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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

DS2 needs a hobby - what can he do?

15 replies

BecauseImWorthIt · 14/01/2007 13:58

Have 2 dss. DS1 plays football in the winter and is an avid cricketer in the summer. Much of our time is spent ferrying him around from various matches/practice sessions, etc.

DS2 has no interests - beyond the playstation. He's not very sporty, so although he's tried the cricket thing, it's not much fun for him, and he never gets selected for the football team, so it would seem that sport (or at least these sports) are out.

He's now 11, nearly 12, and I have become very alarmed that all he wants to do is play on the playstation. He moves from that to the computer (to play games) or the TV to watch crap TV. I don't mind him doing this some of the time, but I really want to encourage him to take up another interest. I suppose I'm also thinking ahead to university applications/job applications - I doubt that playstation would be much of an 'interest' to be written on his cv!

He doesn't play much with any of his school friends because they aren't close enough - would have to rely on me or another mum to drive him. (Am quite happy to do that, but it does take the spontaneity out of it). He's big chums with a boy who lives just down the road, but said boy is 15 and obviously has his own, more grown up interests, so doesn't want him hanging around all the time.

So today I have talked to him and said I would like him to take up another activity - either a club at school (there are millions of them) or another activity. He's sulking at the moment, of course, because I've banned any more playstation today, so won't give me a civil answer.

What do your dss do if they're not into sport? Any help/suggestions would be gratefully received!

OP posts:
100PerCentCod · 14/01/2007 13:59

Take away the playstation.

fo a week

BecauseImWorthIt · 14/01/2007 14:00

Am very happy to do that - but would also like to encourage something else to take it's place other than TV/computer games!

OP posts:
100PerCentCod · 14/01/2007 14:14

i dont think you can can you?
tennis?
golf
mine love golf

foxinsocks · 14/01/2007 14:16

how about Karate or Tae Kwon Do - you don't have to be very sporty but it's still a lot of fun and exercise.

Surfermum · 14/01/2007 14:18

Can he swim? Lifesaving is a great hobby too but you don't have to be a great swimmer, just able to swim. You learn to keep yourself safe around water, rescue people and first aid and life support. So it's exercise and a useful skill they're learning too.

ellceeell · 14/01/2007 15:32

How about archery? My son started when he was 13, but there were several children younger than him at the club he joined. They loaned equipment until he was sure he wanted to continue (he did and is still shooting 7 years later). It's not a sport which is comparable to your ds1 - which could be a good thing - but has a certain kudos when mentioned at school!

southeastastra · 14/01/2007 15:34

badminton is good especially in winter

brandy7 · 14/01/2007 15:49

depends how much cash youve got really as well.

i got my ds aged 12 an airfix car last week as im sick of him going on the playstation, he loved it and has asked for another. if itkeeps him occupied then i dont mind going without to buy one every week!

think probably he needs to join a group to get him socialising though. what about cadets or something similar, think theuniform is a bit pricey though

tamum · 14/01/2007 15:52

Agree about lifesaving, in particular. Might he be interested in music lessons? Guitar or something that could lead to social interaction? Acting workshops?

RTKangaMummy · 14/01/2007 16:12

DS who is 11 {nearly 12} he does:

Lego - he got a lego MINDSTORMS NXT ROBOT for christmas - you programme it using computer or bluetooth

or LEGO TECHNIC

drama at school and also at local theatre

Fencing club - which as DS has Dyspraxia is good as he progresses at own pace iyswim

writing story books and illustrating them to share with his friends {they write them as well and they swap them over or write them together}

Writing and filming {using video camera} their own adventure films

Swimming

chess

Plays the trumpet

He also goes on Playstation and on MSN when homework and music practise have been completed

snorkle · 14/01/2007 17:32

Message withdrawn

Sherbert37 · 14/01/2007 20:32

My DS1 is 13 and very sporty. I offered him the choice of another interest and he has chosen guitar. This is very trendy among his friends and once he can play the acoustic guitar a bit he would like an electric one (maybe for next Christmas). The class he goes to is for age 13+ and so many of his friends are there, plus older boys. Seems like a good choice at the moment.

mumblechum · 15/01/2007 10:18

Our ds (12) also is not at all sporty so far as team games are concerned.

He loves martial arts, particularly karate which keeps him fit and gives him goals (new coloured belt every 3 months) and of course social life outside school.

He's a very good drummer and has a kit in his bedroom. The only downside to that is when he and his guitar-playing friends get together for a jam, it's always in our house.

He also goes to Sea Cadets even though we're nowhere near the sea (near Thames), which is good because they learn how to handle different types of boats and again, it's another social circle. They have weekend camps etc, and it's dirt cheap (£4 per month, uniform next to nothing).

I do sympathise about the playstation thing, I think they're great when it's a rainy day and there's nothing going on, but it sounds like your son does need some pushing to get him to do something different. Good luck

clerkKent · 15/01/2007 14:13

How about Warhammer? You have to collect, make and paint small models, then get together with your friends to fight battles. There are lots of arcane rules to learn. There are PC game tie-ins (you can play Warhammer games on the computer). Ideally you need a Games Workshop branch nearby, and you (or DS) needs deep pockets.

See Games Workshop site .

BecauseImWorthIt · 16/01/2007 18:12

Thanks everyone for these suggestions (RTK - how on earth do you fit all that in?!)

Will print this off and show to ds2 to see if there's anything here that takes his fancy.

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