My son just turned 13 this past year and I have seen many changes in him already. I honestly did not think that turning 13 would change him as much as it has. He truly is turning into a little man right before my very eyes! Since realizing this I have I wanted desperately to keep our bond strong and to be sure we don’t lose the great relationship we have together. This is why I decided to create some mother and son activities and ideas!
We as mothers need to remember that the teen years are tough sometimes. The mother son relationship is still very important especially as our little boy grows into a man. Teen boys are trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in the world, all while dealing with raging hormones, teenage brains and social pressures. As a parent, it’s important to find ways to bond with your teen and show them that you support them.
Here you will be reading all about mother and son activities and mother and grown son activities. Plus, mother and teenage son activities, fun things to do with your son at home, mother and son activities for school and how to bond with son as a mother.
This post is all about Mother and Son Activities.
Mother and son activities
It’s so important to have fun with your teen son as a mom! When he’s young, it seems like time just flies by and before you know it, he’s a teenager. At this age, they’re going to be exploring their independence and trying to figure out who they are. It’s crucial to bond with them during this time and show them that you’re there for them.
Teenage boys need quality time with their parents. This is a time when they can talk about what is happening in their lives. They can also ask questions, get help with problems they are having or even talk about teenage girls. It is important for parents to be there for their sons during these tough teenage years.
Being intentional and scheduling out some time to try these activities together can do wonders for your relationship with your teen son. I suggest once a month having your son choose a date from this list that he is interested in. This way these mother and teenage son activities don’t feel forced.
Then make it fun! Put a smile on your face and vow to yourself to not ask a million questions or to scold him in any way. Just spend time learning and enjoying each others company.
Here is a list of simple and budget friendly things you can try during this special time!
I hope that these ten fun mother son bonding ideas will help you keep your relationship strong and your heart full.
Special Dates with Son for mother and son activities
1. Plan a day at the zoo or aquarium
If you’re looking for a fun and affordable way to spend some time with your teenager, take them to the aquarium. My son and I have a local aquarium we have visited since he was little. It brings back memories for us both and is so much fun.
Most aquariums have special exhibits and events that change regularly, so there is always something new to see. Plus, it’s a great way to get some exercise and learn about different kinds of fish and other marine life.
2. Go see a movie together
Movie night is always a fun way to spend some time together, but it’s also a great opportunity to bond with your son. My son and I have seen several movies together just him and I over the years. It truly has made us grow closer as we have experienced thrilling plot twists together!
I let me son pick the movies each time. This gave us more to talk about afterwards as he felt more invested in the storyline. You can discuss the plot and characters after the movie and get his thoughts on what he saw. This is a great way to start a conversation about difficult topics, such as relationships and violence.
3. Play video games together
If your son is into video games, use this to your advantage and bond with him by playing his favorite game together. You can learn a lot about your teenager by observing how he interacts with other players online. Plus, a game night can be just plain fun!
My son and I used to play “Minecraft” together a lot. It was a great way for us to spend some time together and bond. We would often have long conversations about what we were doing in the game and other things going on in our lives.
It also gave us an opportunity to laugh together as I fumbled along in the game not knowing what I was doing! My son had to help me learn the game which turned into another bonding experience as he taught me a new skill. This is one of my top favorites for mother and teenage son activities.
4. Cook dinner together
Cooking dinner together is a great way to bond with your teenager. They can help you with the meal prep and you can teach them some valuable life skills in the process.
A great idea to get him interested is to let him decide what he wants to cook. He is very interested in other cultures and will typically choose a entrée from another country. This ends up taking us more time to cook, but also gives us more time to talk.
Through trial and error we have learned to work together and not get so upset if things don’t turn out just right.
Here is a fun pizza night idea if you need some tips on how to make this work.
5. Go for a hike or bike ride together
Hiking or biking together is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors. If you live near some trails, this can be a regular activity for you and your teenager to do together.
I have found that my son and I can talk more easily when we are doing something together like hiking or biking. We don’t have to make eye contact and can just enjoy each other’s company while getting some exercise.
Now that we have done this several times he will ask me to go on walks with him! This is a HUGE win in my book.
6. Have a picnic in the park
Another great outdoor activity to do with your teenager is to have a picnic in the park. You can pack a lunch or dinner and head to your local park for a relaxing meal together.
My son and I have a local botanical garden that we will sometimes go to as well. This is nice because we can walk around after eating and look at the plants together. Take a look around your area as you may be surprised to find a botanical garden near you.
Picnics are great way to slow down and really talk with your son. He will especially like this if you let him pick his favorite food to bring! During the picnic you can ask him about his day, his friends, or anything else that’s on his mind. He may open up more than you think!
7. Go shopping together
You may not think of shopping as a bonding activity, but it can turn into a great time with your teenager. Let them pick out some new clothes or shoes and then go grab a bite to eat afterwards.
My son and I love going shopping together. We will often walk around the mall for a while and then get something to eat. This gives us plenty of time to talk and catch up on each other’s lives.
It also gives us time to window shop and talk about things he is interested in. This is a great opportunity for me to mentally gather notes for things he would like for upcoming birthday or Christmas gifts.
8. Go to a museum
Museums are a great place to bond with your teenager. You can walk around and learn about new things together.
My son and I love going to local museums. He is a huge history buff so I will look for museums that have things to do with history. We will often spend an entire day there walking around and looking at the different exhibits.
Afterwards we will usually grab some lunch or dinner and talk about what we saw. This is a great way to learn more about your teenager’s interests. This helps create a good relationship as you show an interest in what he likes.
9. Go out to eat together.
A favorite thing to do with my son is go out to eat together. We will often try new restaurants or go to our old favorites. It doesn’t take much time to do this, but it still is a great way to catch up with each other and bond over some good food.
Planning mother and teenage son activities can be difficult at times, but this one is very simple and can be planned with very little effort.
10. Go on a weekend getaway together.
A weekend getaway or road trip is a great way to foster a special bond with your teenager. Parents of teens can drive to a nearby town or city and explore together. This is also the best way to teach your teenager how to plan and budget for a trip.
My son and I love going on weekend getaways. We will often find a new place to explore and spend the weekend walking around and checking out the sights. We will also find some good places to eat and fun activities in town.
Here are some road trip games to play on the way with your teenager!
After a few weekends away, you will start to really feel close to your teenager and have some great memories together.
Focus on the Important Things during mother and son activities
These are just a few ideas for mother and teenage son activities. Little things like this and just having fun is a great way to bond with your teenager. It can be anything from playing a board game together to going out for ice cream together. The important thing is that you are spending time together and talking.
Try out some of these activities with your teenager and see how they respond. Hopefully this will get you to that next level of communication. They may just surprise you with how much they enjoy it!
Please leave me a comment with any ideas you may have to add to this list. Or if you have tried one of these mother and teenage son activities for the first time let me know how it went, I would love to share in your joy!
This post was all about mother and son activities
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