Is it normal for an eight-year-old to resist going out with any family?

[OnlyUsername]

We are incredibly lucky that both sets of grandparents are retired and can cover the school holidays (I work mornings). DH and I do also take time off - we went on holiday at half term so no childcare needed at all.

However, DS is now 8 and a lot of the activities both sets used to do like feeding animals at the farm, National Trust places, going out for cake even are met with whinging and strops. He doesn't want to go anywhere. He will play a board game or watch athletics with my dad and there are no games consoles over there so it isn't screen-related. My parents have him this week and I know they are going stir crazy; they have managed to get him to the park to play football with some effort.

I'm getting quite irritable with him now - even getting him to the library with us is a pain but when we get there he is happy as Larry.

Is this a normal stage? If it's likely to continue then he's going to football camp in October to give grandparents a break.

He’s growing up. My DS8 used to like that stuff too, but he wouldn’t want to do them now. Mine has done lots of football camps over the holidays. He’s absolutely loved it.

It is quite normal.

My DS is 9YO but ND and young for his age so maybe similar to an 8YO. He has started losing interest in these sorts of places and sees them more as places for his younger sister. I'd guide them to try something else with him eg trampoline parks, climbing, bowling, cinema, mini golf, go carting, fast food.