11 year old glued to TV.

[movingex]

I'm having to set TV time limits for my son as he seems to be quite content with just sitting in from of the TV. I'm trying to think of other things or hobbies I can get him interested in.

Anyone who might have any suggestions on constructive things that an 11 year old boy might be interested in please send your suggestions my way.

I have him researching things and I am also but any real life suggestions from anyone who has been there and done that are always very helpful.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Rson]

What ever happened to riding BMX bikes?

How about Remote Control cars?

[epoh]

Pick up The Dangerous Book for Boys - Amazon.com: The Dangerous Book for Boys (9780061243585): Conn Iggulden, Hal…

Flip to a random page and GO.

[srwatters]

Football, futbol, soccer!

The rule at my home is they must participate in a sport. I don't care what sport it is, could be ballet, cheerleading, or anything that get's them out of the house and physically active. My 8 year old chose gymnastics and her big sister plays soccer. The social and physical aspects of sports in addition to keeping them occupied is well worth the considerable time we spend getting them to and from activities. Plus it insures I get plenty of time with them. Of course YMMV.

[J Eddington]

Does he have friends? Mine were always playing and getting into trouble with their friends.

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by Rson

What ever happened to riding BMX bikes?

How about Remote Control cars?

I was about to suggest R/C Cars, as well. It will be similar to video games, because you are controlling something with a remote, but it gets you outside and moving around. Plus, he can get involved with modifying and building them later on, helping to strengthen his diy, craft, building, engineering abilities... There are a LOT of really powerful R/C Cars that he won't grow out of, like the ones made by Traxxas and Tamiya.

Other ideas are those little hobby rockets or something else that has the excitement of TV, but makes you get outside to do it. The kid probably won't go directly from TV to hiking and camping in one step... you have to create that in-between step with something big/fast/techie/explosive.

[movingex]

Originally Posted by srwatters

Football, futbol, soccer!

The rule at my home is they must participate in a sport. I don't care what sport it is, could be ballet, cheerleading, or anything that get's them out of the house and physically active. My 8 year old chose gymnastics and her big sister plays soccer. The social and physical aspects of sports in addition to keeping them occupied is well worth the considerable time we spend getting them to and from activities. Plus it insures I get plenty of time with them. Of course YMMV.

He does play sports and just finished with track a couple of weeks ago (thank goodness - long hot Saturdays), but right now he is between sports and he just gravitated toward the tv with the down time. His sister is 10 but she is a busy body and will always find stuff to get into. Some of it I wish she wouldn't.

[dmcantrell]

My 10yo nephew really likes Legos.

[movingex]

Originally Posted by janikphoto

I was about to suggest R/C Cars, as well. It will be similar to video games, because you are controlling something with a remote, but it gets you outside and moving around. Plus, he can get involved with modifying and building them later on, helping to strengthen his diy, craft, building, engineering abilities... There are a LOT of really powerful R/C Cars that he won't grow out of, like the ones made by Traxxas and Tamiya.

Other ideas are those little hobby rockets or something else that has the excitement of TV, but makes you get outside to do it. The kid probably won't go directly from TV to hiking and camping in one step... you have to create that in-between step with something big/fast/techie/explosive.

Just bought him a rocket last night and we will see how that goes. I told him if he didn't put it together within a week he would have to pay me back for it.

R/C cars - he has about four and they just collect dust.

[movingex]

Originally Posted by J Eddington

Does he have friends? Mine were always playing and getting into trouble with their friends.

No other kids his age in our neighborhood. I grew up in a small town and things were quite different, but that was a very long time ago.

[movingex]

Originally Posted by epoh

Pick up The Dangerous Book for Boys - Amazon.com: The Dangerous Book for Boys (9780061243585): Conn Iggulden, Hal…

Flip to a random page and GO.

This looks like a great book. I think I'll get it too.

Thanks

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by movingex

Just bought him a rocket last night and we will see how that goes. I told him if he didn't put it together within a week he would have to pay me back for it.

R/C cars - he has about four and they just collect dust.

As a kid, my cars collected dust when I had battery issues. Make sure his are actually running. Also, make sure he has hobby grade cars that can actually tear up the asphalt. But yeah, sometimes kids get bored of driving them around the yard and will shelve them. They can't drive themselves to hobby tracks or open fields to drive in...

But yeah, the rocket SHOULD be fun for him. Why didn't you buy two, so you both could build one together?!? He'll be much more excited building one next to you as you chat and discuss things.

[Crashoran]

Get him some really cool roller-blades :)

[movingex]

Originally Posted by janikphoto

As a kid, my cars collected dust when I had battery issues. Make sure his are actually running. Also, make sure he has hobby grade cars that can actually tear up the asphalt. But yeah, sometimes kids get bored of driving them around the yard and will shelve them. They can't drive themselves to hobby tracks or open fields to drive in...

But yeah, the rocket SHOULD be fun for him. Why didn't you buy two, so you both could build one together?!? He'll be much more excited building one next to you as you chat and discuss things.

I actually have one already, but it proved too complicated for me so I left it on the shelf. I might not be the best rocket building partner. I have a kite that I can't even put together. The rocket I bought for him looks a lot easier.

[SCone]

We had our Son divide his TV time with outside playtime or reading a book... he seemed to always decided to play outside, but that's a whole different story...