20 Fun and Engaging Activities to Keep Teens Busy During the Holidays

Holidays!! — Time when kids seem to have endless energy and an uncanny ability to get bored! But don’t worry, we’ve got the perfect solution to keep them occupied and save your sanity! Here’s a list of 20 fun and creative activities that will keep your teens busy and help you avoid going crazy.

1. Create a "Bucket List"

Encourage your teen to think about all the things they’d like to do or try during the holidays. Whether it’s fun activities, places to visit, or skills to learn, this list will help them set goals and have enriching experiences. For inspiration, suggest checking out travel blogs or interest-based forums.

2. Daily Workout Sessions

Take advantage of the free time to introduce your teen to new sports or physical activities. Whether it’s yoga, running, or gym workouts, encourage them to challenge themselves and develop healthy routines. For exercise ideas and programs, try apps like Nike Training Club or websites like Fitness Blender.

3. Photo Challenge

Spark your teen’s creativity by giving them a theme for a photo shoot. Encourage them to find artistic angles, play with light, or discover original perspectives. You can then organize a viewing session where they explain their choices and share their impressions. Apps like VSCO or Adobe Lightroom can also help them edit their photos.

4. Create a Recipe with Specific Ingredients

Challenge your teen to a cooking contest by giving them specific ingredients and asking them to create an original recipe. Host a competition with family or friends to vote for the best creation.

5. Organize an Outdoor Movie Night

Transform your garden into an open-air cinema and invite your teen’s friends for an outdoor movie screening. Choose classic films or recent releases, set up loungers or cushions, and prepare popcorn and refreshing drinks for a fun-filled evening.

6. Host a DIY "Escape Room" at Home

Challenge your teen and their friends by creating a DIY "escape room" at home. Design puzzles, codes, and challenges for them to solve mysteries and find the final solution. Find scenario ideas and tips on specialized websites.

7. Try Geocaching

Go on a family adventure with geocaching, a modern treasure hunt that uses GPS coordinates to find hidden caches in your area.

8. Create a School Year Scrapbook

Gather photos and memories from each school year and help your teen create a scrapbook to remember those special moments.

9. Bury a Time Capsule

Collect meaningful items for your family, such as photos, letters, or keepsakes, and bury them in your garden with the intention of digging them up in a few years. It will be a beautiful surprise for the future.

10. Discover Your Chinese Zodiac Animal

Learn together which Chinese zodiac animal corresponds to each family member. It’s a fun way to explore different cultures.

11. Start a Gratitude Journal

Encourage your teen to write down something they are grateful for each day. This practice helps develop a positive attitude and appreciate the little things in life.

12. Reading Bingo Challenge

Launch a reading challenge by creating a book-themed bingo. Prepare a grid with different genres or specific reading challenges like "read a book in one day" or "read a book by a foreign author." Reward them for completing the grid, such as choosing a book or going to the movies.

13. Create a Travel Journal

If you’re planning a family vacation, encourage your teen to create a travel journal. They can jot down their impressions, paste photos and souvenirs, and write anecdotes about the places they visit. This will help them document their adventures and develop writing and creative skills.

14. Make a Family Journal to Share with Elders

Use the holidays to reconnect with your roots by creating a family journal to share with older relatives. Your teen can interview grandparents, write stories about ancestors, and collect photos and family memories, strengthening intergenerational bonds.

15. Create a CV/Resume

Challenge your teen to create their own resume. This will help them think about their skills and prepare for the future.

16. Paint a Large Mural

Turn a wall in your home or garden into a giant canvas and let your kids unleash their creativity by creating a colorful, artistic mural.

17. Participate in Volunteer Activities

Get your family involved in local volunteer activities, such as park cleanups or food drives for those in need. This helps raise awareness of the importance of helping others.

18. Host a Zoom "Masked Singer" Party

Organize a Zoom call with friends and family and host your own version of "Masked Singer." Each participant can choose a character and perform a song while wearing a mask or costume.

19. Organize a DIY Workshop

Encourage your teen’s creativity by organizing a DIY or craft workshop. Whether it’s making jewelry, painting on canvas, or building furniture from pallets, let their imagination run wild and give them a chance to develop their manual skills. Websites like Creavea or Etsy are full of ideas and tutorials for DIY projects.

20. Host a Board Game Night

Dive back into the world of board games by hosting a game night with family or friends. Bring out classics like Monopoly, Scrabble, or Clue, or discover newer, more original games. You can find game ideas and player reviews on specialized sites like Tric Trac or Ludovox.

Whether you’re enjoying outdoor activities like sports, beach outings, or family picnics, or exploring new hobbies like cooking, photography, or art, there are countless ways to make the most of the holidays. By encouraging our teens to participate in these activities, we offer them not only moments of fun and discovery but also the opportunity to develop new skills and create unforgettable memories.

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." — Helen Keller