Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts
Posted - Jan 02 2010 : 9:00:13 PM
I watched my sister's kids today. They were pretty good. I can tell the oldest (the only boy) is really having a hard time just hanging out with the girls. For next time- any ideas that could occupy a boy 7 years old that reads a bit but much prefers the TV or game consoles? I want him to have fun and not hate my house but at the same time I want to encourage him to read and expand his horizons a bit. My sister does a great job with her kids and I know he does lots at home, but it seems when he comes here he just wants to plug in and pass the time. I don't get the kids that often- just once every couple of months.
Have you tried cooking? You learn reading & following directions, measurments and you get a nice reward afterwards. You can also let him pick anything out of the cook book he wants to make for the next time he comes over that way you will have all the ingredents.
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts
Posted - Jan 03 2010 : 10:36:16 AM
Yes, I had planned on making cookies with the kids but somehow the chaos of having 4 kids all of a sudden kindof squashed that plan. Maybe next time. What other ideas do you have?
I have a 7 year old boy who loves his game console as well. He likes readers that are tied into his games (Bakugan, etc.), at this stage I want to encourage reading so do buy these tie-in type books. Also kids like "campfires" (if you don't have a fire place you can make a pretend fire with a flashlight underneath some tissue paper) where you can do story telling for a while, you might want to try to do a round story where each person adds a sentence you just do the beginning line (i.e. once a upon a time there was a dragon).
It's generally tough to get boys interested in reading but even the graphic novels are something it gets their interest and reading is reading.
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world"
laurzgot
True Blue Farmgirl
1719 Posts
Laurie
Alvin
Texas
USA
1719 Posts
Posted - Jan 03 2010 : 5:19:31 PM
I have a 10 year nephew that I watch several wwekends in a month. He do love his games on the playstation. I'll let him play his games but with a limmited time. Then we have to do something else. Like crafts with a seasonal theme. Valentines Day can make a gift for mom. Or if he likes space do paper maiche (might of spelled wrong) planets using balloons,torn newspaper,and flour and water to make a paste. Can make a volcano out of an empty liter bottle, baking soda and white vinegar and red and orange food coloring. Put 2 TBSP. bqking powder in empty bottle add food coloring and vingar. Will foam up and over bottle. Take a nature hike when weather is good or do a pretend on inthe house. Laurie
suburban countrygirl at heart
Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts
Posted - Jan 03 2010 : 8:19:45 PM
My Aunt use to teach in the inner city in Chicago. She taught 5th grade and 90 percent of the kids could not read. So she got them comic books. Has he ever tried comic books. There are alot of ok ones out there and as someone else said reading is reading. After those kids left my Aunt's class 90 percent of them "could" read. Just a thought.
Farmgirl Sister 572
May the force of the horse be with you.
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts
Posted - Jan 03 2010 : 9:11:41 PM
That's a good idea. I will try to get some I think he will like for when he comes over next!
From one to four kids...
Posted - Jan 02 2010 : 9:00:13 PM
