What are some fun one on one things my son and I can do when we are just hanging out together? He is 14.
By Susan from Syracuse, NY
Learn some card and board games that two can play. Get a Wii if you can afford it. Go bowling. Have a movie and popcorn night. Cook something together. Start a mutual hobby. Ride bikes together or go for a walk/run. Throw a ball back and forth. Shoot hoops together. Play croquet/darts/badminton. Ask your child what they would like to do.
Find out what interests him. Go to natural history museum, find out if you have an IMax/3D theater close by.
Go see a sports game ie hockey or basketball game. College games can be lots of fun and have cheaper tickets.
Simple cheap and fun - make some paper airplanes and fly them around. Who can make the one go the farthest. Who can make one do stunts. Who can get closest to a goal/target. You can get a book at the library or look up designs on the internet.
I bought a plane that was sort of like a kite and went out with my youngest daughter and we tossed it back and forth. We also flew a kite when the wind was right.
My oldest daughter was into Oragami so we got a book and made lots of paper things. She gave most of them to friends.
I took all three of my kids on a yard sale spree. Spent the whole day hitting the local yard sales and visiting the flea market. Gave each one a ten spot for buying things and for their lunch. That was a challenge, spending money on things but keeping some to pay for lunch. A little lesson on money management and they didn't even know it.
I think the question should be asked of what he thinks would be fun to do and share with you and then suggest things you would find fun to do and share with him and see what the two of you could come up with together for fun ;-)
Play Farkle, good dice game for two people. go to www.elversonpuzzle.com to print out score sheetsa and get rules. Another good dice game is Yatzee. The only investment is dice. 5 for Yatzee and 6 for Farkle.
I would cook and my son would taste :). Well that is how it started out with him at the bar watching and me cooking then he decided to try his hand at simple cooking and me watching. My son is a very much guy guy but became a wonderful cook because we would spend time putting around in the kitchen preparing easy stuff.
It's quite a challenge but my grandson and I are making homemade Gingerbread men tomorrow and playing board games afterward for a change from computer and all the expensive electronics he's grounded from for one reason or another. A compliment he gave me was, "Daily I eat, bathe, sleep, dress, and go to school...and that's all until I get to stay each day with you where there's some fun!"
Although old-fashioned, loving, cluttered, full of memories and old photos, he loves to stay at gammy's after school and homework, because he can get encouragement while practicing his violin, can discuss any problems and get godly advice that works, and can even take a nap when he's tired.
All of these cannot be purchased and have lasting joy for us both. We pray to and praise God for our times together because He shows us that the best things in life are not " things." but are instead each other, sincere and unconditional love, making best use of our short time on earth, not overworking to be rich, and having a grateful heart for even the simplest of things God provides. : )
