To ask what your 12 year olds (or similar age children) are up to this holiday

[Eastereggmadness]

DD (12) just announced that this Easter holiday is really boring 😭.

What do you have planned/do your kids get up to over the holidays to entertain themselves? DD is autistic and so we have particular challenges about what we get up to and she doesn't meet with friends which makes it harder. But I'd love hear what your similar age children do over the holidays to give me some inspiration of things to suggest.

She has:

• organised a sleepover with her best friend from primary (now at different schools) and asked me to take them to mini golf
• visited granny (twice)
• walked into town to buy herself bubble tea
• practised her instrument most days
• read
• planned her birthday party
• met a friend in the park but got rained on and came back home and made brownies
• dentist
• hairdresser
• cooked supper for the family (twice)
• watched lots of TV, and maxed out her hour of games time on her phone

@lilsupersparks Those are impressive suggestions.

Climbing/bouldering which she loves
Cinema
Swimming
Shopping and lunch out with her friends
Football match with her dad
Day out with family planned-maybe zoo or theme park

A bit of shopping but mainly chatting to their friends on the phone while playing Roblox.

The weather's been particularly shit but wev been bowling, for dinner, he's been to a virtual golf place, to the amusements today, hes had a sleepover with his cousin and had a friend stay over. Other than that he kicks about playing with his friends when it's dry or hel play for awhile on his pc/ps5 or occulus.

@UnlimitedCake A boy age 12 at soft play?

I have an autistic DS the same age - this week we are staying with relatives and will do beach trips, National Trust, swimming etc. and he will watch films, play Roblox etc. in downtime. Next week he needs to do some revision for exams after the holidays but he also likes going for bike rides with a friend, pottering in the garden, gaming, watching films etc. He also plays a sport with training sessions several times a week and likes board games.

He isn't great at playing with his sibling (unless Roblox). Sibling is going to a holiday club next week as we are working.

Playing with his younger brother (who’s autistic)

Thanks for the ideas.

Well we managed it into town to buy stationery for her room which she was surprisingly enthusiastic about and I've booked up to go to a trampoline park thing for tomorrow. Hopefully that will inject a bit more interest into the holidays. Still raining 😭 so having to go for indoorsy stuff.

Gaming
Dog walks
Out at the park with friends playing footy, basketball, cycling or on his scooter
Trampoline park
Visiting relatives
Trip to a zoo
Shopping with the vouchers for he got at xmas
Football camp for 4 days

Nothing unusual or particularly exciting, but it's all the stuff he enjoys

You're ideas are amazing!!

My 12 yo DD and friends still enjoy soft play!

Why has she not got any friends? My dd is autistic but has got a couple of friends (they are also autistic).

Are there are ways to encourage friendships, life without friends is boring!

• Visited and been visited by grandparents
• been for a walk and icecream in a country park
• shopping
• baking
• out for a birthday meal for a sibling
• training for their sport
• playing on computer/ phone

I need to book in a haircut and shop for new shoes for next week. 12 year old is mostly happy doing their own thing. I don't feel the need to do expensive days out.

Largely has been waking around midday, playing Genshin, Minecraft, doing a few dog walks with me, watching Ted Talks, helping me get bits together for charity (finally willing to let things like the dressing up basket go!), couple of friend meet ups later on planned. I did an egg hunt, did a day trip 2hrs drive away with a nice roast, went to Lidl nearby to see what they had for Japanese week (lots of puddings it seems!). We've got some craft boxes to do too and painting 2 walls on the way to the bedroom needs doing. There's a growth spurt going on and we need to save money for a new boiler so I'm happy to have a relaxing few weeks to be honest!