Activity books for an 11 year old ?

[holidayfever2024]

Wasn't sure where to put this -
Ds is heading to year 7 next month and is totally disengaged from reading etc .
I remembered he used to love activity books as his unwinding for bed activity and thought I could try that if I can find the balance of fun / learning .

Anyone got any idea please ?

Not sure which country you are in but this book company, Usbourne, might have some options for you. Lots of activity and factually interactive books.

https://usborne.com/gb/books/browse-by-age/11-13-years

Might he like books on science or animals etc instead

My DS went off fiction at an early age but engages well with non fiction

He's 18 now and likes to read books on history and philosophy

I wouldn't dismiss the internet

It's been a fantastic source of knowledge for my DS. iPads only came out properly when he was 5 ish but he's used it as a source of knowledge

But yes DS loved Usbourne books and actually had a brilliant activity one that helped teach him to read and write quickly age 3 before he started reception

Your DS would probably be too old for them now but I guess they'd have more age appropriate books

Buy a book on something he's interested in

Sport, autobiography on someone he's interested in

Browse your local library or use their online library like BorrowBox where you can also borrow magazines etc

Thanks all will have another look.
Sadly I really have tried everything and we have hit a really depressing brick wall he just will not read . I nave posted on here loads of
I have a bookworm DD and a house full of books but he is just not having it!
Hoping new school will somehow help!
Thanks all.

My DS went through a period of not reading at the end of Y6. He got a book for Christmas called “The Final Year” by Matt Goodfellow. It’s an easy read, written in poetry about a boys final year in year 6. Parts are quite hard hitting but he absolutely loved it. Since then he’s read loads again, including all the hunger games books. I would really recommend trying “The Final Year” if you can.

I feel your pain! We're in Scotland and last year my son went into S1 (first year of big school). He would never choose to read.
His only English homework was to read for 20 mins a day. All the kids had a reading level and each book would earn points to maintain or improve their reading level, depending on the diffucilty. It's all done on an app that DS has access to.
It's been a nightmare but maybe partly down to DS's personality (he wants to read books that get big points even if it's deathly boring to him!). He's got a bit better as he has discovered what style of books he likes (mostly fantasy type stories) but it's still a slog.
No advice, just solidarity.

I’d recommend ‘What If?’ by Randall Munroe. Or cartoons (Asterix? TinTin? Calvin & Hobbes). All massive hits with both DSs.

Thanks all sorry I went on holiday and got caught up in all the back to school stuff I am only just coming back to this.

I think I will try a couple of these ideas he did love Dog man at one point but we didn't really ever get beyond that !

I guess I just need to hold out hope something will click with him eventually

What about Cluedle? Murdle but for children, lots of puzzles leading towards solving a crime.

What about something like Murdle? Cluedle is the younger version.

Anything by Randall Munroe if he likes science/thinking about stuff

Comic books?
Corpse Talk (history told by the dead - very funny & my kids actually remember the history from them)
The Olympians (Greek mythology)
Five worlds/Wynd/Amulet - adventure stories.

What about the national geographic books- either the books of facts or the almanacs? They have so many fascinating bits of info but and you can dip in for 2 mins or read for ages.

Looks great worth a try !

Thanks I nave added these to a basket to show him.

Just seen more replies as I came on to respond to PPs
Some really great options here thanks I will put my frustration to one side and give some a try

Thanks for this idea I live in hope - we have tons of non fiction from previous efforts and not once has he read on!

He skim reads so often doesn't absorb much anyway when it's factual
Infuriating.

What about audio books or podcasts? Would be draw, do sudoku or wordle or something like that before bed? Graphic novels? Does he like being read to? Does he like a wander round water stones? What if you gave him £20 on Amazon and said you must spend it on books, what would he buy?

I totally get it. I'm a bookworm with two not particularly bookish children for different reasons and it feels like a character judgement almost.

Not really an activity book as such, but would he give a word search book a go?

Otherwise, I would suggest a Guinness Book of Records or Beano annual for his Christmas stocking!

Or, maybe, would he engage with a cook book, and actually follow the recipes?

The USBORNE puzzle adventure books are great. If you get the younger/easier ones so the reading isn't challenging then hopefully he will enjoy them and you can progress to getting the ones for older ages.

Also choose your own adventure books are great. You get a choice of what the main character does and turn to the page for the option you pick. Good fun. I had one as a kid can't remember the title but I spent ages rereading it because I kept dying and wanted to get out alive. It was definitely not a girly book lol

I've resorted to saying no iPad if you haven't done some reading today for my boy. Dd devours books happily but ds would rather do anything else and the more I pushed the worse he resists. So now I don't push reading is completely optional but there is no screen other than weekend mornings when I'd rather not be woke at 6 if he's not made a token effort to read

Thanks for the ideas and solidarity, I can honestly say I have tried all of that spent a fortune plus wasted time on library trips that result in overdue books etc !
Nothing has stuck.

I find it so frustrating that last term and over summer holidays I decided we both needed a break from the negativity around reading so have stopped all efforts and need to start again as he in year 7 and not where he needs to be.

Thanks he enjoys word searches up to a point but not so much at bedtime.

He has Guinness book of records every year for the last few Christmases but I don't think he reads much of those any longer he just looks up Lionel messi and then gets bored.
I think this is what makes me sad there seems to be so little enthusiasm for what's next / what else can I learn - it feels like a Gen z mindset that all knowledge is on demand and doesn't need to be acquired/ retained.
I know that's a bit of a leap / spiral but it worries me!

Have added Beano to list

I found 11-13 a difficult age as lots of books are either too young or too old. DD found refuge in historical biographies and mysteries until she moved to more Young Adult/older teen books.

You could give ebooks (via the library on a tablet) a go, audiobooks, again most libraries do them, Spotify maybe or an audible trial, podcasts about whatever he is interested in.

I would encourage him to investigate the library at his school, DD's had a fantastic librarian, they actually had dedicated lessons in there once a month and she found all kind of books she wouldn't have looked at otherwise.

I just came back to update - he is enjoying the two books they are reading in class - Dracula and Wild Robot.
( I had already bought wild Robot for him a while ago and he showed no interest in reading it!)

Anyway I am quoting your post as he just told me at bedtime it's the 'layout ' he often doesn't like and then told me he read a book last term he loved and it was 'The Final Year' !
It was so lovely hearing him enthuse about a
Book!
I need more like this but so many good ideas on here.