How do you make a 5 year old boy's day?

[Brollyflower]

Just that really . I'd like some ideas (preferably cheap and simple) for making a 5 year old boy smile.

My DS2 is 7 but what would make his day would be to buy a pack of the new England gogos (£1).

Or failing that, me to go and play football with him in the garden for as long as he wanted...

My 5yr old twin DS likes nothing more than for me to take him to bed, read him a story and chatting about his day without his twin DD inturrepting really makes his day.

Stationary always does it for ds1!
Or a trip to the corner shop to buy crazy bones.
Currently he wants to dig out a subterrranean cavern in the garden, which will be ok cos he knows how to support it with wood

Clary; the england gogos are £1.50 in our shop

I find great success with a plastic box full of TESCO cheapy craft bits (particularly double sided sticky foam pads).

The good thing about this is that the less time I have to pay attention, the more fun is had making crazy implausible 'inventions'.

What about going on a 'Bear Hunt', read the book first then go to local wooded area/park and when he is distracted hide a little teddy for him to 'find', finish off by having a picnic with teddy. Take lots of photos and make a simple book later with the photos to relive and remember the day.

Make a den out of sheets / clothes pegs / over furniture, then have a picnic inside.

or turn your bed into a pirate ship. DS loves this - even the cat joins in.

If you trust him to be alone for a few minutes if you have to pop out of the room, a bubble bath with lots of toys, empty bottle, playmobil men etc.

Making choc rice crispy cakes

Salt dough modelling (then bake his creations and let him loose with the paints next day)

Water pistol shooting gallery (set up a line of beer cans).

(If you don't do this already) Meet him from school with a favourite snack. DS used to come out grumpy, but if I produce crisps, or a cheese string (yeuch) from my pocket, he hugs me and says I'm the "Best Mummy in the World"

My 5 year old (girl but my 3 year old sone loves it too) loves it when I put the younger two to bed and say "shall we have a duvet party". We take up some food or order in takeaway pizza (her choice) get under the duvet and then read her books or play a game like what she calls "eye spy of a colour" and watch "grown up" tv usually simpsons but she loves time team as well (strange 5 year old lol). I do this every now and then because like your little boy she is the oldest of three and needs special time with her mummy.

My son is a bit younger so on his special days we just snuggle under the duvet and chat as he doesnt really like tv that much but the effect is the same .

Oh sorry mustrunmore, doubtless £1.50 here too, haven't actually bought any yet, just had lots of nagging

Mine would want to go to the local park and climb the trees.

Or fill the paddling pool and give all the cuddly toys a bath.

Cyteen

So reception here may be doing castles too, as he's all about knights right now . Visit to a castle is an excellent idea if I can find one.

Treasure hunt -brilliant ! He'll love this.

Thankss for all the ideas. MmeLindt I will cat you just as soon as I figure it out, so not tonight as my brain's fried .

My 4 year old was over the moon when I suggested we make meringue snow men together, like they did in Big Cook Little cook. That really did it for him.

Turn the living room into a giant fort and have a picnic in it,this happens at least 3 times a week in this household. A trip to a bookshop like Waterstones where you can take books into the coffee shop and I time it with the younger one's nap and we read and have hot choc.

Parcels/letters and being in charge were top of DS's list at 5 - so let him (for example) choose his dream menu for tea - or set up a "cinema" in the living room and let him choose the film.

Dinner in front of the TV makes my DS whoop with excitement!

And being allowed 5, yes five stories one after the other. 3 or 4 is not considered good enough to justify a 'whoop'.

This is a lovely thread.

I saved up a load of toilet / kitchen roll innards, gave them to my five-year-old boy with a new bag of marbles.

We've been planting things in pots - runner beans are good as you can practically see them growing.

He also likes pizza and chips in front of the telly

Nice thread..... erm... Read You're a Bad Man Mr Gum with him, you'll both be in hysterics. Eat a packet of Space Dust together. Blow up a packet of balloons, fill a room with them and let him burst them all by stamping on them - maybe fill a few with some surprises. Let him turn you into a mummy by wrapping you in loo roll.....

Aaaw this is a lovely thread - can the OP post back what you do in the end?

put together a load of different juices, water bottles, cordials, fruits to mash up, lemon juice, icing sugar, sieves, jugs, spoons etc and let him invent his own cocktails/magic potions. Then let him serve you up a tiny glass and make sure you make a big fuss about how delicious it is. Just remembered this was DS's favourite game for ages.

DH just resprayed DS3's really old bike, put a couple of flames stickers on the sides, bought new handles and a new bell (not sure it is the right name for it) I have not seen DS so exited in a long time!

All my DCs, love "big sleep overs" we sometimes during the holidays. We move the livingroom fourniture out of the way, put duvets on the floor and all spend the night together. Usually I make popcorn and we watch a movie and then play some card games (go fish or anything that can accomodate as many players as family members of all ages). On those nights we push the bedtime a bit later wich seems to add to the fun.

When DD1 was arround that age she was a Roald Dahl fan and was absolutely convinced she would love a midnight feast like in "Danny Champion of the World" .Fact is that she was so tired that she did not enjoy it one bit and was very grumpy the following day so do not try that one!.

After he went to bed I decorated his room with balloons. His face was a picture this morning . He has also chosen the menu for today.

I am going to save up some of these and use them in coming weeks. Love the 'sleepover' idea.

Yes, I might cut and paste this thread into a document for when my DS is older - lots of lovely ideas here

I remember waking up on my 4th birthday to find the room full of presents, cards and stuff. I was completely surprised and thought it was pure magic!

Make pancakes and let him toss one.
(make one, let it and the pan cool, then give to him to practise tossing - with no reference to mess)