ideas for things to stimulate my year 2 ds

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My ds (7 and in year 2), has always been happy to go to school until very recently, when he has started making up various ailments. Finally got it out of him today that school is so boring, topics were much more interesting last year, etc. I asked him if everybody was being friendly and apparently they are, he is just bored.
He is coming home in a bit of a glum mood and when he goes to bed he is not remotely tired so stays up reading for hours (in the end we have to remove books from his room). Last week he read 9 books.
I need some ideas on stuff for him to do after school to tire him out physically and mentally. He is not into sport, there is no Beavers locally, i do not have a car and money is a bit tight!

He is so enthusiastic when we take him to science museums etc.at the weekends, that it is great to see. I would love to bring a bit of that into his day to day life.

What about a long term project? Like building a 'landscape' for his Lego... think paper mache covered hills, space building out of cardboard boxes.

What are his favourite toys? Trains / playmobil? Does he have them set up or do they have to be tidied away?

Ask him to help you do the cooking.

Does he get any homework?

I mean does he have them set up so that they are easy to go back to and quickly 'get back into the game' after school. I find if things are packed away then children almost forget they are there. I know it's more untidy but....

Thanks for replying. I do tend to tidy things away. He really likes lego and is creative so the landscape idea may be good.

Music lessons? Can you play board games - my DS loves Monopoly especially being the banker (I hate monopoly but heyho!)? I've also taught him some simple card games.

Obviously I don't know your DS but "bored" sometimes means "the work's too hard and I can't do it" - is it possible that this might be the case for him?

More playdates if he's not overwhelmed with homework?
Go swimming?

redskyatnight, he is doing really well academically at school and is doing level 3 work. I don't think this is too much for him, but it may be less fun than it should be in year 2?! (don't really know about these things).
Play dates he would enjoy. It is laziness on my part that stops me doing them.
He would also enjoy board games.

Get him one or more of the experiments books - this one is pretty good: www.amazon.co.uk/100-Science-Experiments-Georgina-Andrews/dp/0746057571. You could buy them or pick one at your library .

I second the card games. Our girls r + yr2 love playing rummy, dd1 can play without help and it is really good for strategic thinking, and packs away small. Can teach patience too if you want him to occupy himself unsupervised. They also like go fish, snip snap snorum and beggar my neighbour, but some games need 3 or more and some are just luck. Monte carlo here we come!

Great ideas. I have just ordered the 100 Science Experiments book. He will love it! I think i need to gem up on card games - i don't know any really.

DS (6.5) is now year 2 and is finding it wonderfully interesting compared to Year 1. That said, he lost his golden time yesterday because he was talking - with a bit of digging it seems that this was after he'd finished what he was supposed to be doing and when he didn't have anything else to do - so we're working on getting him to ask for more.

After school - experiments are good and you should be able to get a book or two from the libarary. Can you take him somewhere he can cycle or scoot safely for 20mins after school - or kick a ball around? Get some fresh air and excercise? Ds likes doing sodoku puzzles - he's on the 'easy' ones for adults and happily does those with a bit of a steer.

Cubs/Beavers or similar? He might enjoy earning the badges and being able to explore different topics.

I wish they had beavers locally but they don't. He would really enjoy it.

Sounds a bit ambitious but could you see if you can set up a beavers, either at school or local church hall, or maybe by the time you get it organised cubs? Not sure how to go about it, but maybe contact the organisation and see what you can do. I wanted an active toddler group for my son (2); although there are lots of toddler groups in village, they are mainly of the coffee and chat leave children to squabble play. Although I like them I also wanted somewhere for him to run off some energy. I got together with a few likeminded parents, we planned some activities and it has gone down really well. It is a commitment but if it gives your child a positive focus it is worth it. Generally places on these thing are like golddust so you will probably find other local parents who would appreciate it. If you're not sure on numbers, make it appealing to boys and girls.

Oh and for the altogether less ambitious option of card games, we have chambers card games for families which is generally fairly clear, available on amazon, and great for rainy days etc on holiday. If you don't know many prepared to be beaten, they pick these thing up quickly. Thinking of trying out multiplication rummy to help with time tables.

I really want to thank you all for your fantastic ideas. We had a great weekend. Ds LOVES monopoly and was so enthusiastic. It has reminded me of all the other board games we can play that i used to love (will get them when i see my parents). The 100 Science experiment book has just arrived which is amazing. Dss friend is coming for tea tonight, which i am sure he will enjoy. Ds has also decided he is going to write a magazine to sell to his friends. So for now, i feel like he has plenty to do. BIG THANK YOU.