Ideas for week night activities for 14 year old boys

[gingellico]

Hello,

Does anyone know of any climbing, basketball or badminton clubs that are local to Peckham, East Dulwich? My son’s weekends are full of football and rugby training but I’m struggling to keep him busy (off a screen!) on week evenings. I’ve looked into the London Community boxing but sessions sadly start at 4.30 and he’s not back from school until 5. 

Any recommendations gratefully received! 
 

[beansprout]

I am genuinely curious… what is this obsession with keeping children active with things to do after school. From what I know, most  CV kids to rugby or football of a weekend but do they actually need activities during the week after school?

What about going home, relaxing before homework and I don’t know, reading a book, drawing, Lego, constructing a car/plane.. even making some cookies…

[mima08]

19 hours ago, gingellico said:

Hello,

Does anyone know of any climbing, basketball or badminton clubs that are local to Peckham, East Dulwich? My son’s weekends are full of football and rugby training but I’m struggling to keep him busy (off a screen!) on week evenings. I’ve looked into the London Community boxing but sessions sadly start at 4.30 and he’s not back from school until 5. 

Any recommendations gratefully received! 
 

There's a great badminton club at the Harris girls academy. It runs Friday from 5.30 to 6.45. for more experienced players, they have sessions on Wednesday and Friday, too but that's subject to skill levels 

[Bumpkin]

On 12/11/2025 at 08:06, beansprout said:

I am genuinely curious… what is this obsession with keeping children active with things to do after school. From what I know, most  CV kids to rugby or football of a weekend but do they actually need activities during the week after school?

What about going home, relaxing before homework and I don’t know, reading a book, drawing, Lego, constructing a car/plane.. even making some cookies…

The issue is computer games - all lovely ideas of yours but if you have a 14 year old that has 1 lesson of games per week at school and an excess of energy, short lunch breaks post covid and no inclination to do anything other that stare at a screen when at home then you are doing them and you a massive favour by finding a sociable active outlet for that energy. 

There were climbing clubs at vauxwall & Brixton a few years ago when my son was 14. Wayne’s badminton club above is great.  My son got really into athletics at the Ladywell Kent athletics club (which I forced him to do for reasons above & he now competes nationally and loves it despite an initial reluctance through being unfit due to reasons above).  

Btw, there was no pressure from me to make him train hard enough to compete nationally - am not a tiger mum - back fired a bit as I thought a bit of exercise would be a good idea but turned into having to spend most weekends taking him to athletics competitions in wet fields, so be careful what you wish for..