Ninja ideas for activities for a 13yo DS

[TresDesolee]

DS is a lovely boy but literally spends all his free time in his bed on the computer or doing Rubik's cubes. His bedroom is tiny, hence literally being in bed.

He plays football with a local team but other than that has no non-bedroom interests at all. No longer reads books, sadly (he's quite intellectually capable but haven't been able to find anything to light his fire recently).

I'd love to get him to try some new things, to make friends, broaden his horizons, introduce new interests. I genuinely don't care WHAT it is, I'd just like him to find some new interests.

So far I've got:

Take him to theatre
Woodland/outdoorsy stuff (he's done geocaching)
Skateboarding lessons?
Grqphic novels?
Games coding club?

... anyone else have any ideas?

He's a very maths-y boy and gets lots of extras from the school on that front

He loves Randall Munroe books (but has them all)

[owlsintheflowerpatch]

Mine does police cadets. An hour with activities around crime/csi type things then an hour games/sport.
Sessions here are free but might be a couple of pounds a week elsewhere. Uniform including boots are free. Loads of opportunities to go to places if they want but not compulsory.

[TresDesolee]

Oh that's a good one, thanks Owls

[MrsSteptoe]

TresDesolee, I'm in on this thread. DS is a bit similar. He's started drawing and painting more now, but he would spend all his free time and all the time he should be doing homework on YouTube and xBox games if I let him.
He has taken to LAMDA, though - would drama be a route that would appeal to your DS?

[owlsintheflowerpatch]

Here's how to find your unit www.nationalvpc.org/Volunteer-Police-Cadet-units but if he decides he fancies it and you are struggling to find your local one pm me.

They go on a big summer camp if they want, do awards and ranks, things like duke of edinburgh are funded so cheaper than through school. They also helped to escort guests at the royal wedding.

[FauxFox]

Climbing? Indoors or out.
Film making
Digital music/DJing
Kayaking

[TresDesolee]

Thanks Owls, I'll have a look

I don't know whether he'd take to drama mrssteptoe but am trying not to prejudge - maybe he'd love it given a chance! I'm going to try to book in taster sessions for loads of different things and see which ones stick...

[TresDesolee]

Oh good ones Faux, thank you

[owlsintheflowerpatch]

What about martial arts? My very quiet, rather solitary dc have come on leaps and bounds since starting. Find the right club though. Some rip off ones and over the top bruce lee wannabe ones out there!

[Leeds2]

Golf is quite popular round here for young secondary age boys. Also those indoor climbing walls.

Voluntary work. My DD started at an animal rescue centre at 13, but it was a local one off rather than a national chain which I think are more likely to have age restrictions. I know charity shops take them under 16 (not sure how much under though), but they are not allowed to use the till until they hit 16.

Could he get a job delivering the free weekly newspaper? Not sure of the age restrictions for that.

Our local library do manga clubs after school for teens. Might be worth checking if your library has something similar.

Do his friends do anything that he could tag along too? I am guessing that he might like to do some of the activities you mention but be frightened of going alone.

[TresDesolee]

I have thought volunteering but not looked into it, thank you. What's not to love about working with rescue animals...

He's not over-burdened with friends, which is why I'm contenplating being a busybody. He hangs out with some people at school but never out of school hours.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions - my list is looking a lot healthier

[Leeds2]

I found that the problem with volunteering is that they might not be old enough! Hence why we went with a "one off" place, who had to be persuaded that it would be in their interests to take DD on! She is still there, now once a month, and is 18 this week.

I hope you find something suitable. National Trust properties might be worth a look, if you have one close to you.