Are you an enthusiastic, imaginative parent?

[Anotherducker]

Help!

What can I do to encourage my primary aged children to come off screens? I need ideas.

They are bored to tears of walks. I can throw some money at the problem, I’m seriously considering buying a trampoline.

I can't recommend this book highly enough - some really creative games that are great for older kids/teens/adults.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1472257502/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_EmzdGbDGN561H?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Meant science

No. Mine are also 11 and 9, they like screens and bickering with each other. And pizza delivery.

Did manage to get the 9 yr old out in the snow for an hour this morning and the 11 yr old did his online rugby class under duress. Today is a win as far as I’m concerned.

Have you done geocaching with them? They might like to create and hid their own geocaches. There are some good drawing tutorials on YouTube ‘draw with rob’ is good. I mainly get mine to help me with stuff- decluttering can be quite entertaining- we went through the sauces cupboard and found which ones the Queen buys. They were very entertained. I let them make potions with the out of date dregs of jars and they gave it to DH for lunch. I also get them to make menus and place settings for meals. They like napkin folding and doing themes that match the food. It doesn’t need to be fancy.

At primary school age, mine loved treasure hunts. So you set it up with 8-10 clues each clue giving away where the next one is.

You can do code, mirror writing, do it in morse code, maths questions where the answers have a=1, b =2 etc.

Then you can get them doing them for each other, or for you. A little treat at the end helps!
Or you could have the answers giving a clue as to something you're doing later.

How about baking challenges? Or a little at home talent show 😂

Or maybe download the free prints app, print off loads of photos and get them to make memory/scrapbooks?

@Vigorothello

Top Trumps? God you’re kidding. DS3 has paw patrol top trumps and I truly thought I was going to cry. It was the longest shittest game ever. I gave him the secret hidden emergency biscuits to make him stop. And that’s how I’m parenting. With sugar.

@vigorothello ah. We don't keep going. 30 card between 3 of us is 10 each, or 15 with 2 people. That's the length of our game. None of this 'keep going til one has all the cards' shit. Ain't got no patience for that. Get to the end of the pile, winner has the most cards won.

Mine are still little so quite receptive to silly ideas and enjoy getting on board with stuff like disco bath (glow sticks in a bubble bath). That kind of treat.

Do they like food? How about coming up with a different cuisine to try each weekend that includes looking at recipes and cooking the dish?

I am a terribly drained and unimaginative parent but things that have helped

Geoaching (Pokémon go is another alternative some friends do)

Getting them to plan a walk

planning a treasure hunt that is strung out along a walk

Baking /biscuit decorating contest (sometimes I just buy Plain biscuits to decorate)

Heads bodies and legs /consequences

Family cards against humanity

Family escape room

First lcokdown I was epic for about 3 weeks then I ran out of stuff! since my Ds is 2.5 it's hard as so cold.

If this helps we did:
Book themed crafts eg room on broom.. Collected sticks. Made broomstick. Stuck on characters from book. Did grufallo forrst which we grew cress into to make the woods. Etc.
We did baking a lot and picnics, baked from items Inc bread and mini tarts. Older half siblings liked this.
Frozen stuff we did shapes and animal spotting (tracks in woods). Also left toys outside and froze them and chipped them out with tools.
Marble runs with laods of toilet roll tubes down doors.
Did shirnkies with crisp packets and made keyrings. Older ones liked this.
Modeling clay to make a farm Co. Plete with animal that were baked... To make new toys for lol doll house for older half sibling.

Generaly bike rides and football game and we got skateboards n scooters

My twins are 11 and can be persuaded to go walks if we stop for hot chocolate on the way home.

I actually got there bikes out today, sorted the brakes and tyres so they can cycle to to local shop for sweets.

Other than that, slime making, baking or leaving them in there rooms to talk to their friends on FaceTime is about my limits of enthusiastic parenting.

No.
But we are a low screen/almost no screen family. They have a house full of books and toys. And a back yard. They are welcome to entertain themselves or get bored. I refuse to provide round the clock entertainment.

Nope 👎

As in I am happy for them to moan and argue a bit (and both of those things happen) but if you refuse to provide entertainment they will ultimately get creative.

No, but they have access to baking stuff, books, a garden and toys. They have screen time in blocks - much more on lockdown, but I'm exhausted wfh and trying to keep myself sane!

Marking place
Good luck with trampoline op
I have just read they are hard to come because of shipping probs

Pizza making - including making the dough. Added bonus is that a meal is prepared as well.

Getting old toys they don't play with (or clothes) and listing them on second hand sites (and they get to keep the money as an incentive). Does involve screens but in a positive way - and you have a clear out.

Getting them to make treasure hunt for you

Flower arranging project maybe

Research family history together to create family tree (this may or may not engage them).

In same vein research house history - if you live in an old house. This maybe a bit like school work so may not work !

Good God, no! The champagne corks were popping in our house when our DC turned 11 and all they wanted was to be welded to their devices 24/7.

But we are a low screen/almost no screen family. They have a house full of books and toys. And a back yard. They are welcome to entertain themselves or get bored. I refuse to provide round the clock entertainment

This.
Fab. Let them be bored and then let them create.
They need to think for themselves ( with some ideas initially).

Something has been lost over time in that our children are 'provided' for...clubs, organised meets, extra lessons...they haven't had chance to develop their independence in thinking and acting.

Just thought, a tip given to me a a young teacher...if you have to work harder than the child, then there is something wrong with your lesson.

So an example ...my initial enthusiasm saw me make a set of shape jigsaws for a maths lesson. I spent all weekend, colouring, cutting out and laminating ( maybe even sticky back plastic back then). Took me all weekend...Monday morning, proudly gave them to a group to complete...they finished in what felt like two minutes.......of a one hour lesson....😂 I'd definitely worked harder than they did😂

Dd 12 likes baking, sewing and face paint/ make up/nails and will also join in with her younger sibling doing stuff like make a
pretend cafe with menu/playdoh food or making a den. DS 14 is into music so will spend time practising/ listening to stuff and will join in with board games plus he has an ongoing list of films he wants to see which is a bit better than mindless TV. He spends a lot of time in his room on ipad/xbox though - it's the only way for him to socialise currently. We always take the dog out at least once a day together.

My eldest son (11) and I do home spas, where we put spa music on Alexa, light candles and do treatments. Also means you get a foot massage.

Thanks for the sushi making kit suggestions and the sea dragons, both now in the Amazon basket!