What does your 9 year old boy do at home that doesn’t involve a screen??

[MarcelineMissouri]

Ds9 has always been a bit lacking in interests but it’s got worse as he’s got older.

When we’re at home all he wants to do is play on his iPad or the switch, and if he’s not allowed he’ll literally just sit on the sofa doing nothing.

He will play with his younger brother in the garden for a bit. He reads A LOT at bedtime so doesn’t really need to do this in the day. We do play family board games. He does not like lego or drawing.

He’s at that awkward age where he’s really not into toys anymore (not that he was ever a massive fan) but like I say, his ability to entertain himself without a screen has just got worse!

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

My son still likes board games, chess, cards like Uno. He's also having piano and drum lessons so practices those (the bare minimum!) also we have chickens and he enjoys looking after them.

NB he would also sit on his Xbox all day if he could!

He'll draw or join in games if I initiate them - top trumps, dominos, playing cards etc. Some baking. We've also got a cordless mower recently. Our DS is 11, so slightly older, but that has proved very popular. He also goes kayaking with his dad in the summer.

Football
Football
Football
Football
Football

Technology has become an ingrained default position this year more than most, 11yr old boys are at prime pickings for gaming / tiktok/ YouTube.

Of you can afford the time with logistics - sports and then invest in equipment at home to support sport.
Let your son/sons set up technology to record video blogs of his performance and instruction.. maybe help develop a channel to fun his future talents

Nothing. He has ADHD and just about everything else makes him hyper. He quite likes drawing, but only when the Switch isn't available. He suggests "play outside and play with toys". And we've just waved and said hi for 5 minutes. I have no idea why!

Lego but I see your ds doesn't like it so that's not much help!

Mine will draw, and likes finding drawing tutorials on YouTube which I generously don't class as screen time! Reads before sleeping like yours. Plays in the garden, especially football. Has phases of lego. Has a brother and they do lots of make beleive which normally ends in an argument eventually but is nice while it lasts. He loves sewing and other textile type crafts but needs my input for that.

Also goes on my running machine and exercise bike!

Tuna my boys do all those things too

My 8 year old loves the beano and although he doesn’t like crafts , will draw comic strips. Nothing is attractive to him as playing on the computer though! I try to get him involved in as many extra curricular activities, music sport , Scouts etc as I can so there’s less available time to spend complaining he’s bored

We also have a small trampoline. I might try meccano as he might get more satisfaction out of things that have circuits

Reading, doing lego, drawing comics, swingball and playing with the dog.

I teach some boys of that age, they all do lots of sport and music practise ( including listening to various bands, mostly the ones their dad likes!).
Some of them are really good at Origami, some play chess, and lots of them enjoy making comics. DS3 loved Transformers at that age but it's not for everyone. DS2 was really into all kinds of art and junk modelling .

Board games, arts and crafts, Lego, card games.

Music practice (2 instruments), and sometimes will work together with his sister on a music project.

Imovies (I know this involves a screen, but there’s so much more to it - he works with his sister and friends to create the project).

He has been getting into origami recently, and rock painting. He’s made a couple of (really good) sock teddies, and at Easter made a version of his favourite toy using different fur fabrics - he was really proud of his efforts!

Oh, and goes without saying he is of course straight into his iPad or on a console as soon as he can!

Football, cycling and dog walking
Paiting and wood whittling

Our boy is 10. He loves drawing, watches TV, reads or he'll play inside/outside with his sisters. They all often choose the tablet 1st though and the teen is never off phone/tablet with no time restrictions.

Lego, reading, playing lots of make believe games with brothers, kicking a ball around outside, getting grubby in the garden, riding bike or scooter outside, play Doh or magic sand, making dens, shooting each other with nerf guns and fighting, lots of fighting

Playing with sibling
Reading
Drawing
Tennis
Polymer clay
Also did dig walking

I agree with pp that last lockdown didn’t help, first was better, going to new school in September and think sport will be a bigger factor which is good

Dog

At 9yo:

Football practice
Hornby
Lego
Art and craft stuff - not drawing or anything free form, but more grown up sticker books, mosaics, stained glass
Instrument practice
Cooking
Some chores

I suggested a basketball hoop, but he wasn’t keen