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Original poster

what does your 8yr old DD do in her spare time?

29 replies

Sonnet · 28/10/2004 10:27

I have noticed over the past few weeks that "my very soon to be 8" DD has almost ceased to "play". This has obviously been highlighted during half term.
So, I was wondering, what do your DD'd "do" in their spare time.

She has an active school life with after school recorder and drama clubs. She goes to Brownies and has swimming lessons.
She is happy to do days out but when at home just seems t want to watch TV or read books - but TV is now winning.
When I have had a chat with her about what she would like to do with her time she says she dosn't know.
My suggestions to her today have been to bake some cakes, go for a walk in the local wood, collect things and make into a picture when we get back - she sighed and said OK then - but I know she would prefer to slump in front of the TV all day.... ( i also have 2 three year olds to amuse today so activiteies have to go accross all ages!!)
I have also had problems with ideas for her birthday as she dosn't play anymore!!

SO - what do your 8 year olds do????

Thanks in anticipation!

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Original poster
Sonnet · 28/10/2004 11:11

Anyone???

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Tinker · 28/10/2004 11:17

Well, last night my 7 1/2 year old "produced" a play. This morning she has written up said play in a book with illustrations. But this is all with the tv on in the background. She still heavily plays with her dolls. But, mostly, she plays out in the street. Oh, and she has discovered Top Trumps. But if I was able to watch my programmes I too would be slumped in front of the tv during half term. She might not be watching really, just daydreaming which is a very postive activity I think.

Original poster
Sonnet · 28/10/2004 11:20

Thanks Tinker - Wish my DD had "produced a play"....
She is now involved in her science homework mixing up different products out of the kitchen to see what happens - golden syrup has gone down well....

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Tinker · 28/10/2004 11:23

But you didn't have to watch it sonnet . Seriously, it's through necessity that she does anything because I operate the benign neglect policy a lot.

Catan · 28/10/2004 11:33

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Original poster
Sonnet · 28/10/2004 11:38

tinker - but she has just tidyed it all up off her own back!! - I understand what yo are saying Tinker and do tend to agree with you BUT maybe I have used the Beingn neglect policy rather too long!!
Thanks for your post Catan - I regonise my DD in that (minus the brothers!) - it is all that that has changed!!

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Cam · 28/10/2004 11:48

Lol at producing a play Tinker! My soon-to-be-8 dd oftens "choreographs dance routines" (her words) to pop songs or ballet music to which I'm then "invited" as the audience. Sometimes she "performs" songs as a variation (or as well!) I quite like the excuse to sit down for a bit. She is also forever making things, every room in the house is just another art studio to her. I do give her free rein with paints, glue, paper, sequins, etc. When her friends come round they still play with the hundreds of Barbies or baby dolls, or the hamster, or have "adventures" in the garden. Teddy and dolly teaparties happen regularly with real food and sometimes she is the teacher with her blackboard and they are the pupils.

Skate · 28/10/2004 12:29

Don't you all remember doing that at 8?! I did - always dressed my younger brothers up and did plays for the adults. Also made up lots of dances to Bucks Fizz tunes and Wham tunes!!

Always had clubs too - my Dad used to say 'is it the lets all wear blue socks on Tuesday club?' because I had a new one, complete with badges and membership cards, every week!

Sonnet - does your dd not have a friend that she plays with in the holidays? Another thing me and my friend used to do was play 'school' as she had a fab blackboard and chalks and her Mum was a teacher so had loads of cool school stationery!!

Maybe 8 year olds are more grown now than I was at 8?

Skate · 28/10/2004 12:31

Also, we were always outside - on our bikes or just had the toys, stationery etc outside. We were hardly ever in but then we had a neighbourhood full of kids. I guess it's harder if it's not like that where you live.

Sounds like she's found an activity in the syrup though!!

lisalisa · 28/10/2004 12:51

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Cam · 28/10/2004 12:55

Another swimming Brownie here with ballet thrown in for good measure

Cam · 28/10/2004 12:57

In fact she's gone on a Brownie trip today which includes swimming

lisalisa · 28/10/2004 13:12

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suedonim · 28/10/2004 13:55

My 8yo still plays a lot with baby dolls and prams, Barbies, dolls house and other imaginative play, as well as the ever-present cutting/gluing/painting things. (Girls should come with a health warning about the miles of sellotape they will use over the years!!)

She watches more TV than my other three ever have, which I do feel a bit bad about at times. But she loves to just come and share in whatever I'm doing though we have just acquired a kitten so he is currently the object of her affections, with dd making up complex games for them to 'play'. Last night dd went to a local youth club for 7-14yos for the first time and really enjoyed the games they played. I'm pleased she liked it as she's been through a phase of not wanting to go to anything, I suspect as a bit of a reaction to the upheavals we've had over the last couple of years re moving abroad etc.

Original poster
Sonnet · 28/10/2004 14:18

Thanks everyone - this is both enlightening and sad..
I do so recognise my DD in all these - cutting, glueing, dolls, scjools, plays etc - it just seems to have dried upa bit.
It could be lack of caompany as we do live in an isolated cottage and schoolfriends are scattered round the county.
She has two weeks for half term and I worked for 2 days this week - she was with her cousins for one day and friends for the other. I thought some time out without ocnstant companions would be good for her - maybe it is just good for me...
Today I have a friend of my youngest DD here for the day and just did not feel like packing them up in the car to collect a far flung friend for DD1 - selfish eh!!
They are cooking now and I've just nipped away for a second.
In facdt while typing this I have had a thought that maye it is me...I just have no energy at the moment, everything is an effort.
DD2 started school this term so theroetically as I only work part time I should have more time to myself - but how come I'm so disorganised, I never use to be - it is all just a big effort!!

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Cam · 28/10/2004 15:16

lisalisa, I know what you mean but for us its the Brownies that's (relatively) new as dd started last January. Ballet lessons she's had for 5 years and swimming lessons she's done since 8 months old (mother and baby initially, now progressed to a proper swimming club (they call it swimming training) with galas etc. We definitely can't fit anything else in - although she does piano and singing, those are during school day.

lisalisa · 28/10/2004 15:39

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Cam · 28/10/2004 16:13

Dd got her 200 metres swimming certificate a few months ago and also passed ballet prep grade (with honours) so she was very chuffed. I think she likes having something to aim at which these activities provide. Also, with going for so long, she has friends there and that keeps them interested as well.
Brownies, well as I started 40 years ago (and worse, my mum was the Brown Owl) it certainly has changed somewhat. The handbook used to be a plain brown book now its pink and sparkly, the uniform is trousers and sweat tops instead of a cotton dress.(Dare I say it's all slightly naff by comparison? Oh ok then, very naff)) Yes dd's pack plays games but I think this is to encourage teamwork? She has done some badges eg. Brownie history (my mum came in useful for that one!). Dd absolutely loves it, I think she enjoys the all-girls thing at her age. She also goes to Church Parade every month in uniform and her Brown Owl takes them on good outings: theatre, theme parks,barbecues etc.

lisalisa · 28/10/2004 16:22

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hmb · 28/10/2004 16:45

Formal things, Brownies and an art and crafts club, and plays the recorder and cello. We also swim once a week.

She will spend hours making anf drawing things. She plays when friends come around, but other than that it is mostly more creative stuff

Cam · 28/10/2004 17:19

These 8 yr olds do seem to have busy lives, with all their activities. I was a Brownie at that age and also a member of a competitive swimming team but nothing else. Didn't learn any instruments except recorder during music lessons at school with everyone else. My dd would go horse-riding and add learning the violin to her life if she could (ie.if she had the time and I had the money). I don't like her to be on the go every minute, its nice when she sits down and reads or watches something on tv sometimes.

jampot · 28/10/2004 17:44

well my dd is now 11 and has only in the last year-18 months ceased (or certainly curtailed) her playing. She reads loads, listens to music, watches cartoons/music channels, plays with her little brother - these can be games like getting the dolls house out and playing with Polly Pocket or beanies etc. She also likes shopping etc. I think maybe the way she plays has changed more than actual playing. Her and ds also make up games like building dens and just enjoy each others company.

jampot · 28/10/2004 17:45

Also she rides weekly and is in the school's girls football team and will shortly be going to youthclub.

Original poster
Sonnet · 29/10/2004 08:41

DD1 also does ballet and tap - so she does have a busy lfe. Cam and lisalisa - ddalso loves brownies and lol aboutthe uniform - dd's is now brown trousers with a T shirt...Her rowmie pack is great They went for a day trip to london in the summer and this term so far have een swimming for swimming badge, are producing a panto so have been busy rehersing, have een to the theatre, had a halloween party and had a painting pottery party!
DD1 is again this morning in frot of the tV - but we are all out at a friends today who live on a farm so that should liven her up a it!!

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Original poster
Sonnet · 29/10/2004 08:43

I use to have to waer a brown bobble hat with a pompom on the end when I was a brownie -

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