Bored Boys

[Marzi25]

Hello, I have two boys 9 & 13. We are currently living in a caravan as we are renovating our house. Our belongings are boxed up n we are living a simple life for the next several months. Money is tight.

My boys are bored! It's very hard to entertain them. We limit xbox /tablet time. Once they are off, they are bored! Even a film seems to bore them, that's if we can decide on one!

Going outside seems to last for 5mins! Unless I'm there to encourage.

Any ideas on how to kick boredom, we struggle between tea & bedtime. 13yr old likes football but seems to find it hard when 'no one' is around to play. 9yr old has friend issues, has no real hobbies, not really into kick a ball/bat a ball - he gives up easy!

No room for board games (boxed up) & lockdown exhausted them!

TIA

[coodawoodashooda]

Leisure centre

[grxxxx]

litter picking !
seriously , it’s out in the fresh air , good for the environment, excellent exercise

[Xiaoxiong]

As in, go to the library and borrow a pile of stuff. Our library even has graphic novels, magazines, etc.

When kids are bored enough they'll read anything, the back of the cereal box, the dictionary, whatever.

[Xiaoxiong]

Library?

[Mossstitch]

I would agree on not limiting xbox/tablet time whilst in the caravan (3 sons myself who were all glued to computers for hours on end at that age as I was working a lot, all grown up into responsible adults with good jobs😂). But look at things that use their brains more than 'shoot em up' style games, like scrabble, wordle, solitaire, chess or mine had games where they had to solve puzzles to proceed or role play games as well as a lot of football manager games which actually involved maths ect. Just because something is fun doesn't mean it can't stretch their brains as well as entertain. Also agree that darts, for some strange reason🤷, seems to appeal a lot at that age even if needs to be outdoor set up as your in a caravan. I had a wall covered in tiny holes but easy enough to rectify later.

[MissLucyEyelesbarrow]

TBH, I would probably relax on the screen/X box time while you are in the caravan.

But I'd also say that it's not your job to entertain DC that age - they have to learn to entertain themselves.

[Hellocatshome]

Can they enrol in martial arts classes or similar? The ones my DS went to were only about £2 a session and 6 until 7 so filled in the between tea and bed time quite nicely.

[Fishandchipstwice]

Dart board definitely. We got one in lockdown and it was a life saver!

[MotherOfMonkeys0]

Do they have bikes or scooters? Mine enjoy setting up obstacle courses for each other. If not, chalking obstacle courses on ground/ pavement
Water balloons
Kerbie - stand on opposite pavements on a quiet road and take turns at trying to hit the opposite kerb with a football for points
Rummikub, Uno, Monopoly
Drawing/ craft tutorials on Youtube

[LocalHobo]

That sounds difficult. Are bonfires out of the question these days? A bar-b-qued supper?
I'm afraid after homework was completed I saw x-box/PlayStation as the next activity.

[fruitypancake]

Boule

[Comedycook]

Put up a dart board? You can get ones which aren't sharp and are better for kids.

Do you have a table? You could get a table tennis kit for it.

Have they played Uno? Its just a few cards...won't take up much room

[fruitypancake]

Sounds tricky. My boys are similar ages.. pack of playing cards ? Tv series they will both enjoy, get them involved in cooking dinner, cake baking, walk/ run/ bike ride .

[Mosaic123]

Probably best with younger kids but fun on a hot day.

You need a bucket of water, paintbrushes (don't have to be good ones) and a patio or fence.

'Paint' the patio with the water using the brushes. This can include slogans, pictures, names, noughts and crosses and so on