Activities for Older Neice

My daughter is 14. Honestly at that age, they need to spend time with friends. Too old for mom or auntie to keep her busy with activities. Getting together with friends is what keeps them busy. When my daughter is on summer vacation, she'll also be doing volunteer work, she rides her bike (miles), she is a serious hobby artist and musician so she paints and plays her instruments. She (not her mom) should be contacting her friends to make plans, and mom can also look into what teen programs are offered by the town. At this age, she needs to know how to entertain herself and not be dependent on mom or aunt to cure her boredom.

At 13 I was babysitting for rollerskating money. It feels good to earn your own money and to buy something for yourself. Maybe you could get her to set a goal, and to work toward it. For instance we have Six FLaggs here and they have concerts on summer nights. I would suggest my girl babysit 3 weekends to save the money to go on the 4th. Or maybe she likes clothes a lot and she could save money for a shopping spree. I don't remember my parents feeling obligated to entertain me. If I was bored they told me to clean my room!

How about instead of asking her what she wants to do....which is sure to elicit just another "I don't know, I'm bored, etc." Tell her that she is responsible for making a plan and entertaining herself. Set a budget, set some guidelines, set aside some time each week for you or your sister to escort her some places.

Get her involved in some scrapbooking or some other type of craft, find some new books to read, make her responsible for some sort of project in the house.

If she isn't helping out around the house, she needs to be in order to earn her "budget" for the activities.

If she is interested in earning her own money, help her find a position a few hours a week as a "mother's helper". I've often wished I knew a teenager that could come and play with my daughter for a few hours just so that I could get some stuff done without interruption.

Also, find out if there is somewhere where she can volunteer...either with an adult or under the supervision of others for a few hours a week.

I made bracelet and necklaces at this age. And definitely give her a camera so she can take pictures. She can get the photos developed at target or a drugstore and make callages. Books like twilight, etc. She could be a mother's helper for a neighbor...

Yes, crafts are a good idea...teenagers that age love things like mosaics and tye-dying clothing, and there's tons of other ideas at your local craft store...take her with you and check it out.
Also swimming is fun for kids of any age.
There's usually loads of fun classes at your local community center..check and see if there's an age appropriate class there.

This is what I do with girls this age. I buy a huge box of colorful beads, glass ones, stone ones, plastic ones, stretchy wire, all kinds of bracelet wires and stretchy string. Get a jewelry magazine for her age and watch what happens!

Make sure she has a friend also.

Go to the beach, a pool!

Side walk chalk!

Nail polish!! they now have nail paint so she can design her own things!

A camera so she can start a scrap book!

So many things 13 years love to do!

I also think going to the craft store and finding something she might like would be a good idea. As a kid, I also spent most of my time at the library. Does your niece like to read?