Solo play ideas for an only DS6

[Bet1439h]

Hi

I have a DS6, he is an only and he is very uninspired by lots of toys/activities so I’m looking for inspo if anyone has found anything a bit outside of the box that their kids enjoy?

Here’s a list of things we have tried that he doesn’t really like much:

Lego (will sit for 20 mins or so building to the instructions, but doesn’t enjoy “free play” with it or building from his imagination)

colouring / drawing - I can get him to do 15 mins or so if I sit with him but he doesn’t enjoy it so will stop as soon as he can and will
never reach for it.

action figures / cars / army figures - if I ban the TV he will reluctantly play with these for maybe 15-20 mins but doesn’t enjoy it and will moan the whole time 🤣

I’ve also tried dolls / polly pockets and “girls” type toys and had about the same success rate

he enjoys playing in the garden but only if I am with him which isn’t always practical, also loves board games/puzzles / card games but again these things need me or another player which isn’t always practical.

He does 3 sports activities during the week and usually has 1-2 play date or parties at the weekend so he does get plenty of social time and exercise, but it’s not possible to have a friend round all weekend every weekend and I’m exhausted playing with him all the time!!

any ideas for solo play?

My dc are older but allowing them to listen to music/radio/podcasts will have them playing/doing lego/drawing and even tidying their rooms for ages!

@PatienceOfEngels that's a great tip. What do your kids use to listen? Recently started thinking about this and feel very old-fashioned thinking about my childhood with my CD player (and taping off the radio before that!).

They both have a playlist on my Spotify (I close my phone so they can't mess around with it) but have been thinking about getting them a CD player each for their rooms for a while. DC1 has a phone now (12yo) with limited use per day which he listens to podcasts/music on.

Thanks I’ll try again with suggesting music, he has an echo in his room so can listen to whatever he wants but rarely uses it. Will try suggesting that again.

I feel like I just haven’t found his interests. He doesn’t seem interested in usual little boy things - eg has zero interest in kicking a football around and will only go on his bike with a lot of
encouragement.

😬

Building dens.

I saved all my delivery boxes and kitchen roll cardboard for years. Add the odd sheet/ blanket / cushion and let them loose in an unused corner of the room you use most.

Obviously solo play will involve a willing adult to visit the den, read stories in it, share milk and biscuits in it, role play, cuddle, play music, maybe even sleep …

And be prepared for it to stay up for days and days and days.

He hates role play and dens - have tried a few times! He is also not a fan of drama at school I think as it’s similar to roll play.

he is a tricky one to please 😬

thanks for the idea tho

My five year old will play with his hot wheels garage and cars and his marble run for a while. Still pretty rubbish at entertaining himself alone but these sometimes work.

Maybe he just wants your attention? My 7yo DS is the same, just doesn’t do solo play. He’ll do any number of games with me (Lego, basketball outside, jigsaws, playing with cars) but has no interest in continuing by himself once I try to escape. He even prefers to watch TV sitting on my legs! Just a bottomless pit of wanting my attention.

I’ve given up, he can come and help me wash up or whatever if he wants to hang out with me that badly. I assume he’ll lose interest in me when he’s a teenager (he already has no interest when his friends are round, ie when he has a better offer).

My son loved these when he was 6. https://smarttoysandgames.co.uk/uk/smartgames/singleplayer/pocket-games.html

also - not sure if this would work for yours and does need some supervision but this set is fun for the experiments and also to just play with
https://www.learningresources.co.uk/splashology-water-lab?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsPCyBhD4ARIsAPaaRf0tgTcccBxMVdLt7vzBO-VgDXJoVTZXo5Vzpasj0W7wLogEn7l-B2IaAgmeEALw_wcB

this keeps mine occupied for hours
https://shop.houseofmarbles.com/product/paper-planes/

But I have to agree with PP - mainly we just play together. It gets more fun as they get a bit older as you can do sport together.

Have you tried magnetic tiles? The more the better really so he can build huge structures.

My daughter is 5 and really struggles with solo play but she'll play for a while with these.

I'd invite him to help you do jobs and he may like - garden, cook, laundry etc OR he amuses himself

Ds3 is 7. He very often wants attention but the things I can think of that keep him occupied solo are:

• Marble run
• Dreamon Take Apart Dinosaur Toys (Amazon, highly recommend). They're just difficult enough to retain interest for 6/7 year olds whilst being easy enough for them to do alone.
• Bike, scooter or skateboard in the garden.
• Using dh's electric screwdriver to punch many holes in large cardboard boxes 😂

Kinetic sand? Dd still loves the sensory element of this. Puzzles - set them up as a challenge to be completed?
Could you get a catalogue like a Mulberry Toys catalogue and let him pick something to get, if you feel like you haven’t found his thing yet?
This sounds babyish but there are more advanced type sticker books which DD still loves to do - they absorb her more than drawing. Like sticker by number/ paint with stickers type books.
The thing that really helps most here though is having a kind of routine so she knows how long she has before I will play again. For example we read a book together after we get home and chat. Then I suggest an activity and tell her I will play a game with her in 20 mins, etc.