What does your 6 year old do to entertain themselves?

[indie37]

What do yours do? I've provided books, colouring stuff, paint, cd's, camera, computer but she still can't occupy herself at all and just mopes around being bored. Obviously not all the time, we do go out every day and I try and spent a couple of hours a day with just her (whilst sister sleeps), but the rest of the time when I'm doing chores, unless the tv is on, she's bored stiff.
Half of me thinks it's good for her, but is it? What do yours do at this age?

my ds 6 next week is currently playing with the box from my new hoover and paper selotape etc. Probably gonna have tears later when I point out its not staying

he is easily occupied though so maybe thats why??

mine watches way too much telly. He is addicted to a programme called Phineas and Ferb.

He does love Lego but usually needs me to guide him.

He hates playing alone.

Colouring, role play (pretends to be at school and she's the teacher with toys as pupils), tree climbing in garden, has devised a game of cricket where she throws ball against house and when it comes back she hits it... I have found the less tv she watches the better in terms of mood and in being more creative. Role on September though as I do find the hols quite long! Think being bored is good for them at times. Also I give dd tasks to do which she thinks is very grown up my fave is that she loves mopping the floor or washing up

1. torments brother
2. takes things out of boxes and puts them into other boxes or scatters them over floor
3. asks when her next TV hour is
4. draws on random pieces of paper and leaves them on the floor next to everything else
5. asks when her next TV hour is
6. watches TV
7. torments the rabbit and/or brother
8. torments me with questions about the TV hour.

As you can see there is a recurring theme. A bit of boredom is good for her IMO, she has to learn to entertain herself somehow.

Only another month and five days to go till school starts...

ha ha, loving the 'torments xxxx' comments! I was going to write that too!

Mine also plays on the computer, has recently re-discovered builing bricks/lego etc, draws and colours in, I have a girl.

when did you first notice that dd couldn't entertain herself ?
ds(6.5)has been able to entertian himself almost all day for years. i pop in and out and play occassionally, but he is too busy playing, colouring, playing with ds ( an i mean nintendo ds and also [playing with ds2), riding bike, kicking football, dressing up, watching tv etc etc.
there is so much to do, you barely know he's there if you don't make a particular effort to go and check on him, from time to time !!
whereas my niece and nephew can not and my sil has to constantly entertain them.

partly their nature. and partly your parenting ?
you spend 2 hrs with her and take her out ? and you don't think this is siufficicent ?

I also have a friend round or organise her to go see a friend every couple of days as that seems to keep them happy

Mine was the same until relatively recently (She is now 6.5). Constantly wanted attention and input even if she was colouring/doing lego etc. She seems to have improved and will spend ages playing Littlest pet shops in her room.

The "takes things out of boxes and puts them into other boxes or scatters them over floor" thing really resonates with me !

Hama Beads, however, were a great success! Hours of quiet enjoyment!

Leave her to sort out what she likes doing. DS (7) has just done some of his holiday diary for school, he was so bored

Lego, Hama beads, making dens, reading (and reading and reading), drawing.

TV is limited to about 3/4 hr a day unless we let him watch a film. He occasionally goes on his DS but isn't fussed. We go out and about but days at home, just leave him to get on with it.

Teach her to play some board games and card games. DS loves Cluedo and Uno best.

I think it's nature, rather than parenting. DD, aged 4, can entertain herself for hours with no input.

DS, same parenting, is incapable of entertaining himself for long periods of time. He doesn't do imaginative play at all.

He would be bereft if we got rid of the television. DD would barely notice.

I had assumed it was a boy/girl thing.

Definitely agree that it is nature. DS1 wasn't nearly as good at entertaining himself when he was 6 as DS2 is now.

DS2 enjoys:

Lego
Reading
Match Attax cards
Drawing
Modeling Clay
The internet (supervised obviously!)
Playing football
Riding his bike

But mainly its lego and reading.

DD has never been able to entertain herself. She reads a lot, but, apart from books and telly she doesn't really play. We had a couple of games of cards earlier on, but she got bored with that and walked away. She starts back at school next week thank goodness.

Mine is much the same as Courgette's. She makes mess, watches TV torments various pets and siblings, with a whole load of irritating noise thrown in for good measure.

Tv and Wii mostly

I do step in and turn both off at regular intervals to be met with whines and complaints