The Best Play Areas for Teens

Sports Play Areas

• Public parks often include sports areas for teens. Soccer fields, basketball courts, football fields and tennis courts are all good play areas for teens. Organized teams for teens can use these spaces, and teens can also play their own unscheduled games if spaces like this are open and available.

Indoor Play Areas

• Indoor play areas often attract teens as well. Indoor skating rinks are fun for teens as well as younger children, and bowling alleys are a good place for teens to play. Many of these types of play areas offer special nights or events that make these familiar games more exciting for teens. For example, bowling alleys can offer a "cosmic bowling" night, when teens can bowl in the dark with black light pins and bowling balls.

Mental Play

• Unlike younger children, who usually need a lot of physical play, teens enjoy mental play as well. Many recreational centers offer opportunities for teens to play less active games like pool, table tennis and board games. Events like a chess tournament or a card game tournament are attractive to teens who enjoy these types of activities.

Specialized Play Areas

• Specialized play areas cater to teens with a specific interest. Examples include skateboard parks, laser tag centers and rock climbing gyms. Play areas like this are valuable for teens who enjoy these specific sports and activities.