How do I wean DS off screens as lockdown lifts?

[Dauphinois]

Ds2 (12), like many many kids, has spent far too much time on the Xbox over lockdown, and it's become really hard to engage him in practically anything else.

Prior to lockdown he was a keen footballer, was sociable and popular, played guitar, did Cubs etc. Obviously lots of that stopped and he's become increasingly reliant on screens.

I don't want take it away completely as I know it's a huge thing amongst his peer group and it's been great for keeping in touch etc etc, but i need to encourage him back to his old hobbies and maybe some new ones too.

At present he says he doesn't want to play footie, doesn't want to restart guitar etc etc.

How can I do wean him off it without it feeling like punishment?

Watching

I should also say, he's the second of 4 kids, his siblings play sports etc without too much encouragement required. DH and I are active with hobbies and interests, so there plenty going on in our house.

No advice I'm afraid OP but am following as in similar position with my DS (10) who has become increasingly addicted to his screen this lockdown for the same reasons. I hope we manage to wean them off eventually!

Hi. Doesn't he sound like a lot of adults right now? He's had a hard time, and been lonely, and relied on his screens for company and entertainment? So coming out of that is scary. Maybe that is why he is saying he doesn't want to do football and guitar yet.
Perhaps once he gets back into the swing of school especially if they get rid of masks after Easter, and he is seeing his friends again regularly in person, he will build his confidence and get back into his live in person hobbies.
I would look at it that way rather than think of it as cutting screen time. I don't have teens yet but I used to teach them xx

Thanks for the thoughts so far. I suspect many of us will be in this situation.

At the moment he equates no screen time with punishment which is such a shame - I want him to enjoy his hobbies. There is so much more to life than screens!

My DS (5), luckily, has taken to enjoying walks along the canal not to far from the house. Once the weather warms up I'm surely we'll be out even more, but the wet weather lately has kept him inside.

Sometimes it's hard to pry him off the screen, but so many mums from his school have given their kids iPads to suck them away. Definitely don't agree with that.

Once its summer, try getting him outside in the back garden with breakfast . It's been boring for the lot of us, almost hoping he's able to go back to scool asap!