To think I shouldn’t need to constantly entertain a 10 yr old?

[JinglerJangler]

Every day that I have DD for the full day I.e. weekend days or during holidays, it’s a constant barrage of questions: what are we doing today? What can we do today? Can we go shopping etc.

I’ve organised some really lovely days out over the Christmas break but there are days when I have nothing planned & don’t have the energy to keep her entertained all day.

I can’t remember my Mum entertaining me at this age, I was just told to go off to find something to amuse myself? Are all 10 yr olds like this or is mine being especially needy?

She sounds needy tbh. A lot of them at that age are happy to spend unlimited amounts of time if possible playing/chatting online with friends.
Do you encourage her to do her own thing? Like eg 'we will do some baking at x time, you can just go and hang out until then' or 'we are going to x tomorrow so today is just a chill at home day'.

No, you shouldn't entertain 10 yo all the time. I don't think our parents were great (i.e. my mum allowed way too much TV. Telly was on in our house all the time, we were allowed to watch all those stupid soap operas etc.), but kids develop their creativity if you don't keep them occupied all the time. Is she the only child? Maybe she could meet some friends? Or read a book? I remember this was my first thing to do when I felt bored.

I was outside playing with friends and my brother most days at that age, I don’t remember my mum or dad doing things every day or even most days to entertain me, I had to entertain myself.

My younger DD was always like this. She's 18 now and we have only just discovered she is dyslexic. Apparently bright children are good at hiding it. Don't know if there is a link or not.

It's pretty normal for 10 year olds to be like this.

And it's pretty normal for parents to say "if you can't find anything to do i'll give you some chores to do - now go and find something to occupy yourself with" or "read a book".

I'm working from home today with my 8 year old. He's watching back to back Disney films playing with Lego. All he's asked me so far is for a hot chocolate.

Can you make suggestions rather than saying go and entertain yourself? Does she not just want to spend time with you, doing whatever you are? There's a million things to do this time of year, baking, crafting, wrapping etc

Sounds at the needier end of normal but normal none the less! I have a 10 yo ds and he’s happy to occupy himself as long as that involves a screen - preferably playing with friends on x box. He’s at the needier end of normal id say and doesn’t have a sibling close in age. I tend to try and get out with him once a day at least even if just local eg we did a craft morning in the local church this morning and he cycled there so a bit of exercise and fresh air. We have also done wordle and nerdle together. Can you set her up with something like crafts then dip in and out?

I’d also say my ds is needier if we haven’t had much time together and he basically just wants to enjoy sone nice time together.

Hmm I think the past couple of years have scuppered their usual steps to independence.

Maybe create an ideas jar together and then direct her to it when she asks?

Have you ever told her there's no plan and she can find something she'd like to do at home instead? I wouldn't put the blame on her yet when she's used to being entertained. She's only taking her cue from you and you can start changing that from now.

Children vary a lot and if your DD doesn't have a sibling to play with then that makes a difference. My 13yo only really entertained herself with screen time at 10 although some of that was quite creative (making home movies or Minecraft) but at 11/12 she discovered sketching and reading for pleasure and now she's out with friends a fair bit too.

My top tip would be to just include her in things you want to do (e.g. I took two of mine on a walk this morning, then we had lunch and some TV, then we got their bedrooms tidied).

We always have a list of activities that can be done without another person - craft, simple baking, puzzle books, gardening etc. Sometimes they just don't know where to start and a list on the fridge gives them ideas..

Oh, I feel this. It's like they have an internal entertainment timer that resets every 15 minutes! 😅
Honestly, I remember being left to my own devices too building forts out of couch cushions or rewatching the same VHS tape until it wore out. Now, if we’re not running a theme park out of our living room, they act like they’re bored to death.
I’ve started using a bit of a cheat code on the no-plan days: FreeCine. Total lifesaver. I’ll say, “Okay, pick something to watch while I pretend to clean the kitchen,” and next thing I know, she’s fully locked in watching some animated mystery or a new fantasy series.
Sometimes we even turn it into a mini "cinema night" popcorn, blankets, lights off zero effort, big impact. Not saying screen time solves everything, but when your energy’s at 2% and theirs is at 200%, it helps even the score. 😅
So nope, it’s not just your 10-year-old they’re all wired like that now. But hey, thank goodness for clever little workarounds like freecineapp.live Freecine download!