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Original poster

What nice bonding things do you do with your late primary aged boy

32 replies

JennyTals · 05/05/2025 09:54

Love my ds dearly, but he’s more of a closed book, ask him about his day and he will reply yeah it was ok ….
I’ve googled up ways to t egg and get home to open up more and try and ask open questions rather than did you have a nice day ? Which will always be meet with a yes

we do enjoy art music films together
both live animals
but I’m just trying to think of ways to connect more
he loves gaming like most kids his age but can only do that so much
so anyway just looking for a few ideas to make the most of my time with him

OP posts:
InigoJollifant · 05/05/2025 09:56

I know what you mean, my Y5 boy is pretty self contained. And as he’s the youngest of 3 in a busy family I worry it’s very easy to overlook him. His preferred activities are active ones so don’t always lead to conversation either.
we like playing games together - at the moment Qwirkle, Blokus, Mastermind, Genius Cube, various card games,

Ineedpeaceandquiet · 05/05/2025 09:57

I used to take my son bowling or hit 50 balls at the golf driving range.

Food is always a winner for bonding too 😁

Original poster
JennyTals · 05/05/2025 10:01

InigoJollifant · 05/05/2025 09:56

I know what you mean, my Y5 boy is pretty self contained. And as he’s the youngest of 3 in a busy family I worry it’s very easy to overlook him. His preferred activities are active ones so don’t always lead to conversation either.
we like playing games together - at the moment Qwirkle, Blokus, Mastermind, Genius Cube, various card games,

Yes it’s that to a t, I also worry he could get over looked as the youngest

yes some games would be good, have have many but one he loves uno, I do get bored of quite easily
I’ll check out the games you suggested

OP posts:
Magentaflies · 05/05/2025 10:02

Just spend time with him. Lots of it. Quantity is more important than quality, I have learnt. My son (12) recently said one of his happiest memories was when we were in town and we sat on the floor in a small park in a sunny spot chatting whilst we waited to go and catch out train home.

Chatting in the car, cuddling on the sofa whilst watching television, hanging out together reading books, sitting in the garden. Just anything. All these things create opportunities for him to chat. They are times just to enjoy being close together. I regularly tell my son how much I have enjoyed time I spent with him too. And I mean it.

Original poster
JennyTals · 05/05/2025 10:03

Ineedpeaceandquiet · 05/05/2025 09:57

I used to take my son bowling or hit 50 balls at the golf driving range.

Food is always a winner for bonding too 😁

yes golf could be a winner

bowljng we both enjoy
guess that’s the sweet spot we need things we both enjoy

2 years ago I took him on holiday just us, well 3 nights away
and it was so special my most fav memories of just us two
So perhaps I can do that again

OP posts:
Original poster
JennyTals · 05/05/2025 10:05

I could try and find some animal experiences for us to enjoy too

he’s the quietest one in the house and i don’t want him overlooked

OP posts:
F1rugby23 · 05/05/2025 10:07

Bake/Cook together, board games/cards, walk with a trip to cafe with coffee cake, badminton, family friendly pub quizzes.

Hoppinggreen · 05/05/2025 10:09

I got very into Marvel films for my DS and then as he got older Anime and then he decided he liked my crappy horror films so thats our thing now.
We also go to watch a sport he plays together.
I think they key thing is not to force anything as he hits the teen years and just do little and often

EnglishGirlApproximately · 05/05/2025 10:09

Me and DS started going out to breakfast together every Saturday when he was about 9, to a place with board games. He's 13 now and we still go most weeks - cinnamon buns and a board game and time to chat before the business of the weekend kicks im. I really value that time, especially as he gets older and more independent.

Loubylie · 05/05/2025 10:12

If he likes animals you could look at the Cinnamon Trust. Walking dogs for elderly people who can't. Perhaps something you could do together?

sandgrown · 05/05/2025 10:12

My son and I had the best conversations while simply walking the dog . We always did the evening walk together and I think he opened up more because he didn’t have to make direct eye contact . We also started watching the local football team together (he is in his 20s now and we still go !)

LittleLabrador · 05/05/2025 10:14

Mine will chat to me while we walk the dog or sometimes while he’s playing his game and I sit next to him. I try and take him out one to one when I can and we chat on the journey there too. Mine is 12

CurlewKate · 05/05/2025 10:15

We used to go out to lunch together (one thing Spoons is good for!)

CurlewKate · 05/05/2025 10:17

His dad and I used to take turns taking him to football on a Saturday. Sitting beside not in front often helps communication. That was an hour with each parent every Saturday.

Original poster
JennyTals · 05/05/2025 10:20

I’m also thinking of getting dog in the near future

OP posts:
menopausalmare · 05/05/2025 10:23

My son loves being outdoors, particularly woodland walks. He is quite chatty and animated when observing nature. Any woods/ nature walks nearby?

OrangeAndPistachio · 05/05/2025 10:37

It's tricky with boys that age. I used get a babysitter for my daughter and take my son bowling or to the cinema. He also loved going out for burgers or hot chocolate at that age. It's nice that you're looking for ways to connect with him.

My eldest son is in his 20s now and he still remembers which films we saw together and the meals we ate just the two of us , so it's definitely worth the effort.

Comedycook · 05/05/2025 10:39

When my ds was that age I bought a table tennis set and set up the net on the dining room table, we used to play table tennis together most days.

MimiGC · 05/05/2025 10:46

Reading Harry Potter aloud together, each taking it turn to read a chapter.

Original poster
JennyTals · 05/05/2025 10:55

Yes we have woodlands and countryside nearby

good idea about the simpleness of a hot choc a good bit of one to one time would be really good

OP posts:
Whatwouldnanado · 05/05/2025 10:57

Cinema, cooking dinner, walks. Year six grandson has a few shares in his name and loves checking them with his dad.

HAF1119 · 05/05/2025 10:59

If he loves animals maybe put bread out once a week in the garden for the birds and see if you can name all the birds that come? Sounds lame but mine loves that on a weekend :)

Original poster
JennyTals · 05/05/2025 11:12

Loubylie · 05/05/2025 10:12

If he likes animals you could look at the Cinnamon Trust. Walking dogs for elderly people who can't. Perhaps something you could do together?

This is a fab one

OP posts:
SkeletonBatsflyatnight · 05/05/2025 11:17

Play board games, go for a run together, sometimes I'll sit with him when he plays a computer game.

olympicsrock · 05/05/2025 11:19

I enjoyed going to a village fayre with my year 5 son. We walked with arms around each other, looked at the stalls , chatted , he had an ice cream , chose fudge / cheese etc.

We play garden cricket, bat and ball , catch etc too