Finish line in sight....but I'm running out of petrol....

Snaggles

skint_spice wrote: »

what about walking snaggs? my DS loves having a wee book with a map or following a forest trail with the coloured markers. and it's FREE!

Where I used to live, it was lovely for walks, lots of hills, fields, canals....not much around where I live now sadly, but I think he would enjoy following a map.....oooh, you've just given me an idea actually.....when we were little we used to go on treasure hunts, following a map around town and looking for clues (the clues were things like the names of buildings, or landmarks etc) - that would be quite fun! :T

Snaggles

weller711 wrote: »

3rd time lucky - bloomin PC, think I need a new laptop :rolleyes:

Could/would you let Ryan kind of design his own bedroom, paints, decorations, posters, a wall art, shelves, bedding everything and then he and Stu could do it all together as and when you can afford to buy the stuff. Let him make a board like what interior designers do with colours, materials, theme etc, could he do this with Stu and could Stu let him be in charge with gentle nudges for example and take Ryan around the DIY shops for inspiration. Get Stu to ask Ryan about ideas, ie "Ryan what do you think about blue and pink walls and a green ceiling" (Obviously knowing full well Ryan will say no but giving Ryan the idea that he is in charge of this project) I know Ryan is great on PC so maybe he and Stu could also use that, ie, printing plans out etc and doing research etc

Or if not bedroom could they design a garden for you, even though you have lovely pots Pick the plants, where they will go, what colours where, etc etc

Not sure if thats going to be ok (about bedroom) if you have extension done, would Ryan move bedrooms?

Know this is not long term but it may be a start that could lead to other things Will shut up and go to bed now................Goodnight sweetie, not gong to be able to sleep now trying to come up with ideas :rotfl:

Fab idea - we are intending to give Ryan a choice between keeping his existing bedroom or moving into the extension, but either way we will need to redecorate, so it is something that they could start planning now at least. They sell blank canvasses and paints fairly cheaply in Home Bargains, so he could definitely have a go at his own wall art.

And funnily enough, I've just been talking to Tig, and she suggested the garden idea too (oiii, there's nowt wrong with my pots! :rotfl: :rotfl:). If nothing else, it will encourage Stu to do a bit more gardening, as it is currently looking less like a garden and more like the jungles of Borneo.

skint_spice

Snaggles wrote: »

Where I used to live, it was lovely for walks, lots of hills, fields, canals....not much around where I live now sadly, but I think he would enjoy following a map.....oooh, you've just given me an idea actually.....when we were little we used to go on treasure hunts, following a map around town and looking for clues (the clues were things like the names of buildings, or landmarks etc) - that would be quite fun! :T

I just imagine yorkshire as all dales/beaches and big walks but maybe that's too much tv...:o I have been a good few times too so you'd think I'd know...
DS used to love drawing maps too... a pirate obsession he had...:o you could get Ryan to plan to hide something in the park for Stu to find then he has to draw a map with so many trees etc to guide him to it. obviously he can't hide it till the last moment or some wee bu**er will nick it!:D would be easier in a park than on a beach - more fixed features!

barnaby-bear

Snaggles wrote: »

Guys I need some ideas.

Stu and Ryan have a bit of an up and down relationship - they love each other very much, but they argue quite a bit and I end up playing referee. So my idea (which they both agree with) is to get them to do an activity together, to encourage them to bond. I can't think of many ideas though. It could be a regular thing, or a one-off. Ryan has suggested camping (he saw a boy camping with his Dad on the Kingsmill advert!), and I said they could sleep in the camper one night when it's a bit warmer, but I'm trying to think of other suggestions.

Ryan doesn't like football very much, otherwise I would get them to kick a ball around the garden together.

Dads - what do you do with your kids? (Mums, what do your husbands/partners do with the kids?)

It's cheaper than Alton Towers, they let the kids drive stuff: http://www.diggerland.com/visiting/youngdriversexperience.htm which seems to please them, how competitive can digging a hole be? The cafe is reasonable priced burger+chips job.
http://www.diggerland.com/
The email list carries offers and cheaper to book in advance.

barnaby-bear

Snaggles wrote: »

Fab idea - we are intending to give Ryan a choice between keeping his existing bedroom or moving into the extension, but either way we will need to redecorate, so it is something that they could start planning now at least. They sell blank canvasses and paints fairly cheaply in Home Bargains, so he could definitely have a go at his own wall art.

And funnily enough, I've just been talking to Tig, and she suggested the garden idea too (oiii, there's nowt wrong with my pots! :rotfl: :rotfl:). If nothing else, it will encourage Stu to do a bit more gardening, as it is currently looking less like a garden and more like the jungles of Borneo.

IKEA have a piece of software (Home Planner) where you can make a 3-D model of a room (v.easy) and add their furniture even if you don't want to buy stuff from there it's quite good for positioning stuff of the right size...

OliveOyl_2

My OH dreamt that he and DS1 would do a project together. They never quite did......

And yesterday I finally got rid of an old car (1968) which OH was going to do up with DS1..........

We dreamed, but didn't do, and there are regrets. But DS1 is a fine young man undamaged by his neglect

pania

ok, me and my dad when i was young....

Ordnance survey map with big red dot on our road.... compass... car...

drop off 3-5 miles from home in a random direction and get them to walk home working together to find the way...alternatively a treasure hunt around the local park.. things like. clue 1) piglets like to eat these... (acorns) second clue under an acorn tree. 2) the place where the ducks eat.. (a bench where people throw bread into the lake for the ducks) and so on until they find you at the last clue with a pleasant "prize" for each of them, anyway you get the idea

or, do you have an outward bound centre near to you? they run excellent courses over assault courses for children and parents to work together to acheive the goal. alternatively Ryan may love horse riding and stu could maybe go and learn with him?

sorry, just a few ideas from my late night sleep deprived addled brain!!!

pania

oh dammit, that would teach me to read the last pages of a thread before jumping in... 2 of those already mentioned.. sorry hon

System

Snaggles wrote: »

Hello missus! This evening we are mostly playing.......cards!

Stu would like fishing, but Ryan would make too much noise I think - if there were any other fishermen nearby, they would get cross. And ewwww...maggots! :eek:

How're you doing sweetie?

Was it Strip Poker per chance

System

tigtag02 wrote: »

You see this is why the *Stu & Ryan Activity* has to be non competetive.

If we need to avoid a row then 2 boys cannot be pitted against each other.

You need something messy and mucky, how about restoring or building something? I remember that fab track they built together in lego a while back.

And just for you:

Now why does that look familiar?