Thirteen is an exciting age where kids start gaining more independence, but parents still need to provide guidance and set appropriate limits. There are many fun, safe activities 13 year olds can enjoy with friends both in groups and one-on-one. Here are some quick answers about how 13 year olds can spend quality time with friends:
Spend Time Together at Home
Having friends over to hang out at home is a classic way for 13 year olds to socialize. Great activities include:
- Watching movies or TV shows
- Listening to music
- Cooking or baking together
- Playing board games or video games
- Working on crafts, science experiments, or other projects
- Having a scavenger hunt or talent show
- Dancing to fun music and making TikTok videos
Parents can set ground rules like keeping the door open, sticking to appropriate TV shows and music, and cleaning up afterwards. Providing snacks is always a plus!
Be Active Outside
Playing outside allows 13 year olds to burn energy and enjoy fresh air. Great outdoor friend activities include:
- Riding bikes around the neighborhood
- Playing basketball, soccer, tag, or other sports at a park
- Going for a nature walk and looking for plants and animals
- Visiting playgrounds and play equipment like monkey bars
- Going swimming at a pool or beach
- Having a picnic at the park
- Exploring hiking trails
Parents can set safety rules like wearing helmets for biking, staying together in a group, and avoiding busy streets. Sunscreen, water bottles, and first aid kits are smart items to bring just in case.
Explore Public Spaces
13 year olds will enjoy checking out tween-friendly spots around town with friends, such as:
- The mall – window shopping and trying on funny outfits
- A café or snack shop – ordering a special treat
- The movies – enjoying the latest family-friendly flick
- Mini golf courses – competing in a friendly putting contest
- Arcades – playing games and redeeming tickets for prizes
- Bowling alleys – bowling or playing arcade games
- Skating rinks – gliding around the rink to fun music
- Amusement parks – riding roller coasters and other thrilling rides
- Museums – exploring cool exhibits together
Sticking together in a group and setting a firm meetup time with parents is key for safety. Bringing some cash for activities, food, or souvenirs makes these outings even more fun.
Get Creative with Arts and Crafts
Making arts, crafts, or other hands-on projects allows 13 year olds to express their creativity and collaborate with friends. Fun ideas include:
- Making friendship bracelets or necklaces from embroidery floss
- Designing tie-dye shirts or bandanas
- Painting canvases to hang up in their bedrooms
- Decorating t-shirts with puffy paint or fabric markers
- Building sculptures from clay, Model Magic, or recycled materials
- Designing vision boards decorated with magazine cut-outs
- Making homemade stress balls or slime
Cover working surfaces appropriately, wear old clothes, and have a sink available for cleaning up. Creativity and teamwork will shine through!
Enjoy Technology Together
Today’s 13 year olds enjoy bonding with friends through technology and online platforms. Safe virtual activities can include:
- Texting or messaging each other funny emojis and memes
- Video chatting through apps like FaceTime or Instagram
- Collaborating on projects using Google Docs or slides
- Playing online multiplayer games
- Sharing playlists or taking online music quizzes
- Making Youtube or TikTok videos together
- Working together to build something on Minecraft
Setting screen time limits, knowing friends’ online contacts, and monitoring content is important. But used wisely, technology can enhance bonding time with friends.
Get Moving with Group Exercise
13 year olds and their friends can stay active together through group workout routines like:
- Trying beginner aerobics or dance videos on YouTube
- Going for a jog or walk around the neighborhood
- Attending a community yoga or martial arts class for teens
- Swimming laps or playing pool games at the community center
- Biking local trails or parks
- Playing a pickup game of basketball at the park
- Trying circuits of bodyweight exercises like crunches and pushups
Exercising as a group is more fun than doing it alone! Focus on pacing yourself, proper form, safety, and having a blast being active with friends.
Give Back with Community Service
Volunteering is a meaningful way for 13 year olds to make a difference while bonding with friends. Ideas include:
- Doing a litter cleanup at a beach, park, or community space
- Making toys or care packages for kids at a local hospital
- Providing dog toys, blankets, and treats to an animal shelter
- Raking leaves or shoveling snow for elderly neighbors
- Collecting food donations for a community food bank
- Making artwork or writing cards for veterans or nursing home residents
Check with local nonprofits, shelters, hospitals, or community centers for volunteer opportunities appropriate for 13 year olds. Giving back promotes teamwork and helps foster compassion.
Sleepovers with Close Friends
For 13 year olds who are mature and responsible, sleepovers with a small group of close friends can be exciting. Fun sleepover activities include:
- Building pillow forts and telling ghost stories
- Conducting science experiments like making elephant toothpaste
- Playing truth or dare and other classic sleepover games
- Staying up late chatting, doing makeovers, and gossiping
- Making personalized pizzas and having a bake-off
- Watching scary movies and doing karaoke
- Playing board games and video games into the night
Parents can help set expectations beforehand regarding appropriate behavior and activities. Provide fun foods and help keep the activities semi-structured. Small sleepovers with just a few close friends are best at this age.
Day Trips and Local Travel
As 13 year olds mature, day trips and overnight outings with friends can create wonderful memories. Ideas include:
- Camping trips to state or national parks with hiking and outdoor activities
- Beach trips allowing time for swimming, sandcastles, and sunset bonfires
- Rafting or canoeing down a river
- Amusement park trips full of roller coasters and thrill rides
- Trips to the big city with tours, shows, museums, and restaurants
- Skiing or snowboarding day trips during the winter
- Bike trips to state parks or historic sites
Careful coordination with all parents is crucial, as is packing appropriately for the activities. Group travel teaches cooperation, flexibility, and responsibility in a fun way.
Healthy Social Media Use
Social media plays a big role in how 13 year olds interact with friends. Some healthy ways 13 year olds can use social media include:
- Texting or DMing friends to make plans and have conversations
- Sending friends funny memes or videos over Snapchat
- Video chatting with friends when they can’t hang out in person
- Collaborating on projects or schoolwork over group chats
- Doing livestreams to stickers and playlists with friends
- Following friends with private accounts to share updates
- Playing online multiplayer games together
Parents should monitor privacy settings, time spent online, and digital citizenship. But when used appropriately, social media allows 13 year olds to continue bonding with friends in the digital world.
Family-Friendly Parties
Throwing parties with friends can be fun bonding experiences for 13 year olds, with proper parental guidance. Ideas for family-friendly parties include:
- Movie night with a big screen and comfy pillows/blankets
- Spa night with makeovers, face masks, nail painting
- Game night with interactive games like Twister or Minute to Win It
- Karaoke night with favorite pop songs
- Backyard campout with s’mores and ghost stories
- Pool party with fun pool floats and water games
- Talent show to showcase friends’ skills
Agree upon guest lists and house rules ahead of time. Provide plenty of snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. Fun group activities will keep everyone engaged.
School Extracurriculars
Getting involved in after-school activities is a great way for 13 year olds to share interests with friends. Popular options include:
- Sports like soccer, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, volleyball
- Music programs like band, orchestra, choir
- Theater productions like school plays or musicals
- Clubs like art, debate, STEM, coding, or photography
- Academic teams for math, science, engineering, etc.
- Service clubs like Interact or Builders Club
- Yearbook or school newspaper
These activities allow friends to bond over shared hobbies, goals, and accomplishments. They also look great on academic and job applications down the road.
Part-Time Jobs
Some 13 year olds enjoy taking on part-time jobs like babysitting, pet sitting, lawn mowing, or snow shoveling. Pros of part-time jobs include:
- Earning extra spending money
- Learning responsibility and punctuality
- Getting experience for future resumes
- Making professional connections
Cons to consider include taking time away from academics and overscheduling. Weighing the pros and cons with parents can help 13 year olds decide if part-time work is a good choice.
Conclusion
Age 13 is full of opportunities for safe, supervised fun with friends. Thirteen year olds can bond over shared interests in activities at home, around town, online, and through extracurriculars. Parents play a key role in providing guidance, setting limits, and facilitating appropriate bonding experiences. With balance and perspective, 13 can be a very exciting year for blossoming social lives!