What are you doing with your 12 year olds this summer?

[pottering45]

It's a strange age I'm finding because ds is now able to entertain himself and meet friends but I'm not comfortable leaving him for full days. I work part time and have some leave but not much. I also have two younger dc (a pre schooler and a 5 year old) so quite a bit of time is taken up with them and ds has no interest in any of the activities that are age appropriate for them (understandably).

We have a family holiday booked. Ds is also going away with his dad's family for a week so that's two weeks taken care of.

I have booked a couple of days leave without the little ones and am planning a cinema trip, a day trip to a city to go sight seeing and shopping etc. But I'm kind of stumped for the rest of it. In previous years he's done clubs but isn't interested this year. We will probably do a lot of picnics in the park and swimming which we all enjoy (but will need two adults for the ratio there!!!)

He likes to read and will get into box sets. Also games a lot but don't really want him on a screen all summer. It's such a juggling act with work, little ones and him too. I always end up feeling like he's getting neglected. My ex will have him now and then and my dh has said he will take a few days working from home, not to entertain him as such but just to keep an eye out and be available for lifts or whatever. But I can't help feeling it's going to be a bit dull for him.

I'm trying to encourage him to make his own plans with friends but as much as he's too old for tagging around with mum and younger siblings, he's also a bit immature when it comes to making his own arrangements. It's already feeling like the trickiest summer holiday yet! Advice anyone?

Why not sign him up for holiday camps to try new things? There are so many good ones on for that age.

There really isn't that much locally to us and the ones he's done in previous years tend to be aimed at primary age only. He's obviously at the top end of that now and said he felt a bit daft last year as he was the oldest there. He isn't wanting to do any this year which is fine but it does leave him at a loose end some of the time.

At our local pool they don’t have to be accompanied by that age - maybe double check the rules?
Agree that 12 is an awkward age. We had some hobby specific clubs that were a few hours rather than all day, paid them to do some bigger chores like wash the car (mostly to give them something to do), got them to plan and cook dinner etc. Doing some day out swaps with a friend’s parents. Redecorating bedroom could be a big project?

Look at the local private schools and see what they have on. There's an adventure one near us with camping and overnight expeditions, coding, football, cricket, art etc. Keep looking. There are definitely ones aimed at that age group.

Where abouts in the country are you? Some universities host summer schools for teens.

Eg
Everything from fashion to video game design to graphic design to special FX prosthetics at UAL
https://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/short-courses/courses-for-teenagers/short-courses-for-11-to-15-year-old

But also it is ok for him to be a bit bored - it might be what is needed to encourage him to start making plans with his friends and putting his own social life together. That's a useful skill to learn.