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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask for craft ideas for boys?

49 replies

UnsolicitedOpinions · 06/07/2023 19:53

My son is 13 and only interested in playing Minecraft on his iPad or watching YouTube videos of Minecraft geeks.

He also loves Lego (and has all the Lego in the world so doesn’t need any more at this juncture!).

I really do not want him to spend all summer on his iPad and so I’m looking for some sort of craft-type activity for him to do - ideally that would take a while to complete.

He is creative and is good at drawing. When he was younger he would sometimes do some sewing kits to make little felt toys etc.

Does anyone have any ideas of time-consuming activities I could get for him to do?

I was looking at some ideas that occurred to me such as D&D figure painting and those book-nook type models, but I don’t know how good those things actually are to do.

Any ideas appreciated!

OP posts:
midgetastic · 06/07/2023 19:54

I used to love making model planes and boats ( but possibly expensive - I seem to remember the kits was Christmas or birthdays presents )

OneTC · 06/07/2023 19:54

Lock picking

YourNameGoesHere · 06/07/2023 19:57

Not craft but maybe he could design and create his own comic?

Definitely recommend painting D&D figures but before getting him interested in it be aware it's a very expensive hobby.

legalseagull · 06/07/2023 20:00

Is Mecanno still a thing?

Jk987 · 06/07/2023 20:02

Same as for girls. Craft is craft!

GrouchyKiwi · 06/07/2023 20:02

Whittling

Send him to Ron Swanson to learn how to make furniture.

Warhammer figures are really detailed, so if he likes painting they'd be good. Cool nerds like Henry Cavill are totally into this kind of thing.

Jongleterre · 06/07/2023 20:03

My son who is now an adult used to live painting Warhammer figures.

I don't know if it's still around but there must be an equivalent?

Staggersaurus · 06/07/2023 20:04

Does he like Harry Potter? I got my child some amazing kits where you build the sets out of cardboard. I’m pretty sure I got them from Amazon. Also electronic sets where you have to set up circuits to get something to work.

sunlovingcriminal · 06/07/2023 20:06

If he likes drawing check out art enthusiasts online. They have guided art courses (yes online) that kids can follow to learn to draw cool stuff like anime art, but a whole host of other drawing classes too.

PurpleParrotfish · 06/07/2023 20:06

What about making stop-motion films with Lego or Plasticine? Works well with one of those mini tripods and a phone with an app, it would presumably be possible to set up an iPad similarly.

eddiemairswife · 06/07/2023 20:08

Does Airfix still exist? One son did aeroplanes; the other one military models.

CMOTDibbler · 06/07/2023 20:09

Warhammer shops usually have sessions where they show you the basics of painting figures and on how to play the game. They can be incredibly intricate and take ages to do but also very accessible in the first place

Turnthelightoff · 06/07/2023 20:09

What about doing some cooking with him too?

OneTC · 06/07/2023 20:11

I got my niece a little drum machine that you had to solder together, and bought my nephew a speaker that you have to solder together and attach to a balloon to get it to work. Both went down very well. Neither of them have ever touched anything electronic ever again afaik though

IncomingTraffic · 06/07/2023 20:11

Making pixel art video game characters out of Hama beads?

calmcoco · 06/07/2023 20:19

Get him a Raspberry Pi so he can learn coding, if he is keen on that sort of thing.

Wet felting is an excellent activity, very tactile. One of mine got very into weaving.

Original poster
UnsolicitedOpinions · 06/07/2023 20:47

Thank you for all the suggestions - sorry I got a phone call and couldn’t reply sooner.

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 06/07/2023 20:48

My switch off brain craft (and I do a lot of art/craft that requires a fair bit of thinking so I really need a 'not much brain' one!) is painting minatures.

These days you do NOT need to be into war gaming to do it, and there is a massive market of interesting miniatures to paint, most of which do not cost much (though some are 3d printed to order and you may have a bit of a wait for them!)

Have a look on etsy, and also, don't get sucked into HAVING to have branded 'specifically for miniatures' paints either - decent undercoat/primer and quality acrylics will do (so they can be thinned down to the right consistency, cheap acrylics won't thin down enough). Hobbycraft usually have some decent student range stuff that works nicely. You don't have to spend megabucks on teeny tiny pots of overpriced paint!

Original poster
UnsolicitedOpinions · 06/07/2023 20:48

calmcoco · 06/07/2023 20:19

Get him a Raspberry Pi so he can learn coding, if he is keen on that sort of thing.

Wet felting is an excellent activity, very tactile. One of mine got very into weaving.

Yes - my older child does weaving and felting - they are both great!

OP posts:
Original poster
UnsolicitedOpinions · 06/07/2023 20:50

WiddlinDiddlin · 06/07/2023 20:48

My switch off brain craft (and I do a lot of art/craft that requires a fair bit of thinking so I really need a 'not much brain' one!) is painting minatures.

These days you do NOT need to be into war gaming to do it, and there is a massive market of interesting miniatures to paint, most of which do not cost much (though some are 3d printed to order and you may have a bit of a wait for them!)

Have a look on etsy, and also, don't get sucked into HAVING to have branded 'specifically for miniatures' paints either - decent undercoat/primer and quality acrylics will do (so they can be thinned down to the right consistency, cheap acrylics won't thin down enough). Hobbycraft usually have some decent student range stuff that works nicely. You don't have to spend megabucks on teeny tiny pots of overpriced paint!

Thank you - I will have a look on Etsy. I’d only seen the Warhammer/D&D Dan’s specific paints so far so that’s interesting - I’ll have a look.

OP posts:
LysHastighed · 06/07/2023 20:50

Does your house need painting at all? At that age I painted the walls and sanded and varnished a couple of floors. Might seem to have more of a point than a craft and it’s a good life skill.

Original poster
UnsolicitedOpinions · 06/07/2023 20:51

Turnthelightoff · 06/07/2023 20:09

What about doing some cooking with him too?

That is an extremely good point and I have been meaning to do more of this - I do want to raise a man who isn’t totally feckless in the kitchen!!

OP posts:
PurplePeach62 · 06/07/2023 20:55

What about learning to use a sewing machine? If you don't have one then I'm sure you could get a cheap second hand one.
So quick and satisfying to run up a basic cushion cover, bag etc
Also second cooking

MrKenTuckey · 06/07/2023 20:57

Not exactly craft but GraviTrax keeps my son happy for some time. If he likes Lego he may enjoy it.

Original poster
UnsolicitedOpinions · 06/07/2023 20:57

LysHastighed · 06/07/2023 20:50

Does your house need painting at all? At that age I painted the walls and sanded and varnished a couple of floors. Might seem to have more of a point than a craft and it’s a good life skill.

Good idea! I used to do painting and wallpapering with my Dad when I was a child too and I really enjoyed it.

OP posts: