Depressed 11 year old

[Aymd]

Is anyone else struggling with 11 year old boy not wanting to do school work, being disruptive rude and depressed? I feel like calling it a day with the learning for him but have to keep it going because my 8 year old is doing really well. I'd love some ideas... I really don't know what to do!

We had it during the last lock down. Not sure what to advise. We tried playing games at home, going for fresh air and do more fun activities. But it was heartbreaking to observe an otherwise most well behaved child so stressed.

Could you instead teach him to cook from scratch, learn how to plant seeds, prick out, repot and pot out into garden over next few months, get him reading about plants. Let him decide what veg he wants to plant etc. which would involve research. Does he like to code? If he can't cope ATM with online learning would he watch YouTube clips on nature. My son was watching something about King Penguins and was really interested in it. My son has been working on his DofE. He has taught himself to play chess as his skill, been recycling and litter picking for his volunteering and running around lake (2k) got his physical for Bronze Award. He can't do the expedition until safe to do so.

Cycle or walk daily together. Arrange for him to meet a friend for a walk as a reward

Ask him to plan his day with you.

@caringcarer

Could you instead teach him to cook from scratch, learn how to plant seeds, prick out, repot and pot out into garden over next few months, get him reading about plants. Let him decide what veg he wants to plant etc. which would involve research. Does he like to code? If he can't cope ATM with online learning would he watch YouTube clips on nature. My son was watching something about King Penguins and was really interested in it. My son has been working on his DofE. He has taught himself to play chess as his skill, been recycling and litter picking for his volunteering and running around lake (2k) got his physical for Bronze Award. He can't do the expedition until safe to do so.

Thankyou, those are great ideas. I'd just bought some seeds for our vegetable patch and was going to do it myself but I'll get him helping.

@Porridgeoat

Cycle or walk daily together. Arrange for him to meet a friend for a walk as a reward

I've been meaning to get our bikes out - thanks for the reminder!

@Porridgeoat

Ask him to plan his day with you.

Of course! That's what I do with my team; it works really well when they take ownership. Great, thank you

@Bunnyteam

We had it during the last lock down. Not sure what to advise. We tried playing games at home, going for fresh air and do more fun activities. But it was heartbreaking to observe an otherwise most well behaved child so stressed.

It's really hard, but there are some great suggestions below - I hope you're getting on ok now?

Oh and give him quality 1:1 time with yourself daily.