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Teenagers eagerly anticipate Friday nights as it marks the beginning of their much-needed time for relaxation and rejuvenation over the weekend. To add more entertainment value to this day, you can plan Friday activities for teens. These activities can also keep teens busy, help them learn new skills, and develop new hobbies. Teenagers are in a phase of exploration and discovery, where they are eager to explore and experiment with various avenues of life. By this age, they also develop their liking for many things, such as sports, outings, or adventures. For example, some teenagers may love spending their time socializing through activities like attending concerts or events, while others may love solitude. You can plan Friday activities according to your children’s interests and preferences. These activities allow your teen to bond with family and friends. So, go through the list of activities that your teenagers will love.
Key Pointers
- Teenagers love exploring and experimenting with different avenues and often long for Fridays to finally relax.
- Fun Friday activities include throwing a pizza party at home, watching a movie, enjoying a shopping date, or having a bonfire night in your backyard.
- Planning and setting aside time to spend with your teenagers on Fridays can help build stronger bonds.
11 Fun Things To Do On A Friday Night With Your Teens
Here is our list of fun things to do on a Friday night for teenagers:
1. Throw a pizza party
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You Will Need:
- A dozen of pizza bases
- Cheese
- Onions
- Tomatoes
- Multiple pizza toppings
How To:
- Spread cheese and toppings on the pizza bases.
- Keep the prepared pizza in the oven for some time.
- Take it out and serve it to your teen’s friends.
2. Shopping
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Shopping is another fun thing to do on a Friday night for teens.
You Will Need:
- A list of clothes, shoes, items, and food items to shop.
- Money
How To:
- Let them plan a trip to the mall with their friends and shop for clothes, shoes, home décor, and other desired items.
- Your teen can also have dinner in the mall.
3. Watch a movie
Image: IStock
You Will Need:
- A collection of entertaining movies on a pen drive
- DVD player
How To:
- Invite your teen friends over to your place on Friday night and watch a movie together.
A mother of three who goes by the name Dawn Wink reminisces how she spends a Friday night with her teens and husband. She says, “Friday nights are Friday Night, Family Night in our family – all home, all together, nobody on sleepovers or hanging out with friends, all in comfy clothes, always pizza and a movie. Somehow, it worked. Wyatt, Luke, and Wynn are now 17, 15, and 14, and our tradition continues. I’m almost scared to talk about it, for fear the spell will break. Perhaps because we’ve been doing it for so long, or perhaps the stars have simply aligned… I don’t know. What I do know is that on Friday evenings, we all tumble home and change into comfy clothes. I put the pizzas in the oven and open the bottle of wine as Noé and kids pop the movie in and settle in on the couch. Often, this is the only time all week where there are no decisions, no negotiations, and no other place in the world to be. This tradition is a gift indeed (i).”
Quick tip4. Plan a bonfire
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Planning a teen bonfire party is a great idea to celebrate Friday nights in the winter season, which promises to be a fun-filled gathering.
You Will Need:
- Small logs of wood.
- A lighter
How To:
- Gather the logs together and light them up with the help of a lighter.
- Sing songs, play games, and share stories.
5. Play golf on an indoor course
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Playing golf is another fun thing for teenagers to do on Friday nights. If it’s cold outside, look for an indoor golf course, and let them enjoy playing golf with their group of teen friends. Golf is also great for improving hand-eye coordination and socializing with friends.
6. Enjoy jumping on the trampoline
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need:
- Trampoline
How To:
- Plan a visit to a nearby trampoline park with your group of teen friends and enjoy jumping.
- Visiting a trampoline park is not only a fun hangout, but it’s also a great stress-buster.
Be watchful7. Bowling
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Bowling along with your group of teen friends can be an outstanding Friday night activity to enjoy. Hit a mall or game center organizing bowling activity.
8. Enjoy an at-home spa and manicure
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need:
- Manicure Kit
- Mud Masks
- Other Spa material
How To:
- Use a manicure kit, mud mask, and other spa material at home on a Friday night to rejuvenate your freshness.
- Consider putting on some soothing music to relax.
9. Enjoy dancing to the tunes of music
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You Will Need:
- A good collection of songs in a CD or pen drive.
- A music player
How To:
- Invite your teen friends to your place on a Friday night and play entertaining songs from your CD or pen drive using a music player.
- Shake your leg along with your group of teen friends.
- Teens can also visit 18-and-under dance clubs that maintain a safe, alcohol-free environment on a Friday night. However, you’ll need to chaperone them to ascertain that they are safe.
Do remember10. Read interesting novels
Image: IStock
You Will Need:
- A collection of interesting novels
How To:
- Explore the engaging collection of your novels on Friday night.
- Encourage your teen to spend time on hobbies such as reading novels by popular authors.
11. Take up a cooking challenge
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Turn your Friday night into a culinary adventure by taking up a creative cooking challenge with your teen.
You Will Need:
- A menu
- Ingredients (according to the menu)
- Prizes
How To:
- Explain the rules and criteria of the challenge to your teen and hand out the menu list. Shop for the ingredients and allocate a specific time for preparation.
- Set a reasonable cooking time. Make sure it allows for all recipes to be completed without rushing.
- Cook alongside your teen. Offer guidance and assistance when needed and focus on presentation once done. This is where creativity and attention to detail come into play.
- Sit down together to taste each other’s creations, and after judging, announce the winners and distribute the prizes.
Engaging Activities For Different Interests
Every teen is different and has different interests. Thus, choose activities that suit your teen’s interests to make their Friday night more fun.
- For a sports lover, try bowling, indoor golf, or even basketball.
- For an art lover, try crafts projects, cooking challenges, or movie nights.
- For a tech lover, try gaming, coding projects, or tech projects.
- For a teen who loves giving back, try volunteering at a shelter or organizing a charity drive.
You may also consider the different seasons when planning activities. For instance, plan outdoor activities such as hiking or camping in summer and cozy activities such as movie nights or cooking challenges in winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can Friday activities for teens help build a sense of community?
Friday activities that specifically involve community and socializing, such as volunteering, can help build a sense of responsibility and belonging to the community.
2. What potential challenges are associated with organizing Friday activities for teens?
Funding, scheduling issues, and safety concerns are possible challenges. It can also be difficult to find fun activities for teens that appeal since every teen may have different hobbies and interests.
3. How can teens use local resources to find interesting Friday activities?
Community centers, parks, nearby cafes, libraries, or even someone’s house are a few examples of the local resources teens can use to find interesting Friday activities.
4. What are the risks associated with teens engaging in Friday activities?
Teen activities that do not involve adult supervision run into the risk of having the use of drugs and alcohol. Teens may also indulge in unsafe sexual behavior and other dangerous actions. These issues can be mitigated by ensuring that at least one adult stays with the teens throughout the activities.
5. What tips can parents offer to help their teens stay safe during Friday activities?
Some useful safety tips include asking your teen to keep sharing their exact location, encouraging them to be in groups and go to safe areas, having a discussion with them about drugs and alcohol, reminding them to be aware of strangers around them, and always having their phones charged so they can contact anyone if they need help.
6. How can I support my teens in planning Friday activities?
You may talk to your teens and help them come up with fun ideas or try to gain insights into their interests and help them plan ahead based on those interests. Working together with them to plan the activities can boost their confidence and reassure them that their opinions matter.
Friday is the most-awaited day for many teenagers because, after a busy week, they often yearn for some leisure time or recreation. So, if you have teenagers at home, do not spend your Friday night completing chores and finishing deadlines like any other night. Instead, complete your work early and set aside some time to find some fun things to do with your teens. Friday activities for teens such as shopping, pizza parties, or a movie are great options to rewind and relax. Planning these activities at the beginning of the week will also keep them excited throughout the week and make them look forward to the Friday fun.
Infographic: Fun Friday-Night Activities For Teens
Teens are always energetic and hungry for fun and excitement. This is especially true on Friday nights when the excitement for the upcoming weekend is at its peak. This infographic brings fun ways to get the best out of your Friday night and enjoy it with your teens.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: Fun Things To Do On A Friday Night With Your Teens
Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Friday Night, Family Night – Love of place, belonging;
https://dawnwink.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/friday-night-family-night-love-of-place-belonging/
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