what do your teens do?

[kathymuggle]

What out-of-the house activities does your teen do?

Are they done with other HSers or the general community?

I am asking because there seems to be little for teens to do in the homeschooling arena in this area. It may be that we have to go to the city (1 hour away) for activities, or, perhaps, that is natural for activities to phase out as the teen years approach - and that community activities become more the norm (Not that I am dissing community based stuff - we love it! It is just that HSing activities are often cost effective, take place during the day, and you can see that other HSers exist)

[moominmamma]

Mine are involved in the general community. They do community orchestra, chamber ensemble, violin group class, choir, fitness classes. Nothing at all specifically with other homeschoolers. These are after-school and evening activities, which is neither here nor there for us. Our life has evolved so that generally independent home-based things happen during the early part of the day, outside activities later, and we stay up late to accommodate those things and sleep in in the mornings.

Our community-based things are mostly very affordable. Only youth choir costs more than a pittance, and that's because of the tours, which are incredibly important to my kids and full of growing-up experiences and travel, so that's money well spent.

Miranda

[Callimom]

My oldest is only 11 and I can see that there is a lack of teen homeschooling activities. Even this year he is definitely more involved in community stuff than pre-teen/teen homeschooling stuff.

For our group, most secular/non-Christians go to high school because of the lack of activities, classes and connection opportunities for older homeschoolers. Many of the Christian homeschoolers who don't go to school in grade 9 are academicly structured and seem to be focused on teaching all subjects from a biblical/creationist perspective, which means co-ops aren't generally open and or they type of thing non-christians generally don't want to participate in. And/or these kids are highly involved in their church youth groups which serve most of their social needs. The combination of these two things mean there isn't a lot of spare time in their days for other activities.

It's an issue I don't really know how to navigate for my kids (at this point).

Karen

[Savoir Faire]

How big is the area you live in? It might not be a structured group activity, but your teen might find things to do through the local hospital, zoo, humane society or library...many of these have different teen programs where they can meet other kids.

[kathymuggle]

Thanks everyone. Keep the thoughts coming.

We live in a very small town about 1 hour from a large city.

He does have many friends locally, so that is a good thing.

I think I need to sit with things for a while. For a number of years we have made good use of HS resources, but I have come to realise most of those resources are geared to 8-12 year olds. I will either have to try and create youth opportunities, or make more use of community based resources. In many ways making use of community stuff may be the way to go - Ds interests are becoming so specific that finding others based on interest rather than age/ educational persuasion may be the way to go.

It is tricky - because he is just 13 - he does not feel totally at home with older teens and adults, but does not want to hang with little kids either. I guess these are just transition years, and that is that.