So what are kids into these days?

System

DKLS wrote: »

If you want to entertain yourself, buy the two youngest some of this stuff.



The vivid blue version has spectacular results :rotfl:well it does on my neices, but I have been banned from buying it them again.

They are visiting this weekend and whilst I havent stocked up with panda pop, the parents didnt mention anything about Ice pops

OMG :eek:

you can still buy that stuff? WHERE? i was just thinking about it the other day

Tropez

marisco wrote: »

Do you have a pack of cards? Some kids love learning how to play card games. Another really popular activity is 'battleships'. You can pick this game up cheaply from Argos.

Yes, I do have a few packs of cards. Battleships is the one where you guess coordinates like "B12" and such, right?

paulineb wrote: »

I remember the days of playing hangman or noughts and crosses with just a piece of paper and a pen

What about draughts, excellent game and can go on for hours.

I could get a draughts board, though I don't know how to play myself.

Frith wrote: »

Haven't read the whole thread so apologies if I am repeating anything.

My sons are 12 and 10. They like (in no particular order)....

1) Games. Monopoly, Scrabble, Uno, poker dice, card games, battleships, Mousetrap etc.

2) Reading and going to the library. (in the bigger libraries in our county you can now play computer games on MASSIVE screens).

3) Anything to do with water. Those splash pads in certain playgrounds or swimming in the river. And swimming in swimming pools.

4) Cinema.

5) Laptop, ipod, DS, Wii etc. Preferably at someone else's house because they always have something different and games they haven't tried before.

6) Going for a walk if there is a point to it. Like an ice cream at your destination. Or geocaching walks.

7) Still at their age they enjoy building things out of the sofa cushions and all the pillows off every bed.

8) NERF gun fights.

9) Meals that look like take aways!

10) Back to the water theme again, they really love making little paper boats then letting them go down the stream.

11) NT properties as long as I walk round at lightning speed.

12) Eating out, inc picnics.

13) Sitting in the tent in the garden.

P.S I wouldn't rush to go to the West Midlands Safari Park. Last time I went I couldn't believe how run down it was!

Aww, the Safari Park went to the dogs (or monkeys, as it may be), eh? Darn.

I don't know what a NERF gun or NT property is... I'll have to google them.

Most of the other things on that list are easily doable, although I don't own a tent. There is a summerhouse in the garden though!

marisco_2

Tropez wrote: »

Yes, I do have a few packs of cards. Battleships is the one where you guess coordinates like "B12" and such, right?

Yep that's the one. Another game the kids may be into is chess, it is very popular at the school where I teach.

Do they have scooters? Is there a skate park near you? Hours of fun for free if there is.

dibuzz

It's not easy when you don't know anything abotut he kids. At 11 or 13 my daughter didnt do anything typically girly, she was never happier than covered in mud playing football or rugby and if you had offered her karaoke or a doll she would have looked at you like you had 2 heads.
I think the best thing to do is not plan too much until you know just what they all like.
It's lovely that you are making all this effort to make their stay a great one.

marisco_2

Tropez wrote: »

I don't know what a NERF gun or NT property is... I'll have to google them.

NT property = National Trust

Tropez

marisco wrote: »

Yep that's the one. Another game the kids may be into is chess, it is very popular at the school where I teach.

Do they have scooters? Is there a skate park near you? Hours of fun for free if there is.

I can't really say. I've never seen anything resembling a skate park but I must confess that I live right on the outskirts of the town where I border the rural/agricultural areas and venture very little into town so there might be one that I've just never driven past.

And thanks for clearing up the "NT" - my geeky mind could only think of the version of the Microsoft Windows OS created for networks.

dibuzz wrote: »

It's not easy when you don't know anything abotut he kids. At 11 or 13 my daughter didnt do anything typically girly, she was never happier than covered in mud playing football or rugby and if you had offered her karaoke or a doll she would have looked at you like you had 2 heads.
I think the best thing to do is not plan too much until you know just what they all like.
It's lovely that you are making all this effort to make their stay a great one.

Ah, now you see if they're all into rugby I could take them to a game. Couple of Premiership rugby union and Super League teams not too far from here. I figure some of the RU teams will be playing friendlies, or something.

Yeah, I just want to get some ideas. I can pick a couple of family-friendly games on the cheap, and some other things, and if they don't like it that's not a problem. Between my Xbox, Netflix, DVD collection and laptop there should be enough to keep them occupied when they're in the house, especially if I acquire a few balls, supersoakers and whatnot to leave outside.

It's helpful just to be prepared for things to do outside the house, so if for example they're all into museums (haha, yeah, I know, oh I slay me!) I can say "Oh, I know one nearby, I'll take you..." and everyone's happy. If only, eh?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Spendless wrote: »

Oh yes, definately one direction for the girls!

My turquoise haired, Linkin Park and Graphic Novel loving 14 year old would obtain a paintball gun on the black market and obliterate any adult suggesting such crud to her.



Mind you, when mentioning that I was thinking of going with the New Fella and his little ones (aged 3 and 8) to London Zoo, she did insist that she comes, too - even taking into consideration she generally detests small children and will be meeting the LOs for the first time.


NERF guns are soft foam projectiles, some are like bullets, some are like rockets - supersoakers, water balloons, paper snaps, basics cola and mintoes (add #2 to #1, stand back) and water bombs all go down well, too. Arm yourself and your OH and be prepared to get slaughtered. Or you and OH have NERFs, kids get supersoakers/water bombs.


Or maybe that's just mine.

trolleyrun

Pictionary or sherades (sp?)

Tree climbing

And just for fun and for the memories:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HeEWtNaW6KE

silverwhistle

Tropez wrote: »

. When I was 16 my cellphone was a Philips Savvy.

I need to break this to you gently, Tropez, but this and other posts seem to indicate extreme hipness and youth.. I was the wrong side of 40, probably of 45 when I got my first mobile, never had a gamesy thing and have managed without a TV for 20 odd years. I get on fine with kids in general and they always like me and my lessons, but I'd have no easy ways of keeping them amused. Count yourself fortunate you have so many resources!

Mind you, I still play football as a super-veteran, and following a house move need to find a new ladies team, so we could always have a kickabout in the park. I do other sports as well depending upon opportunity, and the physical component has the advantage of tiring the little dears out so that they sleep well. Or I could lend them some tin whistles and percussion to make a bit of live music... So mix it up a bit!

Somehow I feel you'll do just fine though.:-)

onlyroz

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

My turquoise haired, Linkin Park and Graphic Novel loving 14 year old would obtain a paintball gun on the black market and obliterate any adult suggesting such crud to her.

Sounds like my kind of girl. Wish I was brave enough to go turquoise.