Thanks for the suggestions, I will ask if there’s anything she wants to learn. She wouldn’t want to make videos or dance! I forgot to say, I have asked and asked. Offered to buy what she needs. I just had another chat with her and she wants to go for a walk each day (we live in a very small village). She likes taking photos so she can do that on the walks. So that’s good. We have gone on walks some days but it would be good to get into a routine of going every day. She seems happy enough. I told her to keep thinking and let me know if there’s anything she wants to do. It was her GCSE year so she won’t be going back to school until September at the earliest.
If she likes taking photos then perhaps encourage her to find an outlet for her photos.
I'm on a website which has nothing to do with photography but they have a weekly photo challenge for a few members. Nothing serious, just some fun. There will be other similar sites with more frequent/different photo challenges.
16 is a funny old age. Too old to be doing 'kid' stuff and too young to be doing 'adult' stuff (not like that!)
I wonder what I'd be interested in at 16 (not like that!). I liked reading, video games and movies. I also used to play rugby (and was ok at it). I think I'd need something like Pokemon Go to get me out the house for my state-mandated exercise. My village growing up wasn't very interesting but maybe I could instagram some areas.
If me now could speak to the 16 year old reverend I'd be suggesting getting into coding. I know thats where the money is career wise so thats where I'd want younger me to go.
oh. And I loved making victoria sponge cakes when I was that age and wished I'd have gotten into 'bread' so I'd encourage me to do that.
Finally I'd suggesting talking to her about it and then going with what she suggests. Tell her there are no 'wrong' suggestions but looking after her mental health is as important as looking after her physical health.
Bonus Idea. 16 years old is old enough to ride a moped. Check on ebay for a cheapy fixer-upper and spend a bit of parent/child time doing something together that she can enjoy more freedom when the rules are more relaxed. (I'd have loved something like this with my mum/dad)
HTH
The Reverend