6 year old lost interest in books/toys

[hamsandwich3785]

My just turned 6 year old boy used to love having books read to him, when he was little he would bring me book after book to read for hours. He is just about to go into primary 2 so is learning to read and is doing well but apart from a short book just before bed he has no interest in looking at books or being read to at all. His little brother of 3.5 is the same but hes never really been a book lover. We have plenty of books in the house (kids and adults) and I make a point of reading my own books in thier company to set a good example.

Also he never plays with toys. I recently had a big clear out and gave about 50% of what we had away but honestly I could have gotten rid of everything except Lego, teddies and some foam swords and I doubt he would have noticed. If hes not watching TV hes jumping about making funny noises lost in his own wee bubble. Him and his brother never play together either. I read a lot of home schooling blogs and the kids seem to spend all day looking at books, investing things and building elaborate wooden block scenes. I know you need to accept each child for who they are but I'm just worried Im doing him a disservice somehow.

Sorry if that was a bit too long!

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

Get him some comic books or snippet style books...the sort with boxes and pics for the story. Limit the TV to one hour a day. It's not easy when they're in the habit but it's not good for them.

[Ferguson]

I am glad he still has Lego and teddies; not so keen on swords personally!

At six our DS had been playing on our electronic organ for several years, and was reading music (more-or-less teaching himself from tutor books) and making up his own tunes, or playing tunes 'by ear'. He also played recorder at school. So if you can afford £100 or more for a Keyboard, ideally at least 61 full-size keys, that could open up a lifetime of music-making for him, and entertainment for you.

We were also given a primitive cassette-loading computer, which he learned to program.

This was all twenty-five years ago, so you get vastly more for your money in computers and Keyboards these days.

[capecath]

I would suggest cutting out tv and electronics completely for a while. I find if my boys (5 and 3) watch to much they forget how to entertain themselves and also play together. Let him get bored and see what he does! You could try playing with them with his toys, even if you try lots of different things together for a short while each, see what catches his fancy, might help spark his imagination. I don't think it is necessarily a bad thing if he is in his own bubble, that still counts as play. Could you see if he wants to join in with whatever you're doing around the house as well?

[hamsandwich3785]

Yeah I do try to keep a check on screen time, this is something my OH and I don't quite see eye to eye on but that's a whole other thread in itself I think . I actually considered telling them the TV was broken to see what difference it made but I'll try to preserve with keeping it to a minimum at least.

Ferguson - it sounds like your son might have been quite musically gifted. We had a cheap kids keyboard bought in the Xmas sales but they had more fun playing with the stand than the keyboard itself. We also had a go at the recorder but he just wasn't really interested.

[hamsandwich3785]

Sorry meant to add that my younger sons catchphrase is 'I can help with that' which is why I'm not so concerned about him he just seems that bit more engaged whereas the older one couldn't give a scoot about giving me a hand even with something fun like baking cakes.

[noblegiraffe]

My 5 year old likes lego so has been very happy reading lego magazine, they've got Star Wars, Ninjago, Chima and I think Jurassic World ones so they might be worth a shot to get him reading. He also loves the Roald Dahl audio books.

If he likes screens and you want him to do other stuff, the Colour Alive colouring books where a phone app makes your coloured in picture come alive off the page are quite cool.

Bubble mix in the garden is always a hit.