11 Ways To Improve Gameplay For Children And Teenagers | The Sims 4 Guide

A guide looking at 11 different ways to improve gameplay for child and teen sims within The Sims 4. Please like and comment, and Subscribe here: bit.ly/2ZM0L4h
This guide looks at a wide range of different aspects of gameplay that both child and teen sims can make use of, such as group cooking, outings with other sims, after school activities, holidays from the Seasons Expansion pack and much more.
The aim of the guide is to help you make gameplay, and more specifically family gameplay, a bit more fun, and to help your child and teen sims to have a bit more depth.
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Instagram: / peterconte1
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[@miamaria2679]

About teens and children doing their homework, I love to place a stereo nearby and have them listening to music while doing their homework. This increases their fun, can help with stress and combined with help from an adult, it’s great ☺️

[@SageArdor]

This makes me wonder if the earbuds from the Fitness stuff pack would work just as well for this.

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Ooh thank you for the hot tip Mia! That's genius!

[@Ceares]

Never thought of this. I think I heard about the earbuds from another PPI video but never thought to just turn on the radio to keep their fun up.

[@TheInsaneVane]

Also, if you have an element from the element collection, then placing it in the centre of the dining table and turning the aura on (focused) will encourage kids to autonomously work on their homework if in range.

[@miamaria2679]

@@PeteyPlaysIt 1 year and I didn’t see your comment how embarrassing 😅😳 Thank you so much! 😃😄 I love your content so much and never miss any video of yours ☺️ I love your vibe so much! 😃

[@No-lb8tt]

Fun Fact: any household with 2 or more residents can form its own club, and make the "gatherings" run non-stop to collect thousands of points from doing mundane activities such as eating, bathing, reading, and *sleeping*. Easy way to get homework, skill, and job boosts.

[@elainal6847]

Ok ways I make my sim teens/kids more interesting. I try to change up their clothes for every season so as the season changes I check how close they are to aging up. If my kid is over halfway to teen I treat them like a pre-teen and give some boyband crushes etc. I like to randomize their aspiration and let that play into their personality as well as their traits. For Teens, if they are male and over halfway to adulthood, I like to give them wispy facial hair. Gameplay-wise I use a RNG to decide if they 1 love their siblings 2 are indifferent or 3 hate them and want to make their lives a nightmare. The same goes for parents, cousins, aunts uncles - all family. With parenthood I really play into the mood swings - if someone is embarrassed I give them acne If they are being emo I dress them in black and also break curfew. I make kids with social aspirations always make friends at school, Creative kids take it easy at school, Nerds work hard. Another way that I have played with kids is called the " truman Show" challenge. So basically you are not allowed to directly control the kids and must use parenthood to influence their well being until they are a young adult. Of course I haven't tried the reverse of that where you just play the kid and not the adults.

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

I love this so much Elaina! Especially the different clothes for different seasons. That sounds like so much fun!

[@heg203]

Cool! Speaking of controlling only the kids, did you see the Toddler Challenge on Dr Gluon’s channel? Using the multiplayer mod, he, Lilsimsie, James Tuner, Vixella, and a couple others were toddlers, and could only control their own characters, competing to be first to reach level 3 in all skills with only an AI-controlled Agnes Crumplebottom to help feed, change, potty train them, etc. it was pretty great.

[@haileybalmer9722]

I love making club venues for my kids and teens to hang out in*. I just made a gaming club for my teens and kids, and I made a kind of 90's anime style cyberpunk arcade for them to meet at. They end up meeting up a lot, because I want to play with the space I made. It's also cute to see which of my sims become besties right away and who just can't get along. I also like to pick career tracks for some of my teens. A couple of my kids are very serious about what they want to do with their lives now. I've got one actor, one comedian, and one nature conservationist, and they spend a lot of time polishing up the skills they'll need. It's also fun to have your teens follow their whims with no plan for the future. The comedian's sister knits sweaters for her family and his best friend screws around with all the neighborhood boys. Everyone's got a hobby! *Works great for elders, too! Brindleton Bay knitting club where the old ladies gossip and look at the sea sounds cute, doesn't it?

[@katcalico9142]

Love it!

[@heg203]

Love this! I use clubs for kids and teens, too - so fun!

[@dundee6402]

Yes! I love the club system. Get Together is a very underappreciated pack and a Sims 4 must-buy for me

[@local.tiktoker9668]

Is it just me who thinks that children using the stool in group cooking is cute? For me, it's relatable too.

[@ariannederaps1238]

Group cooking never worked for me. My sims will have a buff and sentiment, but they wont go help the other person. The animation fails 95% of the time for me. :(

[@meechtree5795]

@@ariannederaps1238 same I was wondering if there was no animation since I didn’t have cottage living or something

[@notwithoutpizza4702]

@@meechtree5795 should be an animation. maybe try cooking a meal that takes a longer time like one of the seasons grand dinner meals

[@SageArdor]

I should point out that Sims who have earned at least one Scouting badge also unlock a cooking recipe for Scout Cookies once they reach Teen age. They look identical to regular chocolate chip cookies but it's still neat. Cheating to promote their career doesn't help with this either. Only earning and collecting a badge, any badge, will make it count.

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Thank you so much for sharing that hot tip Sage :)

[@tugbatok9008]

ohh i didnt know that

[@heg203]

Doing Child Aspirations are another great way to individualize your kid sims and give them something to work for, and really affect them in later life. Character values, too, as you mentioned, are SO POWERFUL in adulthood. Doing a “polite introduction,” for ex, from maxing Manners, makes sims instant besties with anyone they meet.

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Ooh thank you for that added tip Holly! I completely agree Child Aspirations are awesome! :D

[@ap11_]

My teen gameplays: crushes, sneaking out to nightclubs, cafe after school, summer camp, vacation or pool day with fellow teens, prom (no need for mods just plan a social event), secret hangout spots (bluffs, ancient ruins, von haunt maze, lighthouse), dare each other to "visit" a haunted house (move them in for one night for maximum experience), add holidays like simchella, vidcon, cosplay event, or as simple as karaoke night, sleepovers (invite your friends over and lock the front door for household only lmao), stay over at grandparent's house (use the always welcome trait), have a "mischief" phase where you want to prank everyone, listen to metal music even when not in loud phase, be obsessed with something like vampires, alien, and then forgetting about them once they enter ya (it's just a phase), rollerblade and ice cream dates. And finally, if you're on pc and want to use mods, there's a mod that enables island living notifications. It will pop up frequently. Hope this helps someone ❤️

[@reading1713]

Such fantastic ideas!!! Thanks for sharing

[@Ceares]

Since I do rotational play I give my Sims a summer holiday that's 2 weeks long, spring break, winter break and fall break. It's nice to have a chance to do activities without worrying about homework or completing daily job requirements. With all those holidays, I have a chance to get to each family

[@fableSimmer]

It’s the way your videos ALWAYS come out right when it’s something I’m about to do or having trouble with. ❤️

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Yay haha we do love this coincidence. Thanks for the nice comment Eric!

[@DwarfDragonwulf]

Research and Debate skill from Discover University also increases homework speed. Also one of the perks for spellcasters is increased speed of research, I'm not sure if that includes homework.

[@KC1792]

Still hoping you'll be able to release your own save file one day with all of your unique sims in it, I would play that in a heartbeat! & you should upload more of your builds to the gallery, like the 1's from your library video, those look so amazing!

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Oh! One of those library builds I'll look to upload soon! Just want to touch it up a tad! Thank you for the reminder :)

[@bladequeen1976]

Thank you for the tips I really did need them. My teens are getting on my nerves with all their emotions. Lolol!

[@SageArdor]

Meanwhile it's been literally a month IRL since any of my teens developed a phase autonomy, and I had to use a randomized to decide which phase to cheat onto one.

[@abigailsmith9178]

I always find it hard to do fun things with my sims and their kids bc my sims have work and school and then the day I want to do something, something ridiculous happens! But these are some really good and cute tips to use, ngl. I always forget the group cooking exists too lol

[@MissRoux]

If you have Seasons, you can set each season up to 28 days and set one or two weeks of holidays so your family won't have school nor work. That way you can achieve everything you want and also having the chance of spending quality family time.

[@gglizzy4651]

I always make sure my sims have summer vacations and i extend the existing holidays in seasons so i have created a new year's eve and christmas eve and that makes it less random when the holidays pop up. for the summer vacation i added a pool day, a camping day, a "4th of july" and a stay at home day just so they're not doing the same thing in the house everyday. i've also customized every vacation lot so that they are more fun and i'm more likely to give my sims vacations. i've also done vacations and outings where i don't bring the whole family (father son bonding camping, mom and son spa day, mom and daughters thrifting). making themed restaurants has also added some spark. making bakeries, seafood restaurants, vegetarian restaurants, a boba spot. i feel like it gives different aesthetics for me to play.

[@CSG922]

Friendly tip if you play with mods, kawaiistacie has a mod that pertains to gaining skills while at school. You can also pair it with adeepindigos school mod which pertains to being able to go to private school and doing online classes as well as homework. As far as base game goes, im really one for making clubs for everything 😂 i do a lot of family gameplay, and it helps to have a designated "club room" in your house so that they wont just wander around and sit somewhere randomly and lose their projects and homework.

[@KH0LRA]

actually backed off the adeepingo mod because of issues it apparently had. is it better nowadays? i hope it isn't too late to ask

[@jonathanbaker4361]

Planning events is harrd. If I was a social person, I'd be out living real life instead of Simulating it. But even though I appreciate that sims can talk and do homework in groups... I have noticed it slows the pace down alot. Because every time they converse, they stop doing HW at that time... so it take 2x as long to get it done. The club with the Buff doesn't sound bad though because the Buff will negate the lolligagging so you can achieve the fun/social multitasking while completing the responsibility.

[@naeshelle]

Speaking of Voidcritters, RAVASHEEN has a Voidcritter gaming tablet which is great because it lets you battle Voidcritters with anyone in the world & I’m pretty sure you build social with that person while battling them. It also lets you buy specific Voidcritter cards & play Voidcritter Go!

[@weasiesworks]

I've used the calendar option and given my sims one whole week off during summer and an extra day before New Years. However it can seem like an endless amount of time if you're trying to get a sim promoted at work. But for the kids it's great. Also, if you just want a sim to earn money but not have to go to work, you can schedule holidays on their specific work days.

[@laurennicole1989]

Love love love your videos! I've been playing with single sims recently and just started my family game play back up. I've been binging your videos to help get ideas and make the little neighborhood I'm building in New Crest feel fun and unique!

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Awe shucks thank you for the super kind comment Lauren :). Really appreciate it! Hope your newcrest neighbourhood is going well!

[@johnterpack3940]

My wife and I both tend to age up our kids and kick them out pretty quickly. Occasionally, we take over a kid and let the parents fade into oblivion. But we're working on a custom save right now and many of these tips are immensely helpful. The thing about nuking the map and starting from scratch is that you really have no idea just how much goes on behind the scenes ion this game. Having kids with different traits in different clubs/activities will lead to very different adults later in the game.

[@dfaithrichoz60]

So many cute scenarios...I always fall into the trap of getting them to A students, then aging up too quickly. Time to slow down a bit? lol.

[@amandabroom9878]

You always have unique ideas! Love the idea of a school band/band group. I’m going to do this!

[@lauve_id6848]

This really fun play to do. Ive been playing sims wrong my whole time by just staying in home for a child to teenage days just by doing homework and get lv 10 skills so they would get easy on every job they wanted infuture especially in carisma they were praticing carisma on mirro all day lmao.

[@kmrazSilverSimmer73]

Another great video. Love all your suggestions. I often forget some of the options that come with packs I have. Thanks. Have an amazing day!

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Thank you so much k mraz! Hope you have an amazing day too!

[@Syeona]

I love this video thank you so much! Could you please do a rating video? Like rating your fave packs in order and like 3 objects from each pack? I like hearing your opinions and ideas they are so fun! Cya later! ♥

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Thank you for the kind comment Calypso! I definitely want to do a ranking/rating video on packs eventually :D. Haha Cya later :D

[@annagirard4940]

I just love your content. Thanks for being awesome Pete!!!!

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Thank you Anna for being a legend :). Appreciate the kind comment!

[@jonathanbaker4361]

I wanted to add, if you kid is already an A student... their not going to do any better, so homework at thar point is only relevant to build... responsibility and keep the grade from dropping. All I am saying is if the kid is top of class, missing homework once isn't going to destroy them. Just keep an eye on their performance bar so it does dip into grade down territory.

[@TheSecretPod]

I've made a whole summer break for my kids and teens🤭 i can level skills and have more fun and less homework

[@karl._.21]

actually there is a tent in the base game! you just have to dug through debug to get it

[@MsShabriaGxo]

Another great video, thank you for these suggestions 👍🏾❤️

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Thank you so much for the nice comment Shabria! :)

[@Atanery]

I LOVE your content, your voice, love it!

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Thank you Nanacita!!! Appreciate the super nice words! :D

[@merlinnax]

Sooo cool thank you!!!

[@jessgraffy]

Keep the content coming!

[@tugbatok9008]

scouting would be more fleshed out for kids, i guess. it could be like a camping event...outdoor collection, bonfires, etc

[@xoxojustno6971]

I wish that kids could do tag or jump rope or things like that without mods

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

That would be so great! It would make them feel so much more like kids!

[@Garouwerks]

Thanks for this!! ❤

[@Anonymous-UserX9]

I recently got this game its been my dream game forever now And I was wondering what packs you recommend I could get? Like the ones that make Your gameplay fun and also more decorations and stuff 😁💖

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Ooh first I would say always try to buy on sale. and then if I was to recommend one pack I would say seasons. it has big impact on overall gameplay and just makes the pack feel a lot more alive :).

[@Anonymous-UserX9]

@@PeteyPlaysIt Ooo okay thanks😃

[@loveseveryone2030]

Waiting for it!thanks a lot

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

You're super welcome loves everyone, thanks for the nice comment :)

[@mish2773]

Hello! :) Try putting the bookshelf into the wall? Maybe double wall and using bb.move objects then Alt to move freely

[@KaylaACNH_]

I always thought the scout stuff came with outdoor retreat 😂

[@BethPlaysSims]

great ideas perfect for my legacy I am putting together

[@meeshwood918]

I'm loving your club builds. Do you upload your builds to the gallery?

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

I have a few builds up :), my ID is 'PeteyPlaysIt'

[@theeverythingkid]

Fantastic video

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Ooh I'm not entirely sure, but I would say a good start is to make sure the kitchen is big with plenty of bench space to cook. I find if I don't have enough then my sims just stand around doing nothing. Hope that helps!

[@Ashpleeeease]

I have NEVER had my sims successfully cook together. The others just stand there! Any tips?

[@dheanabila2162]

Well.. i collect urns, does that count?

[@OutdatedLeon]

Question. If I have the child cooking together with the parents who have the food-never-spoil aspiration trait, but the kid doesn't have the trait (because she's still a child, so can't earn the trait), will the food be spoil-able or non-spoil-able?

[@bubblie7508]

Omg thankssss

[@desireeoshea9562]

Awsome keep it up ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@PeteyPlaysIt]

Thank you!!!

[@nowl28]

How do you get your sims to all sit down and eat together hahahahah

[@Camigracce]

Cool where get the dress from being trying to look for it my teen sim to wear is it a CC?

[@cosmicspeachy]

does anyone know how to cheat relationship friendship with child/toddler?

[@Epicly_Eating_Oranges]

I was super sad because sims was above my age:(

[@Joey15811]

I want teen pregnancy tbh

[@p.k.4584]

Do u have to have a pack for cooking with family

[@local.tiktoker9668]

Nope! It's completely base game!

[@local.tiktoker9668]

@@naja782 No, it's base game.

[@katyeilcirque132]

All you need is two Sims or more in a household, or invite Sims over to cook together

[@selwatchesyt]

I believe Cook together shows up when u click on a kitchen counter. Just make sure you have a few counters with no objects on them.

[@desireeoshea9562]

😆😆😆😆🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@shianewiley8120]

Plz help me @PeteyPlaysIt otr ANYBODY who can! On The calendar to give the Sims the DAY OFF, Do you MARK IT? OR LEAVE IT WITH NO MARK IN IT!!!?? I Have marked it and they went to work and school, left it UNMARKED and they still went to work and school!! 🤦🏽‍♀️