50 Fun Things You Can Do with Your Teen to Build a Stronger Family

There is no question that one of the hardest things about the parent-teen relationship is that they often struggle to relate to one another.  They come from two different worlds, speak different languages, and have different priorities.  But there is no question that one of the best ways to prevent everything from teen suicide to eating disorders to bullying is to have a strong parent-teen relationship.  To help build stronger bonds and give everyone a chance to get to know each other better and understand each other’s perspectives, here are 50 fun things that parents and teenagers can do together.

1. Build something like a shed, a garden, or a house for Habitat for Humanity.
2. Fix something that is broken, even better if it something that the teenager likes and is invested in fixing.
3. Cook Dinner together including picking a menu, grocery shopping, prepping, cooking, and cleaning up.
4. Volunteer.
5. Play a sport like tennis or soccer.
6. Go for a hike.
7. Swim.
8. Read the same book.
9. Go whitewater rafting.
10. Play a video game.
11. Play a board game.
12. Play poker and use chores or favors instead of cash.
13. Learn to do something new.
14. Ride horses.
15. Stargaze and learn to identify the constellations.
16. Visit a museum.
17. Go see two movies, one picked by the parent, one by the teen.
18. Go to an art gallery.
19. Go to a river or lake for the day.
20. Play basketball.
21. Take the dog for a walk or to the dog park.
22. Teach each other something new.
23. Plan a neighborhood scavenger hunt.
24. Go bowling.
25. Play miniature golf.
26. Listen to music, alternating between each other’s favorite songs.
27. Go to a baseball game and eat hot dogs.
28. Pack a picnic and spend the whole afternoon in the park with no electronics.
29. Throw a block party.
30. Have a yard sale and split the profits.
31. Spend the day at an amusement park.
32. Go camping for a weekend.
33. Visit a farm where you can pick your own fruit or vegetables and then use the fruits of your labor to make something at home.
34. Redecorate a room in the house.
35. Clean out everyone’s car.
36. Start a new sport or hobby together like karate or cooking.
37. Start a garden.
38. Have a movie marathon.
39. Go to an outdoor concert or music event.
40. Dress up and go out for a special dinner.
41. Make s’mores.
42. Play hide and seek in the dark with flashlights.
43. Help at a homeless shelter.
44. Visit your parents/grandparents.
45. Act like tourists and visit all the local points of interest.
46. Go for a bike ride.
47. Learn a second language together.
48. Build a sandcastle.
49. Volunteer at an animal shelter.
50. Make a bucket list of things you want to do together before they grow up and move out.

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