The Ultimate List of Things for Teen Boys to do When Self-Isolating from the Coronavirus.
Entertaining a teenage boy during self-isolation at home can be tough. It may be that they're not even ill but have to stay at home as other family members have coronavirus. They get bored quickly!
Do not fear - download the above checklist here and keep a record of completed tasks.
Do not fear - download the above checklist here and keep a record of completed tasks.
Read on for these and more ideas of things to do with teenage boys during the coronavirus epidemic. Plus links to lots of free online resources. Good luck!
1. Start a free blog or website.
There are lots of free sites where you can do this. Check out weebly.com and wix.com for websites. Check out blogger.com for blogs!
2. Learn WordPress for free in a week or less with wpbeginner.com
What a cool skill to have for the future! If he learns wordpress he can build websites for himself in the future. This article on wpbeginner.com will talk him through the steps.
3 Learn HTML online with w3schools.
Another great skill to have for the future. He can also learn CSS and Javascript at w3schools.com
4.) Do workout videos online.
There are numerous videos that teen boys can do online to keep them fit if they are confined indoors. Build muscles and keep in shape. Here is a HIT workout aimed at beginners but there a quick youtube search will find lots more for different abilities and fitness requirement.s
5. Keep exercising indoors.
Do 5 to 10 press ups each day. Do the same for squats, star jumps, burpees, sit ups and other exercises.
6 Tidy, re-design and redecorate your bedroom.
This is a great opportunity to declutter, have a resort and tidy up a teen bedroom. If you want to go all out get some paint and freshen up the walls.
7. Learn a language.
Use Duolingo, videos on YouTube to start learning a language. Watch a foreign language films. Converse with other people online in a foreign language. There are online communities and online forums where you can converse with other native speakers to really practise!
8. Start to write a book.
Write 200 words everyday. It won't be long until you have your first chapter. You could consider publishing it online as blog post everyday and ask friends and family to read your stories.
9. Do a a paint by numbers
These are great for teens who love to paint. Obviously you can't go out to buy one so order one from amazon.
10. Make YouTube videos.
It's easy to get started. You can record using your phone and just upload that way. Watch this youtube vidoeo on how to start a youtube channel with your phone.
11. Record a podcast.
You can also record podcasts with just a phone. Find out how with this youtube video.
12. Bake a cake.
Again Youtube to the rescue. Watch how this kids finds it to make a cake. If he can do it, any teenage boy can do it too.
13. Do a jigsaw
If he's a jigsaw kind of a teen, there are tons you can order online. Find some on amazon.com or other online retailers.
14. Build something amazing with lego.
If he has a ton of lego at home, why not see if he can create something amazing. There is a ton of inspiration online. Check out 10 amazing things you can build with 10 pieces of lego.
15. Invent a new pizza.
My 13 year old son was actually give a task of inventing a new pizza at school. They then had to design it and then make it. He loved doing it at school but there is nothing to stop teenage boys from doing this at home too.
16. Plant some vegetables.
It's almost spring. A great time to start planting some new vegetables. If you have a garden or some backyard space which doesn't require you to leave home, why not see what you can plant to harvest later in the year.
17. Do some gardening.
Consider giving a teenager a small part of land in a garden or backyard and let him design a new piece of the garden with flowers and plants.
18. Cook a dinner for the family.
Cooking dinner for the family is another great skill any young teen can develop for the future. It will give him confidence in the kitchen and is a great way to start preparing for adult years.
19. Plan a trip you would like to take in the future.
You may not be able to go anywhere at the moment but why not plan vacations and trips you would love to take someday. Do it properly through a website like inspirock.com which lets you plan your trip online for free.
20. Start a journal
This is a great way for teenagers to document their thoughts at an unusual time in our lives. It will be awesome to look back on this period in years to come through the medium of a journal. Or why not journal about a range of different thoughts and feelings - check out these amazing journal prompts for teens and tweens and explore issues such as what inspires you, whether you should get a tattoo or not and what is the hardest thing you've had to learn.
21. Listen to new music.
Check out spotify.com or youtube and listen to tracks and artists you've never heard before.
22. Have a classic movie marathon
The great thing about being a teenager is all the awesome movies you've yet to watch. Here are some ideas to get you started Back to the Future, The Goonies, Terminator, Die Hard, Ghost, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future and The Matrix.
23. Start an online book club with your friends.
Teens may have a lot of time for reading if they're self-isolating with the coronavirus. Why not get them to share their thoughts and ideas with books with their friends online.
24. Sing karaoke.
If he likes to sing, try out a few karaoke videos on youtube and singalong.
25. Learn turn a martial on YouTube.
Amazingly you can learn martial arts on youtube! Check out some videos to get you started.
26. Plant a herb garden
Planting a herb garden is fun and easy and the herbs can be used in cooking creations. Find out everything you need to know about starting your own herb garden here.
27. Watch the stars and to learn the constellations.
Doing things at nightime is fun. Sit outside your home (away from anybody else) and watch the sky. There are some amazing astronomy apps to help you identify what you're looking at.
28. Create a comic strip.
Find out how to create a comic strip in 6 steps.
29. Design a t-shirt.
Did you know you can create your own t-shirt online and then have it designed and shipped to you. You can create designs instantly at customink.com. Find out more.
30. Learn to play an instrument.
It's easy to learn anything online with unlimited articles and youtube videos. Use the Internet to help you learn how to play an instrument too.
31. Get up early and watch the sunrise.
32. Play board games
Of course the classic board game you must start off with is the Pandemic board game. I'm sure many teenagers will have their favourites, but also find a list here.
33. Listen to some podcasts
There are all kinds of podcasts from educational ones to entertainment. You can listen to podcasts and do other things at the same time too. Here is a list of podcasts one Mom makes her teens listen to to get you started.
34. Learn how to play chess
If he can play chess, why not have a few games. If not it's a great time to teach him how to play.
35. Play card games.
Here are top 3 classic family card games that are great to play with teens.
36. Write a bucketlist
What a great time to write a bucket list. Where in the world does he want to go? What kinds of activities would he love to participate in? It's also a good time to get started on some of your list items.
34. Write short stories.
You can get creative with this. They don't have to be long. Can you write a story in a page or less? Can you write a story in 4 sentences or less? Here are 100 short story ideas to get your started.
35. Solve a rubix cube
And this time no looking at how to do it on youtube
36. Write goals for the next year.
Here are some examples of goals many teenagers would like to accomplish.
37. Do some rock painting.
Grab some rocks from the yard and start creating your designs.
38. Make an ideas list every day. Write 10 ideas. They could be things like 10 different book titles I would like to write.
This idea comes from James Altucher. It's very simple, write 10 ideas every day. You can choose the topic. It could be 10 business ideas for the future, 10 ideas to change the world, 10 new recipes I would like to create, 10 podcasts I want to record....The lists can be endless - the limit is your imagination.
39. Make a vision board.
Get some magazines or print some pictures from the Internet to create vision boards of what you'd like for yourself in the future. Find pictures to show what house you will be living in, where you will go on vacation, what you will do as a job or business, your life partner - you can choose which ones are important to your teen.
Here is an article on how to create a vision board with your teen in 15 minutes or less.
40. Join Kindle unlimited and read lots of ebooks
There are some great ebooks on Kindle Unlimited including the Manual to Manhood by Jonathan Catterman which is a good factual book for teenage boys.
There are lots of free sites where you can do this. Check out weebly.com and wix.com for websites. Check out blogger.com for blogs!
2. Learn WordPress for free in a week or less with wpbeginner.com
What a cool skill to have for the future! If he learns wordpress he can build websites for himself in the future. This article on wpbeginner.com will talk him through the steps.
3 Learn HTML online with w3schools.
Another great skill to have for the future. He can also learn CSS and Javascript at w3schools.com
4.) Do workout videos online.
There are numerous videos that teen boys can do online to keep them fit if they are confined indoors. Build muscles and keep in shape. Here is a HIT workout aimed at beginners but there a quick youtube search will find lots more for different abilities and fitness requirement.s
5. Keep exercising indoors.
Do 5 to 10 press ups each day. Do the same for squats, star jumps, burpees, sit ups and other exercises.
6 Tidy, re-design and redecorate your bedroom.
This is a great opportunity to declutter, have a resort and tidy up a teen bedroom. If you want to go all out get some paint and freshen up the walls.
7. Learn a language.
Use Duolingo, videos on YouTube to start learning a language. Watch a foreign language films. Converse with other people online in a foreign language. There are online communities and online forums where you can converse with other native speakers to really practise!
8. Start to write a book.
Write 200 words everyday. It won't be long until you have your first chapter. You could consider publishing it online as blog post everyday and ask friends and family to read your stories.
9. Do a a paint by numbers
These are great for teens who love to paint. Obviously you can't go out to buy one so order one from amazon.
10. Make YouTube videos.
It's easy to get started. You can record using your phone and just upload that way. Watch this youtube vidoeo on how to start a youtube channel with your phone.
11. Record a podcast.
You can also record podcasts with just a phone. Find out how with this youtube video.
12. Bake a cake.
Again Youtube to the rescue. Watch how this kids finds it to make a cake. If he can do it, any teenage boy can do it too.
13. Do a jigsaw
If he's a jigsaw kind of a teen, there are tons you can order online. Find some on amazon.com or other online retailers.
14. Build something amazing with lego.
If he has a ton of lego at home, why not see if he can create something amazing. There is a ton of inspiration online. Check out 10 amazing things you can build with 10 pieces of lego.
15. Invent a new pizza.
My 13 year old son was actually give a task of inventing a new pizza at school. They then had to design it and then make it. He loved doing it at school but there is nothing to stop teenage boys from doing this at home too.
16. Plant some vegetables.
It's almost spring. A great time to start planting some new vegetables. If you have a garden or some backyard space which doesn't require you to leave home, why not see what you can plant to harvest later in the year.
17. Do some gardening.
Consider giving a teenager a small part of land in a garden or backyard and let him design a new piece of the garden with flowers and plants.
18. Cook a dinner for the family.
Cooking dinner for the family is another great skill any young teen can develop for the future. It will give him confidence in the kitchen and is a great way to start preparing for adult years.
19. Plan a trip you would like to take in the future.
You may not be able to go anywhere at the moment but why not plan vacations and trips you would love to take someday. Do it properly through a website like inspirock.com which lets you plan your trip online for free.
20. Start a journal
This is a great way for teenagers to document their thoughts at an unusual time in our lives. It will be awesome to look back on this period in years to come through the medium of a journal. Or why not journal about a range of different thoughts and feelings - check out these amazing journal prompts for teens and tweens and explore issues such as what inspires you, whether you should get a tattoo or not and what is the hardest thing you've had to learn.
21. Listen to new music.
Check out spotify.com or youtube and listen to tracks and artists you've never heard before.
22. Have a classic movie marathon
The great thing about being a teenager is all the awesome movies you've yet to watch. Here are some ideas to get you started Back to the Future, The Goonies, Terminator, Die Hard, Ghost, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future and The Matrix.
23. Start an online book club with your friends.
Teens may have a lot of time for reading if they're self-isolating with the coronavirus. Why not get them to share their thoughts and ideas with books with their friends online.
24. Sing karaoke.
If he likes to sing, try out a few karaoke videos on youtube and singalong.
25. Learn turn a martial on YouTube.
Amazingly you can learn martial arts on youtube! Check out some videos to get you started.
26. Plant a herb garden
Planting a herb garden is fun and easy and the herbs can be used in cooking creations. Find out everything you need to know about starting your own herb garden here.
27. Watch the stars and to learn the constellations.
Doing things at nightime is fun. Sit outside your home (away from anybody else) and watch the sky. There are some amazing astronomy apps to help you identify what you're looking at.
28. Create a comic strip.
Find out how to create a comic strip in 6 steps.
29. Design a t-shirt.
Did you know you can create your own t-shirt online and then have it designed and shipped to you. You can create designs instantly at customink.com. Find out more.
30. Learn to play an instrument.
It's easy to learn anything online with unlimited articles and youtube videos. Use the Internet to help you learn how to play an instrument too.
31. Get up early and watch the sunrise.
32. Play board games
Of course the classic board game you must start off with is the Pandemic board game. I'm sure many teenagers will have their favourites, but also find a list here.
33. Listen to some podcasts
There are all kinds of podcasts from educational ones to entertainment. You can listen to podcasts and do other things at the same time too. Here is a list of podcasts one Mom makes her teens listen to to get you started.
34. Learn how to play chess
If he can play chess, why not have a few games. If not it's a great time to teach him how to play.
35. Play card games.
Here are top 3 classic family card games that are great to play with teens.
36. Write a bucketlist
What a great time to write a bucket list. Where in the world does he want to go? What kinds of activities would he love to participate in? It's also a good time to get started on some of your list items.
34. Write short stories.
You can get creative with this. They don't have to be long. Can you write a story in a page or less? Can you write a story in 4 sentences or less? Here are 100 short story ideas to get your started.
35. Solve a rubix cube
And this time no looking at how to do it on youtube
36. Write goals for the next year.
Here are some examples of goals many teenagers would like to accomplish.
37. Do some rock painting.
Grab some rocks from the yard and start creating your designs.
38. Make an ideas list every day. Write 10 ideas. They could be things like 10 different book titles I would like to write.
This idea comes from James Altucher. It's very simple, write 10 ideas every day. You can choose the topic. It could be 10 business ideas for the future, 10 ideas to change the world, 10 new recipes I would like to create, 10 podcasts I want to record....The lists can be endless - the limit is your imagination.
39. Make a vision board.
Get some magazines or print some pictures from the Internet to create vision boards of what you'd like for yourself in the future. Find pictures to show what house you will be living in, where you will go on vacation, what you will do as a job or business, your life partner - you can choose which ones are important to your teen.
Here is an article on how to create a vision board with your teen in 15 minutes or less.
40. Join Kindle unlimited and read lots of ebooks
There are some great ebooks on Kindle Unlimited including the Manual to Manhood by Jonathan Catterman which is a good factual book for teenage boys.
