What do your sons/boys do after school/weekends?

[pnelson]

I'm having a hard time with my only child (10 years) son. We get home fairly early-by 4:30 and I'm trying to find him something to do besides TV, computers and video games. It was easier when he was younger, but if he can't do any of those three things, he's bored and moody. In the spring and summer, we have swimming, but right now there really isn't anything going on, and it's cold and dark pretty early. He's getting to the age where he doesn't want to "play" with Mom like years past. I'm also worried because his best friend from the neighborhood is moving away and he won't have anyone to play with. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am unwilling to let him play all the Playstation and TV that he wants, yet don't know what else to get him involved in.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Do you have an indoor place where he could swim, community center or Y or something? Find out if they have a swim team, or just take him for community swimming.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

My DS is 11, also an only child. We have a basketball hoop out in the back with a light. He will play out there in most any weather. We also have an airhockey table which is a lot of fun.

My son enjoys cooking. I bought him Emeril's kids cookbook for his 10th b-day and we enjoy cooking together. That may fill your evenings together.

Does your son enjoy music? Sometimes we crank the stereo and work up a pretty good sweat "dancing".

How about model cars or airplanes? Other crafts?

DS has recently started karate. He likes to practice on his own between classes.

I bet he will still love to play with mom, you just need to redefine play to fit his new tastes. In the long run, I know it will be worth all of the energy we put into keeping them amused and developing our relationships in the process. The world is a rough place and I hope to remain the one DS confides in at the end of the day. So far its working.

 

[CajunDixie]

Depending on your religion maybe Boys Scouts would be a good thing for him. Granted its not for everyone but they do meet once every week and ideally they camp or have an outdoor event once a month. He could make several new friends.

Our school also has a Boys and Girls club twice a week after school.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

DS10 -- homework, then usually plays with his new lego Pirate ship until dinner. Once a week baseball practice at a gym, Wednesday afternoons Orchestra practice. On the weekends he often goes to a friends house, Saturday mornings he has a guitar lesson. I recently got him a very inexpensive digital camera and he loves to fool around with the photo editing stuff.

DS13 -- tons of homework since he hit Jr. High. He also has guitar lessons and baseball. Some afternoons I've been taking him up to the library just so he can do homework without younger brothers pestering him. He's my big video game guy and I do let him play more...just as a way to blow off steam.

I've also bought him some computer programming books and I'll let him play around with my Visual Basic compiler if he has the free time.

 

[JetMom]

I have an 11 yr old DS and a 9 yr old DS. Both are very involved in scouting. I can't say enough about the Boy scouts/Cub Scouts of America! They are a truly incredible organization!

My boys also have music lessons once a week and are involved in the school Drama Club.

If you are not loking for organized activities, some of the things that my guys like to do at home include cooking, craft/woodworking projects (usually as part of a scout badge), playing cards and board games, reading, etc.

We are pretty strict about the "electronic entertainment" in our house too. No TV at all during the week and limited computer/gamecube as well. We also try to all sit down as a family at least once a week for "family game night". We like Clue, Yahtzee, Uno, Life, and Sorry. Battleship is also great, but only two can play.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

At the beginning of the school year I took away TV, PS2 and computer from my children during school nights. In the 1st week they went from being bored to finding all sorts of creative things to do.

DS9 plays with his Legos, G.I. Joes and works on his art portfolio. He also plays outside when it is warm enough. We are reading a chapter book together. He writes letters to his favorite older cousin. I never hear him say, "I'm bored."

This has gone so well that I am going to limit T.V. etc this summer.

Your son will play with toys that he hasn't played with in years.

Lori

 

[Disneyland_emily]

One thing we did with DS 9 is when it turned 6 he had to have an active activity thats he's participating in- we let him choose and the requirement is he has to do it for the season or 6 months before he can choose another- and for awhile he jumped around with soccer, baseball, etc. He finally found his love- fencing. Yes a little odd for an activity but he loves it and its really helped him with the concentration and such required for it. He actually has gotten rather good at it and its become a family affair--

During the winter this year he also has started rock climbing at the local club and is having fun with that- Its also a fun family activity--

He has free time every afternoon/evening to do whatever and he watches a little tv and plays computer games but he much prefers to drag one of us and practice fencing...

One other thing we do with him is he often goes with his dad on road trips and assignments to different places around the globe- One thing that he is required to do is take 6 pictures of wherever he is whether it be New York or South Africa . Then he has to journal/scrapbook about it- At first it was more of a "why do I HAFTA" /pulling teeth thing but now that a few years have gone by he likes looking back at where he's been and so its gotten him to be a better photographer and think about what pictures hes taking.. I love looking at his book because its cool to see his view of things.

-em

 

[Sleepy]

So far everyone has given some great suggestions. I like the one about cooking. Seems most famous chefs are men. I often wondered about that.....lol. Have you ever discussed with your son if there is anything he would like to do that he may be afraid to participate in because he is a boy? Does your son like to dance? My son is the only child. When he was 7, he decided b-ball, swimming, etc was not his thing and he asked me to enroll him in dance class. If your son likes dance, maybe enroll him in hip hop or tap or a foreign folk dance of somekind. My son started ballet at 7 and now includes Russian folk as part of his experience. He is part of a company and just turned 12. He is busy 4-5 days a week after school and on weekends. Most days we don't even turn on the tv...just never home and don't have time. This summer we are moving to Italy and he will audition for one of the best ballet schools in Europe. I have a very strong relationship with my son and I support him in everything he does no matter what he chooses. I have taught him it does not matter what others think of him. Just to remind them he dances with a room full of girls almost on a daily basis and while they might be lucky enough to hold a girls hand at a dance, he lifts girls over his head and is in positions most boys his age could only dream of.

 

[Deb & Bill]

My son (5th grader - 10 yr old) started taking art lessons in the fall. He has always loved painting and drawing, so this was a natural for him. We just didn't know where to sign him up. He started work on a canvas last week, sketching what he plans to paint, so on Thursday he should start painting it. The art teacher will not let them rush and she guides them through the process.

Most nights after we pick him up at day care (about 4:45), he watches Lilo & Stitch on the Disney channel, eat dinner and does homework until almost bedtime. He also has to read a book a week.

We had one other family with kids in our neighborhood, but they got divorced and moved away. The new family in that same house has one son, but they are remodeling the house, so they haven't moved in yet.

Our son also is a Webelo (2nd yr) in Cub Scouts, but only does that since my husband has been the den leader for all four years. He's not interested in continuing on with Boy Scouts right now. Maybe he'll change his mind.

We also make him run in 5K races since both of us do. We run evenings and weekends, but he only runs at the races.

 

[bsnyder]

These are all great suggestions.

I wasn't nearly as creative. My boys "lived" at the local Y when they were your son's age. They played every sport and activity offered, and made some lasting friendships. Younger DS is a senior in high school, and he still spends a lot of time there, working out or playing basketball.

 

[Nutsy]

Up until Septe,mber they were always at swimming training or simming carnivals. But now they don't have any real interests outisde the home.