Estate Living Magazine Connection - Issue 43 July 2019 | Page 40

C O M M U N I T Y
L I V I N G
GETTING TEENS AWAY FROM
SCREENS
Trudging around the golf course and playing tennis are ‘like so yesterday …’ your teenagers say, rolling their
eyes skyward. Followed by a ‘there’s nothing to do here’ as their fingers tap the keys and the mayhem of one
of a dozen blood-and-gore-filled computer games continues. This lament can be heard from tweens, teens
and young adults the world over – gone are the days that residential estates could get away with the bare
essentials of outdoor activities like (indoor or outdoor) gym, jogging and MTB trails, and a pool. The youth of
today are way more demanding, and as parents and estate developers we need to take heed.
To get them away from their electronic devices we need to offer
them more. Way more. Especially in terms of fun, excitement,
adrenaline rush and connection – with both peers and parents.
Staying connected with your child through adolescence while
allowing them the freedom of exploration in a safe environment
allows them, through trial and error, to learn about dealing with the
consequences that choices bring – something being glued to a
screen will never achieve.
There are lifestyle estates targeting niche markets, including golf,
wildlife, equestrian and parkland, but none specifically targeting
the youth. So, if you were to develop an estate specifically to
attract families with teens, what would you do? What activities and
adventures would be included in any teenager’s ‘perfect place to
live’ estate? What would they deem cool enough to drag them away
from their computer screens and into the great outdoors?
Surprisingly much:
• How about a skate park, complete with ramps, rails and half-
pipes? An urban street landscape recreated. Curbs, benches and
other obstacles surrounded by walls covered with the obligatory
graffiti. Walls that could be ‘cleaned’ on a regular basis, offering
a blank canvas for budding artists – where an ‘art’ evening with
vibey music and the ‘pchit’ of spray cans would keep youngsters
entertained for hours. Perhaps a recreation centre could stock
a supply of both new and weathered boards, and even a box of
assorted coloured spray paints.
• Convert the walls of a tall building into a climbing wall, or have
a freestanding one custom built for indoors or out. Make sure it
offers a variety of ‘terrain’ so as not to get boring quickly; include
overhangs, sloped walls and areas of varying difficulty. Of course,
you’ll need to have stringent safety systems, and rules about
implementing them.
• Is there a dam, river or estuary on the estate? Take the SUP (stand-
up paddleboarding) that you offer to another level by offering
SUP yoga. It is said that if you can breathe, you can do yoga, and
if you can stand on one foot you can do yoga on the water! The
width and length of a SUP board make it exceptionally stable,
which lends itself to a variety of yoga poses. And being on the
water requires more core engagement as well as a more mindful
and slower approach to the practice.
• Another option is a paintball park, which will probably appeal
as much (or more) to grown-ups with Rambo complexes – a
space where the battles on a video game can come to life in a
safe outdoor environment, where pixel perfection is replaced
by rugged and reckless. And where peers and parents can be
involved in the game together. And your little warriors can get
their heart rates up for real.