Kids growing up? Yep, mine too. As our kids get older, many of us find ourselves rethinking what we keep in our homes to truly engage them, while still leaving room for younger siblings (or younger-at-heart moments). If you're enough to have a backyard pool, you might already have hangout duty covered (#justaddpizza). For the rest of us, here are some fun, practical ideas to make your home a place tweens and teens actually want to gather.
A projector & screen – You don’t need a dedicated movie room to create a fun, memorable hangout. A video projector and screen (or even a blank wall or white sheet!) can instantly turn a playroom, living room, garage, or backyard into a home theater. Popcorn encouraged! There’s no need to commit to a permanent setup either. Portable projectors make it easy to move movie night wherever the group gathers, from indoor sleepovers to outdoor backyard movie marathons. While high-end projectors can be pricey, there are also very affordable options (some under $100) that are perfect for casual use, like this popular mini projector with tripod. [ad]
Ingredients – When teens hang out, they’re bound to get hungry. Sure, you can spoil them with a buffet of pre-made snacks, OR you can let them get creative in the kitchen together. This works best for smaller groups, when your teen is hosting only one or two friends. Encourage them to try their hand at an interesting recipe like caramel popcorn, sheet pan nachos, or even sushi or a charcuterie board. Fun kitchen tools to have on hand for teen get-togethers: an ice cream maker, doughnut pan, griddle, blender, ingredients for gourmet milkshakes. Want to get the crew really excited? This Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker is a great value and easy to use, and what teen doesn't like ice cream? As with most electronic ice cream makers, be sure you put the bowl in the freezer a day before your teens are ready to make their treats! [ad]
A tripod – So simple, but such fun! Add a tripod to the mix (the kids already have cameras on their phones) and teens will be silly all afternoon taking photos and making movies. I recommend the Bluehorn 40" Selfie Stick and Tripod, as it’s sturdy, easily adjustable for a perfect angle, and compatible with both iPhones and Androids. Or course it has a remote! And did you think props were just for parties? Incorrect! When your teen / tween has friends over, pull out a box of dress-up hats, hairpieces, scarves, and fun clothes, and let them have at it. They’re bound to make some fun fashion show memories to share on their Instagram! [ad]
Face paint. One Christmas, my daughter received the Blue Squid Face Painting Kit and a book of designs, and it was a big hit. The teen years are a good age for this activity – they won’t make a mess and should be dexterous enough to crank out some really cool designs on each other’s faces. Also, my tween thinks these cute temporary metallic tattoos are worth their weight in gold, no pun intended! [ad]
Basketball goal. Maybe you’ve never liked the idea of a basketball goal in the driveway or the backyard, but as your child gets older, shooting hoops can be a great way to release steam, and a fun, active activity to do when their friends arrive.
Games – There will never be a dull moment if you have a good supply of games older kids will enjoy. Pull them out before the gang arrives, and let the tweens/teens decide for themselves if / when to play. Choose simple, easy-to-play classic games like UNO Cards, Pictionary, Taboo, and Scrabble, or more imaginative games like Catan or Charades. Have room for a foosball or ping pong table? Even better! And of course, video games are almost always a win! Couple them with Tip #1 (projector screen) and you’re golden.
Art Supplies – One of the good things about having older kids is that they can independently use the art supplies plus clean up afterwards without your help! Yippee! Your craftsy teen might want to entertain his friends by doing projects such as painting (buy cheap acrylic paints and canvases from Michael’s), making jewelry (this activity is not just for girls!), or sketching with charcoal pencils. For her thirteenth birthday, I bought my teen Mastering Manga with Mark Crilley, and she pulled out the book frequently to sketch with friends. [ad]
Diamond Painting - This activity actually falls under "art supplies" but it's so unique and different that I wanted to list it separately. We recently discovered diamond painting, and it's an awesome way for teens and adults to pass the time. Your teen and his/her friends can de-stress and make something craftsy and beautiful at the same time! The activity involves using a small handheld tool to apply various sized/colored plastic jewels/beads to a board in a paint-by-number formal. The results and gorgeous and worth it! These bookmarks can be done in about an hour, and they come 6 or 8 to a pack. [ad]
Inspiration Board - Much like the Vision Boards that many goal-getters create especially at the beginning of the year, an Inspiration Board is one that will showcase words, photos, and images to inspire your teen and his/her friends to work towards their passions. All you'll need is a few poster boards (the half size works perfectly) and some old magazines (or let them hunt for photos online). Encourage the teens to choose images that reflect their goals and aspirations.
Music. It makes the world go 'round. If you've got both Amazon Alexa and a teenager at home, you most certainly should have Amazon Music Unlimited, the monthly subscription service that allows you to play just about any published song you can think of at any time! My daughters and their friends play song after song after song, because whenever one begins, another great tune comes to mind! We signed up for the service under the free trial, and we never looked back!
