What interests does your yr9 DS have?

[SemiAquaticEggLayingMammal]

I have taken the plunge and drastically limited ds1's online time. He was increasingly suckered into an online world and all his old hobbies seemed to dwindle. He still does football and rugby but that's about it!

After an initial period of denial (only an hour so not too bad all things considered) he is struggling to find what he wants to replace gaming with in his affections. I think it's a case if the world being such a big place that he doesn't know where to start. I have promised him a list of things that he can use to pique his interest with, and then maybe an afternoon at the library to see what he comes up with himself.

What does your ds do with free time? It doesnt need to be sporty or even outside the home- it's just that I could come up with a list of so many things I want to do/find out more about/ research/ learn how to do for myself and I am sad that I've taken my eye off the ball and let online stuff cancel out all his lust for life.

reads, listens to music, plays the piano, most other stuff is school related eg he's in the drama group at school and so is always either performing in a production or he's in the production team for the show.

Football
Football
Football
Plays for 2 teams, watched it, trains, constantly talks about it.

I had this conversation with friends recently. It is def a year 9 trait.

My DS has a sporting hobby snd ytains once a werk. Spends time on his xbox, his phone chatting, plays his keyboard and base guitar, listening to music and eats...constantly!!!! Hardly ever watches tv or reads.

Reads, watches TV (gets very into box sets), writes and draws, plays instruments. Watching with interest though as I have a yr6 for whom I perceive gaming becoming a problem. Keeping a close eye.

Bmx, scooter, repeat.

overseas gosh yes the eating....

He playes piano and just started guitar again , does aikido and sailing , skateboarding , football . More rarely things like indoor climbing , windsurfing , cycling , tennis . Used to do streetdance and fencing . Still does Lego and puzzles and reads quite a lot when I take electronics away , we all like to play board games . Daddy got him and himself big sailboats to race at my mil house so that’s another thing they can do together . He’d be looking at his phone or on the PS4 all the time if I don’t restrict it but I do . He had more organised after school and lunch break activities when he was younger but now school ends later and he’s got much more homework so he doesn’t go to as many regularly anymore .

Sport
More sport
Quite likes baking mainly for licking the bowl. This is quite good as a chatting opportunity if I do something else in the kitchen like ironing.

My now 10 year old does go karting, has done for almost a year. Not a cheap hobby and obviously is heavily parent dependant but both he and my DH love it. Helps that it gets them both out from under my feet most Saturdays too.

Out on his bike or scooter or down in the shed doing wood work stuff! He has a better tool box than his dad 🤣

Y10 (but young in the year).

Playing online games (majority of his free time).
Coding / programming.
Watching YouTube
Going to church youth groups but only if there will be girls there

He is my third son, so I'm not too bothered as I know they come out the other side.

Oh yes the eating ; he is a bottomless pit with food . He’s always emptying our cupboards behind my back and remains super skinny . He’s grown about 20+cm in the last two years now towers over me and he's not even one of the big ones ...

DS main love is football - plays it, reads it, watches it! At home he tends to potter around between playstation, colouring, reading, helping us do jobs and coming out and about with us. In the summer he is generally in the garden.

X box
Football
Gym & going running.

I can't seem to get him interested in much else. Watching with interest.

Y8 but the oldest in the year.
Trampolining
Boxing
Coding
Reading
Board games

My son was into music. He started with the trombone then moved on to guitar and ukulele and mandolin. He was involved in various bands - I think at one time he played in 14 different ensembles and groups and if he wasn't playing music he was listening to someone else!

Thanks all! Some fab ideas here :)