also proven to have developmental benefits. Scholar’s Choice found that frequent family get-togethers lead to children and teens having “more motivation in school, better relationships with peers, more positive perception of the parent-child relationship, and better emotional well-being and life satisfaction.” Not only is family cost-effective and fun, it is also educationally beneficial.

A flag football game is an excellent way to work up your appetite before its time to feast at thanksgiving diner. A pivotal part of Thanksgiving in many households is having NFL football playing all day. This year there are three football games scheduled, but why let the NFL player have all the fun? Getting outside and enjoying the fall weather and working up a nice sweat is the perfect way to spend time with the family while the turkey is cooking. It is another inexpensive activity that is sure to get the whole family involved.

Volunteering as a family will help expand the feeling of giving and gratitude that is already present around the holidays. There is no better way to give back to your community during the holidays than by volunteering with your family. Not only does it act as a bonding activity, but it creates empathy and appreciation for the blessings in your life. You can find where to volunteer in your area by contacting your local homeless shelter to see if there are opportunities to serve meals or brainstorming items to donate. Other ways to volunteer include working with the elderly in your community and grabbing groceries or cooking meals which can be difficult or lonely during the holidays. Feeding America noted that “volunteering during adolescence has been linked to improved grades, reduced drug usage, and increased self esteem.” Adding volunteering to your Thanksgiving traditions is a great way to develop character and empathy not only in teens but also in yourself. After all, helping others is what Thanksgiving is all about.

This holiday season, keep your teens at home a little longer by hosting a family game night, playing a game of flag football, and finding ways to volunteer in your community. Whatever you decide to do with the family this Thanksgiving, remember it is not what you do, but that you are doing it together.

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Teens, Family Game Night, Family Activities, Thanksgiving