The Stumble Inn The place for social chat for our M.S. community. The Stumble Inn


advertisement
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-12-2009, 08:06 PM #1
FaithS's Avatar
FaithS FaithS is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 971
15 yr Member
FaithS FaithS is offline
Member
FaithS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 971
15 yr Member
Default Need indoor activity ideas for 12 y.o. boy

Need ideas.

I work, after school, at a child care center in the school age program. Many of the kids are K-2 grades. Usually, we rotate to different centers for an hour or more each afternoon.

Centers often include things like legos, blocks, coloring (I'm suprprised they still enjoy those things are their age, but they do).

A 12 y.o. boy started today; he is older than many of the kids, and I expect that he will be bored very quickly. Another thing that we do is play board games, or card games, and he might enjoy that. He might also be able to be a helper, role model with the building kinds of toys for the younger kids.

But, does anyone have any suggestions about other ideas for things that he could do, indedpendently, in a center of his own. Or, other center ideas that I could plan that might interest him, as well as the younger school age kids? He's a cool kid, and I don't want him to dislike coming there.

~ Faith
__________________
aka MamaBug
Symptoms since 01/2002; Dx with MS: 10/2003; Back in limbo, then re-dx w/ MS: 07/2008
Betaseron 11/2003-08/2008; Copaxone 09/2008-present
Began receiving SSDI 11/2008
FaithS is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
Dejibo (02-13-2009)

advertisement
Old 02-13-2009, 12:10 AM #2
doydie's Avatar
doydie doydie is offline
Elder
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: southern Indiana
Posts: 5,533
15 yr Member
doydie doydie is offline
Elder
doydie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: southern Indiana
Posts: 5,533
15 yr Member
Default

It would be wonderful if he would read to the younger kids! Does he like to read? Start him on the classics and he will be hooked for life.
doydie is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
the Bird (03-05-2009), Twinkletoes (09-13-2012)
Old 02-13-2009, 12:14 AM #3
legzzalot's Avatar
legzzalot legzzalot is offline
Magnate
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Posts: 2,091
15 yr Member
legzzalot legzzalot is offline
Magnate
legzzalot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Posts: 2,091
15 yr Member
Default

See if he was a girl I would have all kinds of fun craft ideas for you. I know nothing about boys! (other than they are mean, smell like boys and like to make messes). Decoupage maybe?

My 14 yr old nephew is really into science. He also still loves legos. But most days you can find him in front of a video game or outside playing football. What if he is kind of the ring leader for the smaller kids? Like playing red light green light? He can be the one calling the shots?

Or... you know Uno is a wonderful game I don't care how old you are!
__________________

.
I am not spoiled!
legzzalot is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 12:42 AM #4
FaithS's Avatar
FaithS FaithS is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 971
15 yr Member
FaithS FaithS is offline
Member
FaithS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 971
15 yr Member
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by doydie View Post
It would be wonderful if he would read to the younger kids! Does he like to read? Start him on the classics and he will be hooked for life.
I could try that. We have a "Books and Quiet Games" center every day. I could see if he'd be interested in reading to other kids while he is in there.

Another possible time for him to read would be during the "Teacher Reading" center that I have once a week. We are currently reading Stuart Little. He might be interested in doing that for me.

Both of those things would depend on the cooperation and behavior of the other kids. I wouldn't want to stick him with a task that would require him to be a disciplinarian.

Thanks for the idea! Someone else suggested that he might like to make his own comic book.

Any other ideas out there?

~ Faith
__________________
aka MamaBug
Symptoms since 01/2002; Dx with MS: 10/2003; Back in limbo, then re-dx w/ MS: 07/2008
Betaseron 11/2003-08/2008; Copaxone 09/2008-present
Began receiving SSDI 11/2008
FaithS is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
doydie (02-14-2009)
Old 02-13-2009, 12:49 AM #5
FaithS's Avatar
FaithS FaithS is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 971
15 yr Member
FaithS FaithS is offline
Member
FaithS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 971
15 yr Member
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by legzzalot View Post
See if he was a girl I would have all kinds of fun craft ideas for you. I know nothing about boys! (other than they are mean, smell like boys and like to make messes). Decoupage maybe?

My 14 yr old nephew is really into science. He also still loves legos. But most days you can find him in front of a video game or outside playing football. What if he is kind of the ring leader for the smaller kids? Like playing red light green light? He can be the one calling the shots?

Or... you know Uno is a wonderful game I don't care how old you are!
Thanks, Legz. Yeah, he might be interested in being a helper.

He might have some good lego building ideas that he could share with younger kids.

And, I do sometimes do group games during center time, such as Mother May I, Duck Duck Goose, etc. I haven't tried Red Light, Green Light. We don't have a gym, or a very big area of floor space for a running game indoors. That might be something we could do outside, during recess. I don't generally offer anything structured during that time, but, I can see that he might be bored there, too.

Indoors (your post has me "thinking out loud" here, using your ideas, and Doydie's:
- Your lego idea

- Some group games

- Reading to kids

- Maybe he could also help conduct a science experiment that I plan.

I usually have 4 centers going at a time (15 minutes each). with no more than 4 kids per center. When 15 minutes is up, they rotate to the next center. Often, in 3 of the centers, the kids play pretty independently. I try to plan one center, most days, that requires more teacher assistance.

I'm not sure if he'd be interested in the helper thing, or not. But, I can do some brainstorming with him, and see what he thinks.

Being a helper might also be a good idea for one of my 4th graders, who would probably do well with that too. She sometimes requests to just go to an independent 5th center, and read a book or do homework. Maybe I could think of some independent ideas for him too.

~ Faith
__________________
aka MamaBug
Symptoms since 01/2002; Dx with MS: 10/2003; Back in limbo, then re-dx w/ MS: 07/2008
Betaseron 11/2003-08/2008; Copaxone 09/2008-present
Began receiving SSDI 11/2008

Last edited by FaithS; 02-13-2009 at 01:08 AM.
FaithS is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 08:56 AM #6
ali12's Avatar
ali12 ali12 is offline
Magnate
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 2,463
15 yr Member
ali12 ali12 is offline
Magnate
ali12's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 2,463
15 yr Member
Default

I like the idea of having the boy helpout with the younger children - I'm sure that would help both you and him and would probably give him a lot of skills for later on in life. I know at one of the Youth Clubs I used to go to here in the UK, they used to pick the older children to help out with re younger children if they were doing something like cooking etc.

I too have lots of ideas for girls seeing as I am one and of a similar age but I don't have that many ideas for boys unfortunately!! I have seen boys play at my school and they tend to like the games consoles etc so that might be something to look into if you haven't already got any!! Do you have any of re paper models that you could build? A lot f the younger boys round here like to build wooden paper airoplanes from kits that they have and they are quite practical also!! A lot of the boys that I know like making cards or something crafty with lots of different things so that might be something to look into also!

A lot of the teachers ad child minders here also like to run projects with the older kids so it might be an idea to do a project on drugs and alcohol, relationships, growing up etc. I have done one of those projects before and I really enjoyed it and the teachers made it fun as well as interesting so it didn't feel like school work!!

Hope this helps a little and if you need anything, feel free to PM me as I am a teen and might be able to help!!
__________________
To the World you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the World.
ali12 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 09:01 AM #7
Jaspar Jaspar is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 290
15 yr Member
Jaspar Jaspar is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 290
15 yr Member
Default

He may wish to get his homework done so he is free when he gets home. Also - there will be all the adults there to help him should he get stuck on something.
Jaspar is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 09:39 AM #8
FaithS's Avatar
FaithS FaithS is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 971
15 yr Member
FaithS FaithS is offline
Member
FaithS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 971
15 yr Member
Default

Thanks, Ali and Jaspar.

Ali -- Yeah; we have one computer that 16 kids can take turns on. Sort of a reward for good behavior. But, that gives them, maybe, one 15 minute turn per week.

I'm hopeful that the helping with younger children thing can work. I'd need to be careful about who I matched him with, and how many kids, because I don't want him to have to deal with their behavior problems. I've only been working there about a month. I've been told that, in less than 2 years, they've had 5-7 different lead teachers in that classromm; so, not much consistency. They have also not had much structure in that classroom before, and the director put me in there, hoping that I could provide that by using the center idea. The first few weeks were more chaotic, but, as we seem to be getting into a routine, discipline problems seem to be decreasing, and the flow seems to be going better.

I've never heard of wooden paper airplanes. Not sure that we have the budget for major craft supplies, or, that it would be fair to purchase something just for him and not others. You could tell me more about "re paper models" (what's that?). And, making cards -- are you talking about greeting cards? We have construction paper available.

I don't really know who he'd present a project to. As I said, most kids are K-2. I have one third grader and fourth grader, but he's the only one in his age group. His mom works out of town, in the next county, and is just not comfortable leaving him home alone if something should happen.

Ali, it's good to hear from someone a similar age. Thanks for your input.

Jaspar -- Yeah; doing homework is always an option. Could mean he'd have more time for fun at home. I'd still like to offer some fun things at the after school program too.

MY DS17 has a magnet shape construction toy that he used to enjoy when he was younger that he says I could take. I'm considering it, but it has so many small pieces; and sometimes the kids aren't careful about that. Maybe, if I let him play with it together with just one other kid, by themselves, and had to have an older kid playing, because of the small pieces, and because it does not belong to the child care center, that might work.

~ Faith
__________________
aka MamaBug
Symptoms since 01/2002; Dx with MS: 10/2003; Back in limbo, then re-dx w/ MS: 07/2008
Betaseron 11/2003-08/2008; Copaxone 09/2008-present
Began receiving SSDI 11/2008
FaithS is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 09:49 AM #9
hollym's Avatar
hollym hollym is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,690
15 yr Member
hollym hollym is offline
Senior Member
hollym's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,690
15 yr Member
Default

My 12 year old son likes Origami. I also like the idea of science stuff because my son really loves science, too.

There are always brain teasers, too. Give him a mystery to solve. When I was in a gifted program in school, they had things like that to work on. Since I don't know his intellectual level, I'm not sure what he could handle, but something like that is appropriate for someone who isn't gifted because he could work through ideas at his own pace and could get help from you. I'm too tired today to figure out where you can get these resources, but I'm sure they are pretty easy to find.

Maybe give him a large goal to design an activity for the younger kids where it is all him doing it with you approving it one step at a time.

I also wanted to say how lucky he is to have you. Most people in your situation would just expect an older child like that to entertain themself instead of trying to really work with him.
__________________
Dx: CNS Demyelinating Disease (2005)

Take me back to days full of monkeyshines
Bouncin' on a bubble full of trouble in the summer sun
Keep your raft from the riverboat
Fiction over fact always has my vote
And wrinkles only go where the smiles have been...

Jimmy Buffett from "Barefoot Children in the Rain"


.
hollym is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 02-13-2009, 10:20 AM #10
ali12's Avatar
ali12 ali12 is offline
Magnate
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 2,463
15 yr Member
ali12 ali12 is offline
Magnate
ali12's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 2,463
15 yr Member
Default

Hi Faith,

Sorry about my typing today, it's terrible - probably because my RSD arm is hurting more than usual!

Here is a link to a picture of a Wooden/Paper Airoplane that I was talking about ... they are usually quite cheap (about $30 - although they can vary in price) and can be lots of fun for teenagers and even lots of children like doing them so that might be something to look into for the younger children also if possible!!

http://mahogonymodels.com/pics/c130-20.jpg

Yes, I was talking about greeting cards. A lot of the children round here like making their own greeting cards and lots of the Youth Clubs get funding for arts and crafts work as it tries to give the children somethign to do other than sit around on the streets creating trouble!! I make my own greeting cards and I know a lot of other children and boys my age do also ... it can be fun making a card for a special occasion etc!!!

I like Holly's idea of Oragami also - I like that so i'm sure other children my age or younger might also! Magazines might be something to look into also as I know myself and other teenagers love reading magazines!

I hope you find something to works soon! I think it's a great idea to put the older boy with the younger children as i'm sure it would really help! Let us know what you decide to do!!
__________________
To the World you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the World.
ali12 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Pain med ideas I compiled - any ideas? Sydney Chronic Pain 1 02-24-2007 01:54 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:45 PM.

Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise v2.7.1 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.


Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.