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Preteens

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

What do 11 yr old boys do?

28 replies

BlogOnTheTyne · 03/03/2013 06:41

I've got two of them - twins. Left to their own devices, they'll spend the entire day at w/es sitting at their PCs. Torn away from screens, they literally can't think of anything to do with their time. They'll tolerate half an hour playing Monopoly or cards with me but soon fight/get bored.

In warmer weather, I might be able to force them outdoors - though even this is debatable.

They browse (appropriate) internet sites, watch reruns of cartoons. One does at least do lots of writing his own stories and plays on computer. The other does a bit of programming and also some computer games.

Neither is sporty. They don't have wiis or DS or X-box but do spend most of their unstructured time at PCs. Neither does model making or lego or meccano. Neither does art/crafts for fun.

What else do 11 yr old boys do? We don't live in an area where they can safely go out alone. Their friends are driving distance away and there's also an issue with friendships anyway right now, as these are breaking up/ reforming etc as they're all in senior school and more dispersed.

When they recently had 2 friends round, it was clear that all 4 had trouble knowing what to do with their time. A bit of screens, a half-hearted game in the garden but clearly even the friends were bored.

In the 21st century, if you're NOT sitting at a screen, what do you do indoors, as an 11 yr old boy - especially, what do you do if your parent/s don't have time to 'entertain' you?

OP posts:
Hugglepuff · 07/04/2013 16:37

Hi, my ds is just 12.
He needs a bit of prompting not to stick himself on the iPod or wii. But he also likes the following:
Triathlon, cross country running, swiming, local theatre youth group , and church Youth group.
He has just discovered Meccano and has begun to renew interest in the guitar. And he is just beginning to show an interest in cooking ..... At last !
Oh and he really likes irritating his dsis , aged 10!

lljkk · 25/04/2013 07:47

Ask the Dinner Ladies: "Miss, what's virginity?"
Little sods think they're so clever.

When I had a 12yo in the house, I would have said cooking & scouts.

But my 11yo did nothing else. OP's sound very busy to me already.

Have to be age 13+ for Sea Cadets, typically.

valiumredhead · 22/05/2013 11:24

My ds is 12 and in the holidays/weekends he

xbox
computer
ipod
draws/makes 'stuff'
trampoline
out on his bike
meets mates at the park
we seem to have a steady stream of kids here most days in the holidays or he is at a mate's house.
football in the garden
tennis club
plays wit RC cars a LOT

I limit screen time which helps focus his mind on things other than the xbox Wink

During the week he is so shattered after school then he just reads,watches telly, once a week he has a mate over or goes to the park after school.

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