Pointing the discussion toward filling in the empty hours, especially with chesed projects, seems the most productive direction. I agree with the poster who mentioned the more modern kids taking on group chesed projects in their communities, and I don’t see it at all in the yeshiva communities. I have seen children from secular or non-Jewish schools put on beautiful programs for a local Jewish nursing home, which gave the residents great pleasure and (at least temporary) relief from their tzures. Nothing comparable from the local yeshiva. In fact, when a yeshiva came in to do a program, it was short and poorly directed and the residents could barely understand what was being presented. One got the feeling the kavana was not on the chesed, but instead on the zechus. There was also a strong pen-pal program going on between the secular school and the residents of this nursing home, which, again, gave the residents much pleasure. Nothing from the yeshivas. I do think kids would join and be enthusiastic about group chesed if led by serious adults whose first concern was the needs of the recipients. This also helps build maturity and self-esteem (more than sessions in the therapists chair), and develops middos of rachmanus.
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