What non screen things does your 10 yr old do at home?

[Grindingcoffee]

Ds plays football, learns the clarinet, does clubs for swimming, tennis and cubs. But at home he always defaults to the tv or video games.

He’s not that interested in Lego or train sets anymore. Doesn’t like drawing. Will read but only for 30 /40 minutes before he gets bored.

Yesterday I was ill and so I though we could have a lazy Sunday. But ds spent 5 hours playing video games!!!! WhT does your 10 year old do at home that isn’t a screen? (And doesn’t need someone else - ds is an only child and I can’t play with him all the time)

To be honest mine is like yours. He will do Lego but it's so expensive so not something he gets often. Otherwise he will join in activities led by parents so a board game or he likes cooking with his dad. We have busy weekends out the house a lot with clubs so I can't get too worked up about the odd day with too much screens.

Ah so maybe I’m not missing anything obvious … we just need to go out more!

DD is 11 but she calls for friends and plays out, has a bike and a scooter, plays with her dolls, reads books and last year she learnt how to do a Rubiks Cube so spends a lot of time on that. She also plays with her pet. Tbh though she often defaults to screens especially now she's got a phone. It's hard keeping them busy isn't it?

My Ds is a few years older now, but sounds similar. At that age, he would happily spend all day on the screen if he wasn't out and about doing things. Obviously we didn't let him and other things he enjoyed were

Deck tech- those mini skateboards
Kicking a ball around in the garden
Going on his scooter on the patio
Magnetic dartboard
Nerf gun with target
He did enjoy art- but needed variety and something to follow, like a how to draw book or a paint kit
He would still play with his toy cars, if he took them on the patio and took out bricks/books to make ramps
Slightly screen based, but making amination videos, I felt was better than just staring at a screen.

He'd do far more if I did it with him, loves board games and playing nerf wars together etc... but obviously I can't always play with him, I found to extend him playing on his own, it helped if I could be near by, so he could chat to me now and again as he played. Things like doing the weeding when he's in the garden, sorting the laundry in the playroom, or reading a book in there etc...

As that sounds ok because he has all the other activities. And 30 mins reading a day is not bad. My 10 year old nephew is not sporty so only goes to social clubs but really into gaming at home. He now does coding class, and makes stop motion videos so is branching out with his gaming interests!
(he started with stikbots but now also uses super hero figures and even plasticine - so is showing a creative side ). Is this soemthifn your son might be interested in?

Animation is a good idea - thanks! It might be a half way step between screens and something less passive