Entertainment for Teenage Boys

what about a foosball table or dart board? If you aleady have a Wii, what about Wii sports? At least they have to stand up once in a while.

Why not make your basement a hang out spot... start adding things like tv, game system, ping pong is great, maybe a small pool table (not too expensive if kids will be playing it)

Put in a stereo or ipod docking speakers, etc. Make it a little man cave... and the hot snacks wouldn't hurt :)

This is a great idea to get to know your son's friends and give the kids a safe place to hang out. Do you have a big TV downstairs and a DVD player --they love to watch movies too! Although they may not think it is cool, there are some great board games that they may like to play (apples to apples and others) When my son started sports we got him a weight set that had several things with it so several people could use it at the same time. However, this needs adult supervision so that no one gets hurt. The kids learned how to use all the equipment in their athletics class. Teenage boys love to eat and it would be great for you to teach them to cook -- my son's friends still like to talk about some of their cooking adventures at our house-making pizza dough (but most of the time we opted for the premade pizza dough) and then let them put the sauce and the toppings on. We also made fruit smoothies in the blender and ice cream in the ice cream freezer and even lasagna (that we invited their parents over to eat so we could get to know them better) . I never could get them to clean up everything, but we had some wonderful stories to tell. So the boys might start with some video games, cook something to eat and then watch a movie. good luck!

I have the same issue and, truthfully, X-Box Live is the main attraction at our house. Besides that we have a big trampoline, basketball, etc, so they go outside for a break at times. We have ping pong too but they never play it. Maybe because it's outdoors? I dunno. I think making the basement a boy cave with comfy couches, gaming system, sound system, etc, is a great idea. His friends will never leave, then, LOL!

food, if you make a hot meal as a snack, they will want to start hanging with at your place.

My son is one year behind yorus - my daughter is 14. I've been talking to my husband about making the basement the teen hangout spot. it's already finished but has ended up being the dump or all things not needed upstairs. After reading these suggestions this is what I'm thinking: flat screen TV, wii & xbox, DVD player, weights, comfy furniture and a foozball table. We have a trampoline in the yard and a basketball hoop on the street. The only other thing that could possibly make this a better place to hangout is a small fridge for drinks and a microwave for snacks. Not sure I'll add those - the kitchen is at the top of the stairs. Frozen pizza, quesadillas, hot doges & burgers should seal the deal. I would rather spend the money and have them all hanging out at our house than who knows where else.

my sons are 14 & 23. With our oldest son, he hated hanging at home. His friends never, ever "got" his attitude. They loved the parties we had here.
But the reality of his issue was that he was the "party" boy & it was NOT something we allowed in our home. He preferred being at friends' homes where there was no supervision. & he's paid the price for it....

By contrast, our youngest is cool with us. We've got the man-cave going with a pool table & a full workout system, but are needing to seriously amp up the electronics! He has them in his room....but the man-cave needs it too! For now, he & his friends are splitting their time btwn bedroom & basement.....& it's working. He has an XBox. We are adding Kinect at Christmas. He has a flat-screen tv & a stereo. He wants an Ipod...we'll see!

We are also fortunate that our youngest keeps his time filled! Between band, Scouts, & school clubs....he's busy. He also owns 2 vintage 1977 scooters: a JCPenneys Pinto & a !! Vespa Piaggio. He & his friends run the heck out of those scooters! All of this helps keep him out of trouble, & his friends' families have very similar setups....which helps!

As for games, any of the classics are good. Cards, especially poker, can also be a good choice. BUT, honestly, the games are rarely touched! The only exception would be my older son's collection of Monopoly games - the more unusual...the quicker the kids are to want to play it! It's all about the electronics & pool table. Oh, & we had a ping pong table & sold it 'cuz it was rarely used! Good Luck!

Thank you SOOO much for this question. I have two boys and while they aren't quite here yet, it is good input for the future!!!

Susan T said it perfectly.. I have a teenage nephew and his friends love Wii, sports, ping pong, basketball, dvd's. air hockey, foosball.
He is a sophomore in High school, quarterback in the fall, catcher in the spring and his friends love going to his house.. It is the gathering place..

And they eat EVERYTHING!..
The fridge is stocked with boy food.. They have a special fridge just for cold drinks and frozen foods..
they actually have 2 microwaves..

His father is great about hosting cook outs and encouraging the other parents to join in.. They do sleep overs after big games and invite the entire team over.. It is pretty amazing, but also smart.. they know all of the kids and the kids respect each others parents and watch out for each other..

My downstairs family room is the kid room...we have a nice flat screen TV built into the bookshelf, hooked up to an XBOX and a Wii and basic cable only.

We have a wall length computer desk with 4 computers hooked up.

We have 2 sofas and a coffee table.

We have a foosball table and a dartboard and a wall mounted basketball hoop for the Nerf type basketballs.

We have a drum set and 3 electric guitars and 1 regular.

All kid friendly...and when they go down there, they are content for hours!

My boys are ages 19, 16, 15, 10, 7 and 5

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