Keeping 11 yrs nephew engaged!

roadsidetree

Hi,

My nephew comes and stays with us during holidays, week end etc. Whenever he is here, he doesn't do anything else other than watching tele, eating and sleeping.

It is really painful for us to see him wasting time like this. Unfortunately since I work from home (and occasionally travel) and my wife is pregnant, we really cannot take him out.

What can we do to keep him busy (sports/hobbies etc) without spending a fortune? Any suggestions please.

Thanks,

Counting_Pennies_2

Just because your wife is pregnant it shouldn't restrict you taking him out.

There must be an animal farm nearby, often they do things like feeding the animals, milking the cows etc, he would probably love that, and your wife could take him along and not have to get dirty, just watch.

How about getting him a cheap bike to cycle in the park, your wife could take him to the local park.

Hth

Savvy_Sue

How old is he?

liney

How about a model kit - car/plane etc.

Counting_Pennies_2

I forgot, probably the most obvious thing I forgot about is finding out about youth groups in the local area. If you contact your local council and ask for the youth service department, they will be able to let you know activities in the local area. It could be anything from an hours activity through to full day events.

He would probably enjoy being able to mix with others of his own age.

roadsidetree

Cheers Counting_Pennies - you are a star :-) I will check with our local council straight away!

Savvy_Sue - he is 11!

elona

How about swimming, local leisure centre, football club for juniors ?

Lucie_2

What does he do at home? A lot of 11 year olds spend the majority of their time watching TV, on the internet or playing computer games.
Is he practical? At 11 my nephew was painting the shed & cutting the grass. Can you give him jobs to do & pay him for it? especially if your wife is pregnant? Washing cars, paint the fence, clean the windows, weeding, ironing?
If he's sporty then you've got bike rides, football or other games he can play in the garden.

SambaRamba

I've noticed that alot of council run sports centres now hold activity sessions during the school holidays for various age groups, in my local one it's jewellrey making/five a side footy/trampolining etc. You have to pay around £3.50 per 2 hour session though.

Teach him a few card games and play for match-sticks, tell him if he beats you you'll take him to the shop to choose a magazine.

Maybe play a few board games or one of these new DVD games.

Perhaps you can get him to cook a simple tea for everyone? Buy a pizza dough kit (they usually only need milk, oil and water added and they come with tomato sauce for the base), grate some cheese, cut up some peppers onions etc. Or make simple burgars in a bun (mincemeat/onions/salt/pepper/ grill some cheese on top). Maybe he could also prepare a simple side salad - he might like the responsibility.

Try a cheap watercolour painting set off ebay (animals or landscapes), the pictures are already drawn in for you, and you copy the colours shown in the example.

Have a go at making a teddy for the new baby (or will this be too girly for him)?? You might find a simple teddy making kit on ebay.

Buy a chemistry set, I played with mine for hours when I was young, especially the one that came with magnets and iron filings (am I sad)?

Do you own a tent or can you borrow one? Maybe you could put it up in the garden - all kids like dens.

Frisbees are cheap and fun - providing you have the garden space.

Have a go at sticky darts - you know, the velcro darts kits.

See who's paper plane can fly the furthest, see if you can find out how to make the mother of all paper planes on google - and get him to colour it in to resemble a real plane - to make the activity last longer.

Buy some good old fashioned marbles - if you can find them - or have a few games of dominos.

Check out some origami websites he could have a go at making allsorts out of paper!

Do older kids still cover their exercise books? Are his school books getting tatty? Get him to re-cover them with sugar paper - and maybe encourage him to do any homework he needs to catch up on.



Finally, don't feel too guilty about him sitting watching TV. He wouldn't come to stay with you if he didn't feel at home. I'm sure he's in a happy loving enviroment, which is more than some kids get these days. Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your week.

Savvy_Sue

roadsidetree wrote:

Savvy_Sue - he is 11!

Sorry, I was having a dim moment when I asked that ...

ivyleaf

Maybe try baking - my 12yo GS loves making cakes. We made one at his house last week, as I was looking after him and the dog, and my DD couldn't find her mixer (not having used it since moving into her house last summer) and then the digital scales wouldn't work either, so we made the cake by using a big spoon for rough measurements and mixing it the "proper way" with a wooden spoon - it came out edible at any rate! DGS now says he wanrs to be a chef!