Children's Express reporters find out what young people with time on their hands get up to when they are not in school.
| I get about three hours spare time a day - but it's not enough because I get too much homework. |
Oliver Whiteley, 14, Hexham
I normally spend my spare time playing rugby, football and watching television with my friends because they are fun to be around. I like competitive sports and watching television to relax. I have quite a bit of spare time because I don't really do much schoolwork.
Sometimes I stay at home if I just want to relax. I am quite content. I do the activities that I do because if you are good at something it makes you feel good in yourself, and if you are not it makes you feel low. My money comes from jobs and pocket money that I get from my parents.
Paul Westrip, 15, Chester-le- Street
My spare time is taken up playing and watching football or any sport really. There's a big football pitch called the Riverside in Chester-le-Street. It's cheap and loads of people go down there. I don't have as much spare time as I would like because of homework and school, but I probably have a couple of hours every night. I like what I do because it's good fun and keeps you fit. I do a paper round in the morning, but that's about it, although I sometimes get a bit of pocket money.
Joshua Terris, 9, near Springwell Village
I spend my time playing with my friends. My favourite activities are
playing basketball and cricket because I like hitting the ball far. I just hang out at the back of my mam's house. It's good fun playing there because there are hills for your bike. I think we should all get more spare time, basically. I would say that I get a couple of hours. I like the activities I do because they make you get a lot of exercise. I would love to learn to use a computer with more time. I get money from my mam so that I can do the things I do.
Gary Maxwell, 15, Battlefield
I spend my spare time playing football with my friend Craig. Besides football, I like watching television because it's good. I hang out at the football pitch next to my house because it's somewhere to go. I have loads of time to myself. I don't normally stay at home because my brother can get on my nerves. I do the activities that I do because it keeps me fit. I also do things that I am not very good at because if I practice I can get better. My ma gives me my money to spend.
Craig Byers, 15, Battlefield
I spend my time with my friends playing football. I hardly have any spare time and I don't think it's fair. Most of the time I don't stay at home unless there is some thing on the television. The reason I do the activities I do is because football's active.
If I had more time I would go to the gym, anything that keeps you fit and strong. I like to do lots of different things so you can practice the things you are not very good at. My mother gives me money to spend.
Eliza Lawson, 18, Whitley Bay
I spend a lot of my spare time dancing, doing lots of drama and lots of sport. I hang around with my best friends because they are really good fun to be with and we have a good laugh. I like playing football, swimming and dancing and clubbing as my favourite activities.
I would like more spare time but I'm quite happy at the minute because I've just finished college so I think I have enough. I stay at home sometimes because I like to spend time with my family as well. I like what I do but I also like to try things that I'm not so good at. I work at the Centre of Life so that where my money comes from.
Ben McDonald, 12, Cowgate
I play on a computer in my spare time on my own. My favourite activities are listening to music and going to the hippy green. I get about three hours spare time but on weekends I have all day. It's not enough time because I get too much homework. I stay in the house on the computer mostly but when I do go out I play on my skateboard. I would like to go to Skate City if I had the time. I get my money off my mother by doing jobs for her.
About the team
This story was produced by Cheryl Paxton and Leanne Allison, both 10. Junior Jury is a weekly column published in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
