Fun Cheap Things for Teens

Getting a Job

• While a parent may not enjoy working at a local burger joint, many teenagers do find the responsibility and freedom associated with their first job to be quite fun. Parents who support and encourage their teenager's job search will find that employers are heavily influenced by family support. An involved parent ensures that the child will arrive to work on time and will be able to help settle any concerns or conflicts that arise. With their own income, teenagers also learn to budget and can pay for activities with their friends.

Volunteering

• Finding a job for a teenager who is emotionally not prepared, overwhelmed with school activities or living in a region where appropriate jobs are scarce is difficult. However, volunteering at the local library, animal shelter or senior center can be a way for teenagers to make new friends and gain self-confidence doing something they enjoy.

Photography and Fine Art

• If you already own a computer, a used digital camera can be the beginning of a new hobby for your artistically inclined teenager. Creating fine art out of recycled materials can be a low-cost activity as well.

Sports

• While athletic programs may seem expensive initially, the investment keeps teens occupied and active for the entire season. There are also other sports activities that can be done solo and some year round. Running, weightlifting and surfing are good examples of sports activities that in the right conditions can provide your teenager with hours of entertainment.

Board Games and Cards

• Before video games, board games and cards were considered a fun way to spend time, and they still are. Teenagers can be encouraged to try different games until they find ones they like or join clubs dedicated to playing a game they already enjoy.

Cooking

• Sometimes all teenagers need to have fun is to be given creative license and control over an activity that their parents have grown to consider a burden. Let your teenager experiment in the kitchen with recipes and ingredients. Experience is the best way to learn, and your child will take pride in contributing to the family.

Reading, Writing and Acting

• The public library has books and book clubs, which are entirely free for teenagers, just waiting for more participants. A child who already enjoys reading may be encouraged to try writing. Stories can be transformed into scripts and performed as plays or puppet shows for younger kids as well. Many communities have community theaters that welcome involvement by children and adults of all ages, not only as actors but also as stage crew or set designers.