We know the feeling – you look at your little one who’s not so little anymore and wonder, where has the time gone? Adolescence is a pivotal period in your child’s life, marked by profound changes that can sometimes lead to feelings of alienation or a growing sense of disconnect between teens and adults. With heightened emotions and the ever-present pull of social media, it’s no surprise that this stage can feel like a rollercoaster, even more so when planning family holidays with teenagers.
Opportunities to reconnect also become increasingly difficult as your busy teenager juggles hobbies, friendships, and responsibilities, leaving little time for meaningful family moments. Then, of course, there’s the ever-present influence of social media. Social media, when overused, has been linked to poor sleep, low self-esteem, negative body image, and even an increased risk of depression. Channel 4 recently documented the effects of social media on Year 8 pupils, who reported higher levels of anxiety, reduced sleep and problems with concentration. While these challenges may seem overwhelming, there’s an antidote: nature. Studies have shown that time spent in nature not only counteracts the effects of screen time but also improves attention and nurtures empathy. This is why a family-friendly farm stay might be just the thing for you and your energetic tweens and teens - a short break in nature with Feather Down Farms.
Forging a connection with nature during the adolescent years is particularly crucial. Research illustrates a sharp decline in teenagers’ connection to nature around the ages of 15 to 16. Author Richard Louv describes this phenomenon with a powerful term: Nature-Deficit Disorder. According to Louv, “nature-deficit disorder contributes to a diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, conditions of obesity, and higher rates of emotional and physical illnesses.”
Fortunately, we can prevent and even reverse these effects. Nurturing a connection to nature during these formative years helps ensure that your budding teenager stays grounded, connected, and mindful of what truly matters. Time in nature has been proven to enhance mood, reduce stress and anger, and provide a much-needed space to relax and reset. Beyond the emotional benefits, nature also supports key cognitive skills like working memory, attentional control, and cognitive flexibility. Even something as simple as the sound of waves crashing or crickets chirping can significantly boost cognitive performance in teenagers.
Here are our four favourite ways to bond with our spirited teenagers on a countryside farm stay:
🤽♀️The beauty of water sports: Building important life skills like camaraderie, cooperation, communication, negotiation, and most importantly — trust. We love farm stays near the coast, such as the wild and untamed beauty of Cornwall and Norfolk, where the rhythm of the sea equals adventure. But even landlocked gems like the undulating countryside of Bedfordshire or the charming fields of Essex can surprise you with endless fun. Take paddleboarding lessons, try your hand at windsurfing, glide through serene waters in a kayak, or learn the ropes of sailing—all while surrounded by breath-taking natural landscapes.
📸Capturing nature at its finest: Today’s youth have developed an appreciation for the finer things in life, with their exposure to social media and curated aesthetics attuning them to the beautiful and the picturesque. Why not nurture their growing creativity by encouraging them to photograph lush forests, delicate meadow blooms, waves crashing against the jagged cliffs, and quintessential British rolling hills? Grab an inexpensive digital or analogue camera and watch their artistry blossom as they capture memories that will last a lifetime.
🧑🌾Farm-based activities: The best part of a farm stay is that an entire world unfolds within the parameters of the farm. Whether it’s feeding the chickens, watching the cows being milked, or simply observing the quiet pulse of rural life, exposure to farm animals can help your teen develop a sense of responsibility, empathy, and care. Together, you can also prepare hearty meals — think rich stews and fresh-baked bread or even a decadent pizza — to be savoured by a roaring campfire under a starlit sky. As the day winds down, your teen can snuggle into bed, journal about their adventures, and drift off, dreaming of their next countryside fun-filled break.
🌿Disconnect from phones: Across all Feather Down locations, we purposefully don't have Wi-Fi or electricity in our cosy canvas hideaways. Stepping away from modern technology and disconnecting from the outside world may seem daunting, especially for always-on teens, but the benefits of a digital detox are becoming more and more well-known and important. Why not get on-board as a family and all switch off for the weekend - board games, campfires, s'mores and more!
The importance of establishing lasting connections to nature and family during these formative years cannot be understated, which is why a farm stay offers so much more than a holiday – it’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to provide the basis for a balanced and fulfilling future while creating ever-lasting memories. For teenagers, an escape to a simpler life can serve as their chance to step away from the fast pace of modern life, to unplug, and reconnect – not just with nature, but with their loved ones and themselves.
Still not convinced? Anna from The Imagination Tree stayed with her teens, 10 years after their first visit (we love the 10-years on photo in the cupboard bed!), and said "the experience was so positive and the tween and teens responded SO much better than we could have hoped with the stripped back screen time".
A unique off-grid experience