My teenager won't do anything: what can I do when I've tried everything?
Are you the parent of a teenager who doesn't want to do anything? It's not laziness, nor is it a lack of discipline. After speaking with hundreds of families, I can tell you this: the problem is almost never the child. Here's what's really going on—and what works when everything else has failed.
You're exhausted. And it's not your fault.
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re exhausted. Exhausted from daily arguments. Exhausted from repeating the same things over and over. Exhausted from feeling like you’re the bad guy, the enforcer, the designated killjoy.
Your child is between 10 and 15 years old, is in middle school, and nothing seems to be working:
- You tried to be firm → conflict.
- You tried to act cool → nothing happened.
- You promised rewards → very short-lived effect.
- You punished them → toxic atmosphere.
- You’ve even considered (or tried) private lessons → they work for a while… when the teacher is there.
And once he's gone? Back to square one.
Meanwhile, your teenager is doing just fine:
- He can spend hours playing Brawl Stars, Fortnite, or watching YouTube.
- He is focused, dedicated, and motivated.
- But when it comes to learning a lesson… nothing.
So one question keeps coming up:
“Why is he able to focus so intently on a game, but not even for 10 minutes on his schoolwork?”
The problem isn't your child—or you
Sitting alone
Instant interaction
It’s important to make this clear:
- Your teenager isn't lazy.
- You're not a bad parent.
The real problem is that school and homework speak a language that is no longer his own.
Children of this generation are still being asked to:
- sit alone
- open a notebook
- read, reread, memorize
- without immediate feedback
- without being sure I understood
- without enjoyment
Meanwhile, the rest of their world works the opposite way: immediate interaction, constant feedback, visible progress, a sense of mastery, and intrinsic motivation.
The gap is enormous. And as long as we expect him to bridge that gap through sheer willpower alone, we’re wasting our time.
We also explore this topic from the perspective of motivation in "How to Motivate a Middle School Student to Do Their Homework."
Why traditional methods no longer work
The carrot and the stick
It either creates resistance or an artificial sense of motivation that fades as quickly as the reward.
Private lessons
- Expensive
- Dependent on the presence of an adult
- Do not promote independence
- And above all: no motivation when the child is alone
"Turnkey" content
- Not tailored to your child's actual progress
- Too generic
- Uncertain about what will come up on the test
The result: the child doesn't see the point, the parent bears the entire burden, and the family atmosphere deteriorates. To better understand the different methods and their limitations, check out our comparison of study aids for middle school.
What if we took a completely different approach?
It was precisely this realization that led to the creation of Baobab.
Baobab isn't a game. But Baobab uses the conventions of games. The distinction is crucial.
While traditional methods try to force an outdated format, Baobab starts from a simple observation: if teens can focus on *Brawl Stars* for two hours, it meansthere are certain approaches that work for them. We just need to apply those approaches to learning.
Why Baobab Works with "Unmotivated" Teens
Baobab was designed for those kids. The ones who don't want to do anything. The ones for whom homework has become a battlefield.
What Baobab Actually Does
- The child takes a photo of their class.
- Baobab transforms its own course (not generic content) into a learning experience inspired by game design principles, designed to be motivating and engaging.
- The child tests themselves, makes progress, and learns independently, without an adult supervising them.
What this really changes
- The child regains control.
- He is no longer passive.
- He is no longer facing failure or uncertainty.
- He knows when he's ready—which also helps him cope with stress, as we explain in School Anxiety in Middle School.
And most importantly: he's eager to get started.
Baobab is the app that turns screen time into valuable time. Download it for free.
“He’s getting started. Without even being asked!”
That’s THE phrase parents say most often.
Kids come home from school, pull out their phones, take pictures of their homework, and start their quizzes— without being asked.
For many parents, it comes as a shock. Because all of a sudden: the arguments stop, the mental load eases up, the child becomes more independent, and the family atmosphere calms down.
And if this change seems a bit suspicious to you (“another screen?”), we’ve addressed it in detail in our article on good vs. bad screen time.
In summary
If you've tried everything, negotiated everything, explained everything, threatened everything, and given up on everything… then the problem isn't that your child "won't do anything."
The problem is that the homework isn't written in a way he can understand.
Baobab doesn't promise miracles. But Baobab changes the game. And sometimes, that's all it takes to get things moving.
And in practical terms, what does that mean for your family?
If your teenager refuses to do their homework despite your best efforts, check out Baobab : the method that speaks their language, starting from their actual coursework, and allowing them to work independently.
Pierre-Alexis Voisin
A father of two and a trained engineer, Pierre-Alexis left the finance industry in 2020 to develop impact-driven projects, including Baobab Labs, an app that helps middle school students study more effectively.
Still need help?
Because games offer what homework doesn't: immediate feedback, visible progress, and a sense of mastery. The problem isn't your child's ability to concentrate—it's the format they're being given.
Avoid direct confrontation. Punishment creates conflict, while rewards provide only short-lived motivation. The most effective approach is to change the homework experience: make it active, self-directed, and provide concrete feedback on what has been learned.
The breakdown usually occurs between 6th and 8th grade—a time when the workload skyrockets, the pressure to get good grades increases, and the allure of screens grows stronger. Many teens “drop out” at this point.
They work… when the teacher is there. The problem is that they don’t foster independence: as soon as the adult is no longer present, the teenager slips back into their old habits.
By offering a format that fits their learning style: interactive, self-paced, with visible progress. And by building on their current skill level, so that their efforts pay off right away (better control, for example).
Baobab is designed for middle school students, but as the application adapts to each child's lesson, it also works through to high school.
The AI analyzes the lessons to suggest revisions tailored to each level.
With a single subscription, you can add up to 3 children.
Everyone gets their own account and can use Baobab on their phone, with revisions tailored to their level and lessons.
Yes! Baobab's AI analyzes your child's lesson to generate customized revision sheets and quizzes.
The goal: to help them learn more effectively, without wasting time on unnecessary content.
See also
Not all screen time is created equal. The real question isn’t “how much time?” but “what kind of screen time?” A guide to distinguishing between good and bad screen time.
Learn more
What is the best way to help your middle schooler study? A comparison of Baobab, Kartable, Acadomia, and traditional methods. Updated May 2026.
Learn more
If your child drags their feet, sighs, or refuses to sit down at their desk… it’s neither a lack of willpower nor a tantrum. It’s a matter of experience. Here’s a closer look and some solutions.
Learn more