Michelle T Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I would love to hear what your 12 year old (or around that age) boys enjoy doing in their free time that can be done alone and at home. Trying to come up with some hobby ideas for DS. He already has enough outside activities, takes karate, rides bike, etc. I need things he can do on his own (he's an only child) and at home during days we don't have anything scheduled. He has no particular interests at the moment, other than the usual 12 year old boy fascination with video games and computer time. He does like action, scary/gross stuff, and silly humor. You know, boy stuff! Michelle T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 My almost 12 year old boy like to build with legos, to build and play with robots, to ride his bike or scooter, to read, to bake, to do leathercrafting, to study up on ham radios (he's trying to get his license), and to write stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJB Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Some things they enjoy: Reading Building structures with K'Nex, Kapla blocks, Straws and Connectors, Legos, Snap Circuits, Erector Set Building real things like birdhouse kits, book shelves, or whatever (if we didn't move so much I'd have a pile of scrap lumber along with appropriate real tools and let them have at it) DS comes up with "secret codes" and writes messages DS has a rock collection and every once in a while he'll get out his rocks and minerals field guide and try to identify them-he also has a rock tumbler Bird Watching with binoculars and field guide Playing with Sculpey clay Drawing in their sketch books Working on books they are each writing Doing extra chores for cash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 My 13 year old DS likes to draw, work on programming in JAVA, build with Legos, including the NXT bot, and play World of Warcraft. He communicates with his cousins on WoW. We also have size 1 soccer balls around the house that everyone uses to practice our soccer moves. His art is important to him. I think soon the art and computer programming will merge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy g. Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Mine likes programing with Scratch. How do you get started programing in Java? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 my ds is 14. He takes drums and likes to practice. He has an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar that he plays with on his own. He really is not talented with music, but does enjoy spending his time playing the instruments. I think he still plays with legos too. When he was 12, he was still heavily involved with legos. He enjoys java programming at school, but he doesn't do it at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Mine likes programing with Scratch. How do you get started programing in Java? We play with scratch, too. My DH is a software designer. He does the java. I think they are just working through a basic java book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Explore Academy Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Consider giving him some big projects to do on his own like the ongoing projects at http://www.kidswhothink.blogspot.com building a boat, car, trebuchet, etc. can be lots of fun. Also, check out lapaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 My ds is an only as well. It gets hard because he doesn't like to play alone. We have a big yard and he has two bb guns that he is allowed to shoot with minimal supervision. We have a musical keyboard with pre-programmed music and sounds and he likes to make up sounds, the one that sounds like barfing is his favorite. (go figure) He draws a lot, uses Legos, watches behind the scenes of the Star Wars movies. Have you considered something like a tinker box, with all kind of things to engineer. Ds recently figured out to get his tiny remote control car to pull a larger plastic vehicle. We are also buying one of those heavy duty puching bags for family use. I think that would be helpful just to let off steam. I struggle with this too. We don't have a car during the day so our choices are limited to what we can do at home. I'll be watching this thread too, I can always use some good ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharon H in IL Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 My newly 12yo DS likes to shoot hoops, practice target shooting with his new ginormous dart gun, play the piano, color in Dover coloring books ["Mom, I need more coloring books of people fighting."], bake cookies, cook lunch, build with Lego, read fantasy novels [suggested by the ladies here], watch movies/cartoons as much as he's allowed to, make Mad Libs, watch science and history tv shows, read the sports section of the newspaper, talk sports with his Dad, write letters to his pen pal [though this is tapering off], do extra chores to earn money. His latest project was to make up ridiculous fortunes for his sugar cookies. He wrote these on strips of paper and taped them around the decorated cookies. "What were you expecting? A fortune? Buzz off!" "The love of your life will be happy and harmonious, and also fat and bald." "You will fall in love with the hobo across the street." "You will become a great mime, after you become dumb." "I like ketchup!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Hen Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 My 12yo became fascinated with Origami and taught himself how to fold. He spends hours upon hours folding. He's presently working through this book by Lang. He's made the fish on the book's cover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 My 12yo became fascinated with Origami and taught himself how to fold. He spends hours upon hours folding. He's presently working through this book by Lang. He's made the fish on the book's cover Wow! I'm impressed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caryn Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 My 13 year old now likes to make lego movies on his computer. Caryn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 My 13 year old now likes to make lego movies on his computer. Caryn He's also made some fun stop-action videos with his brother. A digital camera and a PC with Windows Movie Maker is all he uses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarfoot Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Mine's not an "only," but he enjoys making movies, too. He writes the stories (with his sister), films them with toys or Folkmanis puppets, and then edits them on the computer. He adds a soundtrack, credits, and everything, and then puts them on DVD's for friends and family. He also likes to draw and play the piano, and look at all of the big books of Star Wars stuff---droids, planets, vehicles, etc. Those have been good for YEARS of interest here! HTH... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 My boys are 11 and 13yo. Some activities they enjoy at home are practicing their musical instruments, lego robotics, reading, drawing, building model cars, woodworking, target shooting bow and pellet guns, and photography. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey in TX Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 reading, drawing designing a flying car (don't ask...) Legos soccer, kicking ball--one person game basketball, biking, hiking,riding scooter making movies (again, don't ask...!) climbing trees shooting Nerf guns occasionally doing extra chores for cash DD,11, enjoys: playing guitar writing music designing website photography IMing our previous exchange students & cousins and our family favorite: COMPLAINING! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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