- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preteenagers today articles
- preteenagers today q&a
- teenagers today articles
- teenagers today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Hanging Out
What Do Teens Really Do in Their Spare Time? By Gina Roberts-Grey, LCSW
When your teen's hanging out with pals at the mall she's most likely doing nothing visibly worthwhile, but you're not walking the mall in her shoes and with her emotions. Beyond filling up on junk food and visiting the arcades, why would she want to spend an afternoon doing nothing at the mall?
The answer isn't really all that mystifying. Fitting in is monumental to teenagers. Time spent with friends offers the chance to feel part of his or her peers. Grappling with teen issues always seems easier if you're not the only one experiencing them. Teens hanging out together realize their questions about the opposite sex, struggles with geometry and contempt for having a curfew are shared among pals.
Although she can receive nearly the same answer to "Why didn't he ask me to dance?" from you, it usually sounds better coming from a friend's mouth over a mall fruit smoothie. Teens enjoy a sense of escape from the "real world" of homework and household chores and appreciate the wise opinions of their peers on what is "in." They like the independence felt from going to pick out their own new jeans.
My Eye's on You
