pixiamom
|
posted on June 20, 2007 06:46:51 PM new
This is the first week of my 11 year old's summer vacation. Since his "babysitter" died a few weeks ago (the computer next to mine), it's been a challenge to keep him occupied. I let him use my computer a few times a day. Somehow, new toolbars and start-up programs were downloaded - making me clean up and reboot the computer several times a day. I tried taking him to his school playground once a day so he could skate board and talk to his friends in the summer child care there-- worked very well last year, but I found that once fifth graders "graduate", they can't go into the summer program. Today was better, he busied himself with building a 10 foot by 8 foot spider web in our living room with string- quite artistic! Late afternoon, he opened his first-ever lemonade stand and made good money (the ONLY advantage to the foot traffic of an urban neighborhood) until I pulled him in (I was worried because an immature 15 year old girl was paying too much attention to him).
Portland's Parks and Recreation has wonderful programs for younger kids, and apparently for teens. Pre-teens are out of luck. Any ideas for cheap activities he can do that will allow me to get some work done? As I said, we live in an urban neighborhood - telling him to go play outside is not an option.
|
ewora
|
posted on June 20, 2007 06:59:53 PM new
Obviously the easiest solution is that you need a new computer or game system or something. Or another mom or two to kid share with. Luckily mine are all grown so I don't have to worry about that anymore.
Do they have any Boys and Girls clubs nearby? Big Brothers?
|
pixiamom
|
posted on June 20, 2007 07:07:22 PM new
He does have 2 gaming systems that he tires of after an hour (thank god), With hundreds of dollars of electronic games and gadgets, he gets the most pleasure from a skein of string. The computer was the exception, when eBay sales improve I will replace it.
|
niel35
|
posted on June 20, 2007 07:40:08 PM new
teach him to know or crochet
|
sthoemke
|
posted on June 20, 2007 08:07:52 PM new
Give him lots of comic books to read.
|
profe51
|
posted on June 20, 2007 09:32:46 PM new
An 11 year old should have responsibilities and jobs he is expected to do each day, something more hefty than taking out the trash and feeding the hamster, although that's a start. He should also be reading all summer. Take him to the library and find him age, reading level and interest level specific books that he'll read without a fight. Are there any urban sports camps nearby? Martial arts, soccer, swimming clubs? Boredom leads to overeating and kids will eat first when they're bored.
They're bored because we make them bored. That may sound harsh, and I know it's easy for me to say because we live on a ranch where there is no time for boredom, but I fully believe it's true. Video and computer games are brain death.
|
blueyes29
|
posted on June 20, 2007 09:43:19 PM new
You might think about showing him sudoku puzzles and get him a brain-teaser/puzzle book. If he's as creative and inventive as you say (making a spider web out of string is pretty cool), he might enjoy working his brain out to solve puzzles. Beats sitting in front of a computer. There's a great little book..."Two Minute Mysteries" or something like that...the stories are one or two pages long and the reader has to solve the "crime"...Good luck...
|
neglus
|
posted on June 20, 2007 09:55:15 PM new
Check out the YMCA day camps for kids entering grades 6-8 http://www.ymcachildcare.wbees.com/f/Summer_Day_Camp_Brochure_2007.pdf
My kids did a session or two every year from the time they were knee high to a grasshopper and as you know, Lizzie has been working as an instructor/ life guard for the past 4 summers.
Sounds like the kids are gone from 9-4.
-------------------------------------
http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
|
birgittaw
|
posted on June 20, 2007 10:01:01 PM new
Urban neighborhood ... is that like the combat zone? So he can't go out?
How about his friends, the neighborhood pool, the pool that other kids go to, the park? Surely other parents are just as desperate for activities, or do they all spend summers at camp? Check with his friends' parents, perhaps you can take turns doing an outing without putting the squoosh on your eBaying?
So sad, maybe the immature 15 year old was lonely too ...
|
neglus
|
posted on June 20, 2007 10:04:37 PM new
I notice that the Y also offers daily drop-in sessions for the camps - also Fishing Camp is next week (tell him he has to practice before coming to MN in August so he can reel in the big ones!)
-------------------------------------
http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
|
LtRay
|
posted on June 20, 2007 10:38:30 PM new
Buy him a book, The Dangerous Book for Boys by Hal Iggulden. http://www.dangerousbookforboys.com/
I read a review about it a few weeks ago It teaches boys how to be boys again instead of couch potatoes. Seems that in our high-tech, overly caution society we have forgotten how fun it was to discover and explore the simple things in life.
The book is getting rave reviews from parents and kids.
[ edited by LtRay on Jun 20, 2007 10:45 PM ]
|
neglus
|
posted on June 20, 2007 10:40:18 PM new
http://www.oregonjcc.org/pdf/dc_ruach.pdf
-------------------------------------
http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
|
vintageads4u
|
posted on June 21, 2007 05:36:25 AM new
Send him to your sister!
JK 
Beth
VintageAds4U
http://stores.ebay.com/vintageads4uonline?refid=store
|
cblev65252
|
posted on June 21, 2007 05:53:03 AM new
I have my 9 year old granddaughter all summer so I know what you're going through. She's limited to 2 hours per day on my computer. There are only three sites she can visit. She does have a gameboy that she plays with. We do plan things like trips to the park (we have a great parks system here) or the pool or window shopping, which we did yesterday. We'll be going to a help a friend do yard work tomorrow. She has a couple of friends on the street and they play games out in the backyard. I live in an urban area, too, and you do have to watch the kids more although crimes against children don't just happen in urban areas.
I think the key is to do things with him. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to strengthen the bond you have with him. (Don't forge too strong a bond or he'll never move out. . LOL!)
Cheryl
|
neglus
|
posted on June 21, 2007 06:25:06 AM new
Papier mache is always good for a gooey messy fun filled coupla hours or along the same lines, wrap string/yarn (use his spider web) around some balloons for some cool lamp shades (you can use elmers or liquid starch or flour/water glue).
How about cutting up some of your damaged postcards and starting a decoupage project?
How about getting some info about sending mail to troops in Iraq and having him send a bunch of your junk postcards?
Here are some home science experiments:
http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/experiments.html
Portland Boys & Girls Club has summer programs - I notice that they have "Etiquette" next week but he might be more interested in car building:
http://www.bgcportland.org/main_subItems.asp?id=4&sid=30&ssid=43
-------------------------------------
http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
[ edited by neglus on Jun 21, 2007 06:32 AM ]
[ edited by neglus on Jun 21, 2007 06:41 AM ]
|
mingotree
|
posted on June 21, 2007 06:43:33 AM new
"""telling him to go play outside is not an option."""
That's one of the saddest things I've ever read .
On a lighter note...just send him to the Profe's ranch for the summer !
|
pixiamom
|
posted on June 21, 2007 07:20:04 AM new
Thanks all for the great ideas! I guess I just needed to vent. Wish he had my love of reading, I remember reading all summer! Crocheting is a great idea - he did that a few years ago, someone told him it was girlie and turned him off it. This urban neighborhood is the pits for kids. Many homeless people migrate here- I sympathize with them but they understandably creep my son out. A few weeks ago, I opened my door and almost stepped on a drunk passed out in my entry way. I pay high rent to live in this school district but have had enough- we're moving to the suburbs this fall. We are going to Mpls to visit Neglus in August and we'll be with my brother at the beach in July so summer won't be a total bust. Getting used to a new routine with constant togetherness is hard (did I mention that he's a hummer?) but I agree this is an opportunity to grow closer. Today the science museum is half price, we'll go there if he helps with my shipping. Edited to add: the Boys & Girls Club looks great - will definitely check into it!
[ edited by pixiamom on Jun 21, 2007 08:06 AM ]
|
sthoemke
|
posted on June 21, 2007 05:53:50 PM new
Get him Amazing Sea Monkeys
|
neglus
|
posted on June 21, 2007 06:14:56 PM new
I ordered some of those sea monkeys when I was a kid!! Funny thing is I remember ordering them, and I remember waiting for them to arrive (and they didn't cost $14 either) but I don't remember ever seeing them hatch - maybe they were duds.
You could get him an ant farm....or mexican jumping beans...
-------------------------------------
http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
|
pixiamom
|
posted on June 21, 2007 06:45:13 PM new
We got Sea Monkeys a few years ago. He had a hard time accepting them as a pet - it was more fun for me than him.
Our afternoon today was no fun due to my idiocy. I made my son go with me to the post office and help me with mailing. Ran a few errands in the neighborhood stores. Couldn't find my keys. Retraced our steps twice. Tore my purse apart three times. Finally, called a locksmith and waited 1-1/2 hours for him in a hot parking lot. Luckily, the keys were underneath a paper on the passenger seat. My son made me pay him double for his mailing services. I don't blame him!
[ edited by pixiamom on Jun 21, 2007 06:50 PM ]
|
profe51
|
posted on June 22, 2007 08:11:59 AM new
On a lighter note...just send him to the Profe's ranch for the summer !
Ha! I've made the mistake of taking in strays a time or two, no thanks. When my oldest daughter was away in high school, she brought a city girl she had become friends with home for a MONTH one summer. Poor kid almost went nuts with no stores around. Feeding cattle, milking goats and cleaning out pens at 5a.m. wasn't her cup of tea apparently. Go figure!
|
