How do you do spend time with your tweenager?

[Suesuebarneymcgrew]

I realise this probably sounds quite silly, but I’m really struggling for ideas for things to do with my 9 year old DS. We used to spend lots of time at museums, National Trust places, play farms or just going to new areas & exploring the bookshops/cafes. But obviously as he’s getting older he’s outgrown many of these things & I’m often at a loss for what we can do together. I’m well aware that in the blink of an eye he’ll be old enough to do his own thing at weekends/school holidays so I want to make the most of our time together, but with half term coming up I’m at a loss as to how to fill our days.

I should mention that he’s an only child and has loads of play dates & is also plays in sports teams etc. so that’s covered, but I’m really looking for ideas for things to do just the two of us. Thank you.

I get where you’re coming from. DS is nearly 9 and wants to spend all his time playing or watching football and that’s very much DH’s department! I mean, I’ll happily listen to DS chat about it, but it makes no sense for me to kick a ball with him or take him to matches when DH is actually good/interested and I’m not.

DS and I have bonded over puzzles (we learnt to solve a Rubik’s cube together) and a bit over music. But at this age I think they naturally begin to want to spend more time with their friends and I too would struggle to fill a whole weekend just me and DS.

What is your DS into?

We go to a bouldering centre that runs family classes (and also kids classes when I just want to sit and drink coffee). We love the beach, I cheer while they get in with wetsuits to swim, boogie board, catch stuff. Sunday am cinema with breakfast popcorn. Bike rides.

In the summer we go paddle boarding/kayaking on the river.