how to keep 12 year old constructively occupied for long summer holiday?

[stitchtime]

he breaks up three weeks before younger siblings. and we are going no where this summer. and no family coming to visit. i dont want im spending 9 weeks either in front of tehe telly, or games consoles.
does anyone know of anything he can do consturctively? if older, they can do things like volunteer at farms and stuff. can anyone point me in the right direction please.
tia

are you at home with him?
My ds is 13 and I try to set a project which will be spread out, for example last year we worked on his hornby board, included some shopping trips, some pc time and modelling making scenery etc. Stuff we can do together or I can set him up and go off. This year planning to get him helping build raised bed for vegetable planting in the autumn.

School friends around in the 3 weeks or is he boarding?

There are usually things going on at leisure centres, sports clubs, libraries and museums - you would have to ask around locally to find specifics. I know a lot of volunteering you need to be 13 for, but I wonder if something like 'adopt a granny' might work?

he's a day pupil, but since most people live so far away, he never interacts with them outside school. i would love for him to, but, he's not that bothered.
those are good ideas. get him involved in some sort of diy or craft project. will have to think about that.

Giantleap's project suggestions are good - mine stained the garden furniture for me at that age & they love it if you let them re-paint their bedrooms.

thanks snorkel, i will look into it. for him, that would be partciularly good, as he has almost no interaction with older folk

Get him involved in creative domestic activities - cooking, gardening, DIYing etc. You have to identify something that he is genuinely going to gain satisfaction from, whether it is sorting out the garden shed or becoming a whizz at making salads...

we did the cooking during easter holidays. although not as much as he would have liked, as he needed to do loads of revision. but thats finished now. so cooking is one of the things on my list. he likes making stuff.

I can't imagine a 12 yr old boy would be that enamoured with 'adopt a granny scheme' would they??

Have you a video camera? How about making a film or something ?

At 12, with a good cook book full of tempting photographs, he can teach himself mostly.

at that, BonsoirAnna. Depends how good ( and safe) his skills are, though I'd always encourage anyone to cook- but not necessarily alone.

Have you talked about it with him,stitchtime, and found out the sorts of things he'd be up for? Despite his schoolmates not being local couldn't you invite one over for the day occasionally - it can be more fun than being on your own for the whole time.

I remember my older son ( who has AS by the way so not the greatest socialite!) making a 'film' with a school chum when they were about 12. It involved lots of complicated lego constructions, an even more complicated story and some hilarious videoing. Kept them occupied for ages

My DSS1 (just 14) comes home for lunch (rather than eating at the canteen - he can make himself all sorts of things. DSS2 (11) is going to start doing the same from September.

campion, that sounds like loads of fun. unfortunately, no video camera, unless you count webcam built into my laptop
he has very good cooking skills. uses the oven himself. and on scout camps, they always do their own cooking. i have just never left him alone in the kitchen with burners,however. and at easter, when i handed him the sharp knife, he was rather schocked, but used it safely. however, i dont think iam ready to let him loose in the kitchen on his own, just yet.

i;m happy for his friends to come over, or for him to go ther. am happy to drive him, direct him to bus routes etc, but not yet ready fo rhim to use the train. he just doesnt seeminterested or bothered.
he has got scout camp to look forward to, end o f july..

What does he want to do?

Are there any sports sessions at the local leisure centre? Or you could try looking at your local council's website - ours has tons of stuff that children can do.

Oh, it's absolutely fine to leave a 12 year old alone in the kitchen with a recipe book to do some experimenting. Be prepared to help with the washing up, though - he'll probably be overwhelmed by that bit!

or what about something like a sailing course or something similar, kayaking, climbing - there are activity clubs like this across the country.

Most courses etc seem to be in thte mainstream holidays - but we have had highly recommended 'wickedly wonderful' camping week ( mon- fri) in west sussex doing lits of outdor activities.

here

My Year 12 boy will be visiting universities and hopefully doing some relevent work experience, as well as 3 weeks family holiday.

If he is idle, I will put him to work in the house while I lunch with the ladies.

Are there any local football / cricket / tennis etc courses that he'd enjoy? My 11 yo DS has his whole summer booked up in this way (he looked at me scornfully when I asked if he'd like a week or two off to veg at home - "aren't there any sports courses that week?").

He's happy, I'm happy.

We've just had a leaflet from school and I was amazed at the amount on offer over the hols either free or very cheaply. Have a look at your local council's website to see if they are doing summer courses.

Fishing or building a treehouse?

Invite friends round for sleepovers and hopefully their parents will return the favour.

Hi, sorry I know this is late onto the discussion but I've found it really useful - many thanks :-) It was actually the reference to Hornby trains that got me reading this post as I have an 8 year old boy who really likes them and I wondered if anyone had any good ideas where I could buy them from at a reasonable price? I have seen them on Amazon and another online store here www.laughingbeartoys.co.uk/product-category/toy-models/hornby-trains/ but they seem so expensive :-( If anyone could help, I'd really appreciate it - thanks.

Are there any residential trips he could do? I am not sure what your money situation is, but mine loved these.

OP you say no video. Are you sure he can't film on his phone?
If his school is breaking up so early are they running anything eg sports, community service activity in those first couple of weeks?

I would second trying to sort a couple of sleepovers. They'll entertain each other and could maybe do something like go swimming together.

I would think the OPs DS is at work now.

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