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What to do at home with boys 7 and 10

5 replies

SoooExtra · 14/06/2020 13:27

This is the day I have finally run out of ideas. My 7 and 10 y/o boys just got back from the park where they ran around with my DH for 1.5 hrs. I want to spend time with them at home/in our small garden in a way we can all tolerate enjoy. In the past weeks we have cooked, baked, played every board game, endless LEGO, made slime, launched bottles with vinegar and bicarbonate, started loads of “kits” — chemistry, electricity, Knex, warhammer— that they now have no interest in completing. Also way too much screen time and CONSTANT FUCKING BICKERING.
Sooooooo what should we do today??? I’ve looked at Pinterest but no inspiration... Personally I am partial to crafts/“making” but the younger one loses interest unless it’s really messy. I am fine with messy (within reason) but I can’t even think of what to do.
(Bonus points if we can somehojw create an item that can be presented as a Father’s Day gift!)
Thank you thank you for any ideas!

OP posts:
JustSew · 14/06/2020 13:44

I came on to suggest some "wear them out" ideas but I see your DH has done that.
When my two boys were that age they were still keen on role playing games mainly involving building some kind of battlefield and using tiny "men" as they called them. The men would be anything from lego, turtles, soldiers, knights, warhammer, sailors etc.
Do you have a garden? I used to let them make a small safe bonfire - circle of stones, twigs and sticks then roast marshmallows.
Crafts never engaged them.
I used to do treasure hunts around house and garden with clues adapted for age.
I miss all that.

FruitTingleFrizzante · 14/06/2020 13:52

Some things my kids like to do...

Online art classes - great YouTube vids - outside no mess
Build models/trebuchet/catapults out of popsticks - water balloons make fun ammo
Practice their fishing casting (no hooks obvs) outside
Whittle wood (opined knives are good and kids sized - can be a bit nerve testing) but they like making slingshots
Practice target shooting (empty tins) with said slingshots... (use bouncy balls instead of stones as ammo)

Cooking on small fire (grill sausages/bread on stick/ damper)

Bluewavescrashing · 14/06/2020 13:57

We made Tracey Island type model islands using papier mache and coloured collage paper this week. No need for special materials. Killed a few hoursm

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BearSoFair · 14/06/2020 14:50

Not craft, but is your garden big enough for swingball? That's been v popular with 10yo DS2

JustSew · 14/06/2020 18:34

Bluewavescrashing you reminded me of the paper mache pinata.
Made using a balloon which you cover with several layers of paper mache leaving a gap around the top. When dry, decorate, pop the balloon and fill with sweets.
Take turns to bash with a stick while blindfold.

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