Ideas for 10 year old?

[smarteepants]

Hi, I'm currently minding a 10 year old girl and her 5 year old brother for some mornings before school and some afternoons after school (depending on shift mum works)

They are only with me for about an hour, and whilst the 5 yr old is happy playing with my 4yr old and his cars etc, 10 yr old doesn't really know what to do. I've offered some colouring activities/brain teasers etc and she will watch a bit of tv, but what else could I offer? I don't particularly want paints or clay out at 7.30 in the morning! I know she likes pop music and nickelodeon style tv programmes.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[loocyloo]

sorry, when i had a 10yr old girl, she was the oldest by about 3 years of all the children i minded. (had been with me since she was 5 and her brother came too) at the start of year 6 she was happy to join in with all the games, sillyness etc that the younger ones got up to. or to join in with craft activities, but for the summer term she just wanted to sit on the swing & daydream, or watch tv! i tried offering everything, but she always just said 'no thank you' so in the end, i let her potter!

she was going to secondary school after that, and so didn't come back to me in the september ( term time only ) although i was 'available' if she should need me!

[miffy]

I have a box of bits (card, material, ribbon etc) that I get out and let my older ones dip into as they wish - they design and make cards, boxes etc and I leave them to it. It can get a bit messy but at least they are occupied.

Doesn't always work though - sometimes they don't want to do anything

Miffy xx

[NI MINDER]

I feel better after reading this - my 10 year old mindee is the same and I feel guilty not having much for her to do - but she seems happy pottering around and just having time to chill out and maybe read or watch tv.

[sarah707]

Most older ones here read a book, watch TV, play with the little ones, have a go on the computer, do some crafts (I have a box like Miffy full of bits and bobs)... I have a folder of puzzle pages they can dip into if they want.

I show them what's available (and what's not) and pretty much let them get on with it as they would at home.

Hth

[Dragonfly]

I have one nearly 13 and she has been with me 10 years she likes joining in with little ones, word searches, recently she done some sewing and made a needle case for mums birthday later in the year. clay, DS, computer, dvds, drawing, writing stories (entered a competition recently, didnt win but took part) cooking, generally pottering around and saying 'I'm tired' . If we have a very rare morning during the hols just us two I will take her on a bike ride. What about Hama beads, beads to make jewellery?.

[smarteepants]

Thanks guys, some good suggestions to try. Also slightly relieved to find that I'm not the only one with this dilemma!

[Eddisonsmum]

I find it easy to find things for girls but get more stuck when it's boys. I have a prospective parent coming tomorrow with twin girls age 6 and a 9 year old boy. Just want something to keep the boy occupied whilst mum and I chat as I have the girls sorted. Was thinking perhaps I'd out a football in the garden but what about if he hates football?

Help! X

[loocyloo]

I find it easy to find things for girls but get more stuck when it's boys. I have a prospective parent coming tomorrow with twin girls age 6 and a 9 year old boy. Just want something to keep the boy occupied whilst mum and I chat as I have the girls sorted. Was thinking perhaps I'd out a football in the garden but what about if he hates football?

Help! X

lego? knex?

puzzle sheets/craft ideas?

my 9yr DS also spends hours zooming hot wheel cars up & down !!!

[Rain or Shine]

I have a 10 year old step son and he is into football, ds, Lego, crafts, boardgames and tv. I think most children of this age are mainly into gaming or tv, glad there are some who still wanna play outside or do something other than stare at a screen all day. OH will sit on his games all day if he could and he is 30!

I used to work in a breakfast/before and after school club, those older children mainly liked music and chilling or being outside running about. The manager used to get frustrated as the older ones wern't bothered about doing activities so i'd say, if you do this craft activity, once everyone is done we'll go outside for a run around. Worked, thank goodness, kept everyone sweet lol. They also liked word and memory games, you know the one where you list the shopping?