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Written by: Stephanie Scott
Oh, adolescence. It’s not an easy period for kids or parents. But with a little patience, communication, and active listening, we can all make it through to the other side. So where do you start? Book a weekly or biweekly date to hang out. Although the rollercoaster of adolescence can be a bumpy ride, spending time together doesn’t have to be challenging.
Consider taking time at home to:
- Play board or video games
- Craft together (i.e. diamond painting or scrapbooking)
- Play catch or shoot hoops
- Watch a movie
- Bake and decorate cupcakes or cookies
- Teach them how to cook a meal
Your date can also take you out of the house to neutral ground. There’s all sorts of cool spots in Calgary that a tween or teen might love! Of course you could visit a popular place like Calaway Park or Flying Squirrel, but why not head to one of these destinations instead:
- Go for a walk or run. Edworthy Park, Bowness Park, Confederation Park, Prince’s Island Park, and Fish Creek Provincial Park are all excellent options.
- Stop by WinSport. Try out the WinSport Bike Park, Downhill Karting by Skyline Luge, or a round at the outdoor mini golf course.
- Tackle a climbing course. The Calgary Climbing Centre offers drop-in sessions at both their Rocky Mountain and Hangar locations, but you can also opt for other courses around the city such as those at Southland Leisure Centre, Vivo, or Bolder Climbing Elevated.
- Strap on some skates. Rollerblade outside for free, or try roller skating at Roller Palace or SkyCastle in New Horizon Mall.
- Decide on something water-related. Rent a canoe or kayak at Glenmore Sailing School or Bowness Park. Bowness Park also rents pedal boats. If you don’t want to get on the water, go to Pearce Estate Park where you can go fishing at the Bow Habitat Station.
- Visit a cafe. Pick a fun venue for a drink. Have bubble tea at Coco Bubble Tea, play board games at Hexagon Board Game Cafe, or do both at Y Not Today Bingsu & Bubble Tea. For some furry cuddles, drop by the Regal Cat Cafe.
- Indulge in a treat. Enjoy creative milkshakes at Holy Shakes or REGRUB Deerfoot City. Pick your favorite gelato at Amato Gelato Cafe or Noto Gelato, or sample the amazing ice cream from Parlour Ice Cream, Village Ice Cream, or Made by Marcus.
- Swing by a market. Wander about window-shopping, or pick up something sweet, find a table, and have a conversation. Crossroads Market offers a selection of eclectic shops as well as their Food Hall with a variety of international vendors like MOY-MOY for bubble tea. The south and west locations of the Calgary Farmers’ Market both offer a similar environment to explore.
- Go thrifting. If your tween/teen is into shopping, take them to secondhand shops like 17th Ave Thrift Store, WINS (Women in Need Society) Thrift Store, or Thriftopia. If your child is game, they might even like to peruse a garage sale or two.
- Play games at an arcade. Most people have heard of the Rec Room, but check out PinBar, Retro Oasis Rooms and Arcade, or Nightwave Arcade. Some locations not only have pinball and arcade games, but also virtual reality options.
- Take a crafty course. Opt for a beginners crochet, knitting or sewing class, or a singular event like a paint night, glass art workshop or jewelry-making class.
- Animal activity. Take animal-loving kids to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary, or do yoga with puppies at a Calgary Puppy Yoga session.
- Pick a ball sport. Play virtual golf games at LaunchPad Golf Mickelson National, K Indoor Golf, or JJ Golf, or visit an outdoor driving range to practice your strokes. For a reasonably priced game, head to McCall Lake Golf Course and play their Par 3 course. If your teen prefers other ball sports, spend an hour at a batting cage or hit a pickleball on a pickleball court.
- Day trip out of the city. Hit the road to hike Troll Falls in Kananaskis, go horseback riding near Bragg Creek, or hop on the Canyon Coaster for a thrilling ride at Canyon Ski Resort outside Red Deer.
- Relax at a spa. Your tween/teen might melt at the chance for a pedicure, manicure, or facial at a real spa.
- Volunteer for an afternoon. Consider signing up to make cookies together at the Ronald McDonald House®, walk dogs for AARCS, or paint backdrops for a show at Storybook Theatre.
- Focus on photography. Have a blast at the Calgary Selfie Museum, or tackle a photo scavenger hunt around the city as a team.
- Learn something new. If you have a child that’s fascinated by history, explore a museum together. Consider the Hangar Flight Museum, the Military Museums, or the Sam Centre for a look back in time. If they love the arts, visit the Esker Foundation, Contemporary Calgary, or Studio Bell. If they’re interested in law or forensics, visit the Calgary Police Discovery Centre.
Ultimately, adolescents just want to spend time with us. They want to be heard and seen. They want our undivided attention. Faced with the pressures of their friends, peer groups, school, social media, and other potential stressors like influencers, this age group still needs parents to be present. Be intentional with your time spent together, and watch your child blossom with confidence.
Born in the prairies, Stephanie is a mother, cancer-survivor, cat lover, and avid traveler. Stephanie is also the creator of the family travel blog Next Family Getaway, nextfamilygetaway.com, where she shares trip ideas and travel advice for those traveling with kids.
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