Top 5 ways teenagers can stay entertained during midterm break in lockdown

Midterm break is well and truly upon us here in Ireland, but with level 5 lockdown in play, it’s the last thing any teenager wants.

Parents and teenagers alike have been left scratching their heads this week trying to find new activities to do when kids are left stuck inside unlike any other school break.

Trying to get teenagers to do anything that doesn’t involve their phone is a task in itself, but we’ve pulled together a few ideas to help keep them distracted.

Pumpkin carving

Pumpkin carving is ideal for teenagers this time of year. Let them get creative with spooky designs and traditional cutouts, letting them spend the whole day distracted from the misery of the second lockdown.

Dance workouts

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUDzILp3uVw]

Keeping active at home needs a lot of motivation but it doesn’t always have to be a struggle. Countless dance workouts on YouTube let you follow along to all your favourite hits.

From One Direction to Disney classics, there’s something for everyone and by the time the video ends, you won’t even have realised you did a full-body workout.

Cook a family meal

Teaching teens life skills is a great way to pass the time during the lockdown, and what better skill to learn than how to cook.

By learning to cook even one simple and go-to meal for the whole family, they’ll be distracted for a few hours and that’s one thing checked off the to-do list.

Clean out the car

And if you want to take the household chores to another level, ask your teen to clean out the car.

Hoovering, scrubbing down the exterior and giving it that much-needed dusting will give them plenty to do and get their hands a bit dirty.

Research college courses

Last but certainly not least, you can get productive during this week of free time and check out a few college courses online.

Rule out exactly what you don’t want to do and find something you can see yourself loving after you leave school.

The plus side is that it’s one less thing to worry about when you get back to the guidance counsellor.