What activities do you do with 4/5/6 yr old boy?

[ArtyFartyQueen]

I'm concerned that DS is spending too much time watching TV and playing computer games so I am trying to come up with a list of activities or things we can do with DS after school and during the weekend/holidays.

Would love to hear your ideas....thanks!

Swimming is always a good one!

Trips to the park, walk in the woods, bike riding, scooting, lego, playmobil, puzzles, board games, cooking, craft kits, swimming, football etc in the garden. We try and get out in the fresh air whatever the weather.

Park, cycling, scooter.
Inside watercolour painting (less mess). Drawing, colouring in characters he likes . Duplo building the biggest towers. Building train sets. Board games like pop up pirate and snakes and ladders.

Swimming, tag rugby at local club, little kickers football, running around the park, scooting around the park, cycling around the park... Bit of a theme!

Woods, always the woods and long walks sometimes with the promise of a pub lunch, finding stones to throw in cow poo can be a great motivator ... Scootering along the seafront.

I have a 5 year old little boy a 1 year old girl and I'm currently 5 months pregnant so it's not so easy for me to go out at the moment, but I tend to be drawing lots of marvel figures at the moment and then making them into puppets, it keeps him occupied for a while! Also make a cake, at least you know you've got something yummy to look forward to after that hour

My ds is 4 after school we go to the park if its dry or he plays on the trampoline, if not, bake cakes, play top trumps or he just plays with his toys. He has swimming lessons once a week.

Weekends he does karate, then its usually swimming, park, play with friends or just plays with his toys.

He is pretty good at playing by himself and will happily entertain himself for quite a while.

Tend to just put the tv on when he needs to chill out a bit

In addition to the above, junk modelling, and trips to the library.

Bikes, Lego, books, park. Geocaching. Junk modelling a favourite, also outside den building/making strange creations from sticks which I am not allowed to throw away

Great question. Thanks for posting OP

Lego and Orchard games. Marble run. GarageBand although on the iPad allowed my ds to compose music... So more creative/something to share.
I read recently that it is good for children to get bored. Although rather painful (!), it forces imagination... I'm inclined to agree, although the whinging has to be overcome!
We have lots of raw resources like a trunk of dressing up clothes and an art cupboard near the kitchen table. I keep paints and glue in a higher cupboard.
My pre-school teacher was good on advice for what games activities were more popular too.

Hi All, thanks so much for the ideas - great ones so far that I will definitely add to my list. Keep them coming if you have anymore to share!

I didn't know GarageBand, but have just listened to a sample on line. To my mind, about AS LOW AS 'MUSIC' CAN GET!!! But if you do really want to INSULT your child, then go for it.

Or you could do what we did thirty years ago, and get him a proper Music Keyboard, at least 61 full size keys, and a tutor book, and he would be able to teach himself DECENT MUSIC! Christmas is coming - from around £100 upwards.

Fergurson - they use Garageband in my DCs music lessons sometimes. It can get quite complex.

I think teaching yourself any instrument is very hard, and only for the most dedicated.

mummytime - Yes, I don't doubt it can get 'complex' - I only saw a clip on-line, and I am sure there is a lot more to it. So often, though, things get advertised via 'head-banging' types of music, which is only a very small proportion of what's out there!

Learning the basics of an instrument is much easier these days, as there are many tutorials, demonstrations, and advice on-line to help a beginner get started. Once started, if a student likes it, they can consider lessons or more serious study.