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Help me out with fun activities for a nine year old?

4 replies

SarahAndQuack · 13/04/2026 22:35

What activities - solo and not - does your 9 year old do and enjoy?

I generally think I'm quite happy with the balance DD has. On her own she enjoys going out on her scooter and playing in the playground (next door; she can just take herself); she'll draw or paint/craft quite a bit or make kits. If reminded she will read to herself a little bit but it's usually a bit of a battle. She has some screentime which is fairly varied content-wise. With me she'll do bits of cooking or playing board games/pen-and-paper games; we'll sometimes go out for a walk or cycle or swim, and we watch things like Dr Who or whatever together so that's part of her screen time.

I just want some inspiration to vary it up. I'm really conscious she's an only child and she gets lonely; I do arrange playdates, but she goes to a tiny school and some of the children she gets on with best are always in after-school club or doing activities at weekends, so it's not as easy as it might be. This past six months I've had a real crackdown on screens and emphasis on reading books, because I think she needs it. Unfortunately, her other mum (we are not together and co-parent 50/50) has just decided she needs a phone equipped with games, and right now all she wants to do is play on that. In my house it's quite strictly limited, but ideally I would throw some new ideas into the mix to distract her!

What have I missed? Esp. if you have board games/kits etc. you really loved that are not too adult-dependent. I must admit, my heart sinks a bit when it comes to wading through the instructions on a science kit or similar - I do it, but not every week!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BendingSpoons · 13/04/2026 22:49

My 10yo currently enjoys:

  • a calligraphy set. Also some nice pens from Rymans
  • kinetic sand. It's probably targeted at younger children but she enjoys the feel of it
  • toy keyboard to make up songs on
  • potions. She has a set from Etsy or similar that you can mix to make different colours, either in the bath or just in a bowl. Easier than following instructions in science lab etc!
  • reading books on Libby, which we get free access through our library membership
SarahAndQuack · 13/04/2026 23:20

Thank you! Oddly enough she has just asked me to buy her a calligraphy set, so I'm delighted to know that comes recommended.

I don't know Libby; will check that out.

She's got a keyboard and yes, she does enjoy that (forgot to mention).

All great ideas, just what I was needing!

OP posts:
BendingSpoons · 14/04/2026 07:17

I hope she enjoys the calligraphy set. DD liked practising first and then having a focus e.g. birthday cards to write. She has also done place names and menus for a fancy meal e.g. Christmas dinner with family.

The other thing DD likes doing is making a treasure hunt, the type where 1 clue needs to the next. Obviously you do need someone to do the hunt though.

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BigBrownBoogyingBear · 14/04/2026 07:37

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