'It's boring'

[mysparkleismissing]

So my 12 told his dad (my ex) he doesn't want to go to scouts anymore cos it's boring

Apparently every activity they do is boring.

This would leave him with no activities outside of school. Waiting for 'boxing fitness' to find a new venue - that was once a week.

I'm keen to get him socialising outside of school but he'd just rather watch TV etc

I mean I don't like going out til 930 on a Friday night but feel it's important.

I've been helping with scouts since the summer and do a lot of the admin and unseen stuff rather than running actual meetings, this was to give support and keep his group going.

Okay, sit him down, say that you know he finds the activities uninteresting (don't use the word boring). Ask him what activities he would he organise if he were scout leader. Get him to look through all the activity badges and pick several that are the least dull. If he finds one or two, then maybe you can persuade the group to do those.

If he genuinely can't think of a single thing, then perhaps scouting is not for him.

At this sort of age they often get fed up and want to do more adult stuff.

I sat mine down and we agreed that they needed to do some kind of sport etc and as a family we went and tried a few things.

They both hated badminton, but DD took to horse riding (and so did I) and DS did some running with his dad.

Maybe worth trying some more "grown up" activities?

Why is it important that he go to scouts specifically, rather than to something he might actually be interested in? Is there nothing else in your area except scouts and the currently suspended boxing?

Do you know the leaders? Scouts is supposed to be youth led, so they should be having some say into what goes on in the programme.

My oldest used to get bored of it in winter as he loved camps but in the dark and winter they spent less time doing outdoors stuff.

What other activities are around that he could do? What are his friends doing?

Absolutely fair that he no longer wants to be in Scouting but there should be a limit on the hours he sends just gaming or mindlessly watching a video screen.

Challenge him to research and pick one activity beyond kick-boxing and go for it

He might have grown out of it. Maybe he wants to try other activities.

I'd be okay with him stopping if he wants to but think it's important he does something.

I'll think of a list of ideas for him, badminton is a good idea.

Secondary school can be all consuming and knackering. Give him a break.

Yes I do. And yes we are youth led, he can't make any suggestions of what he'd like us to do at scouts. It's just all boring.
He hasn't got a very big social circle. So do football which he was doing, just for fun they play for teams, but he's lost his confidence due to bullying

Has he seen the opportunities for Explorers? Does he do any big National Camps? Are there any badges he really wants to do? You can do them at home.

Mechanic?

Master at Arms?

https://www.scouts.org.uk/scouts/activity-badges/

Don’t most DC quit at around that age?

He did express some interest I'm badges last week but now it's all boring. Yes he did a camp last year and we're planning one for this year.

Age limit is 14 for Scouts they then move up to Explorers

I meant give up on being a scout!

Ds gave up organised activities/clubs around that age as he no longer enjoyed them, but it didnt mean he sat around doing nothing.

He 'd go to the gym at the local leisure centre with friends, go swimming with friends, out on bikes into country side, meet up and play footie at local astro turfs, sometimes go to the local Friday night football community sessions, cinema, etc.

Now 19 he still isnt in any formal clubs but when not at uni or working PT in a bar he goes hiking, is learning golf with a uni friend, plays pool, goes to the local or uni gym, swims in uni pool, tried snow boarding in Glenshee for the first time last week.

I would focus encouraging him to organise informal socialising/activities with people/friends he actually enjoys spending time with.

He's at the age when he could do cadets if you have any of that locally - it's not a million miles away from scouts, but the activities can be seen as more adult - as a teenage army cadet I got to do shooting, assault courses, alongside sports/games/first aid/drill/map reading/DofE and stuff like that. Air cadets work towards gliding and light aircraft, sea cadets muck around on boats.