December - Just For Fun
It’s December! With the holidays coming up, I thought it would be fun to do a month with some things you can do/watch with your teen for fun. Sometimes having no “agenda” is a great way to connect.
Parent Resources
50 Fun Things to Do With Your Teen - Parents
This Is How I Got My Teens To Do Things With Me Again - Grown and Flown
How Do I Get My Teens to Want to Spend Time with Me? - Ask Lisa Podcast
Parent Teen Night Ideas
This one is SO FUN! In this 15-minute Ted Talk Graham Shaw will have you drawing fun cartoon characters in minutes. Make sure you have a pencil and paper ready to go.
2. Watch some Studio C. A few of our favorites:
Your jaw will be on the floor during this unbelievable Ted Talk by beatboxer Tom Thum. It is amazing what the human voice can do!
4. What if You Could Trade a Paperclip for a House?
In this entertaining 14-minute Ted Talk, Kyle MacDonald details how he turned a red paper clip into a house by trading for something bigger and better over and over. It only took him a year!
5. I Survived on $.01 For a Week
My teens love Ryan Trahan so he deserves to be on here. This is the first video in a short series that shows how he lived on $.01 for a week. It’s interesting to see what he does and it really shows the power of hard work, perseverance and creativity!
6. Go on a hike, walk, or bike ride. You could also go out for dinner to their favorite restaurant, or go see a summer movie. Just do something fun!
Matthew Winkler talks about literary heroes, what traits they have, and what we have in common with them.
8. Daniel Thrasher
My teens also love this amazingly talented pianist. He is funny and makes the best videos. He makes playing the piano cool. :) Here are two we have watched together:
When you Accidentally Write Songs that Exist
When you learn a riff and put it in everything
Conversation Starters:
“What’s the most ridiculous thing you believed as a little kid?”
“If your life were a TV show, what would it be called and what kind of theme song would it have?”
“Would you rather always have to sing instead of talk, or dance everywhere you go?”
“If you had to be stuck in a video game, movie, or book world for a month, which one would you choose?”
“What snack would you be proud to represent as your official ‘spirit food’?”
“What’s the weirdest trend or slang adults try to use that makes you cringe?”
(Bonus points if you are brave enough to try it!)“If you could switch lives with any character from a show or movie for one day, who would it be and why?”
“What’s your personal theme song when you walk into a room?”
*(Play it together!)“If you had to give everyone in the family a funny award, what would each person get?”
“If you could instantly master any random skill—like juggling, beatboxing, or folding fitted sheets—what would it be?”
PDFs:
100 Non-screen activities (at home)
65 Non-screen activities (away from home)
things to watch out for:
1. Fun becomes secretive or off-limits to parents. If your teen is constantly hiding where they’ve been, lying about what they’re doing, or getting defensive when asked basic questions, it may be a sign that their version of “fun” isn’t safe or age-appropriate.
2. Their idea of fun involves risky or harmful behavior. Drinking, drug use, vandalism, unsafe sex, or dangerous dares shouldn’t be dismissed as “just teens being teens.” If fun is tied to breaking laws or putting themselves or others in harm’s way, it’s time to step in.
3. They need constant stimulation to feel okay. If your teen can’t tolerate boredom, quiet time, or being alone (and is always chasing the next adrenaline rush, social event, or distraction) it may signal emotional avoidance or anxiety underneath the surface.
4. Their fun consistently causes problems—at home, school, or with friends. Frequent grounding, damaged relationships, declining grades, or getting in trouble at school all suggest that their version of fun may be creating more harm than joy.
5. They seem emotionally flat or disconnected when not having fun. If your teen is only animated or engaged during high-energy activities and withdrawn or down the rest of the time, it might point to a reliance on external stimulation to feel okay. This can sometimes a red flag for depression or emotional distress.
6. They’re doing things to “be liked” rather than because they enjoy it. If your teen is participating in things that go against their values or make them uncomfortable just to fit in, they may be struggling with confidence, identity, or peer pressure.
7. They use “fun” to avoid dealing with real emotions or responsibilities. Excessive partying, gaming, or even joking constantly to avoid serious topics can be a sign of emotional numbing or escape.