My son is 12 and has grown up with our house always been full of mindees!
he has got used to the company, even tho at times I've felt he would have preferred some one to one time with me.
Your 11 yr old may actually really enjoy spending some real quality time with you doing lots of activities that u have thought about just for him. Have a few extras in mind so u can give him different options and choices and also fit around the weather. Here are some of the things my son enjoys...sometimes I have to say "no,not now", to him as they take too long or are too messy or he may need help that I can't give while I have the younger children here!
He really enjoys cooking, pick something that he could b creative with.maybe go to the shop to get those extra ingredients first. Make a stir fry or a cake,a fruit smoothie,a trifle?even piping icing or chocolate on digestive biscuits. Making bread?He could make up his own recipe...fruit,ice cream,choc chip cookies???
Play monopoly with him...he will love the competition
Teach him to play cards,this is something busy parents don't really get time to do,but once he,s learnt,he would then be able to play on family holidays or with grandparents?
Make paper mache(just flour,water and newspaper)cover a balloon with it and make a mask. This can b done stage by stage over 3 days.
Have any of yr friends got a dog? Ask if u can borrow him/her. Take it out on a walk.
Paint by numbers.some are quite challenging and could be done over the 3 days.
What about helping him to do his family tree on line. You could speak to his parents for help with this.
Take him on a train trip. Nowhere too far but u could take a pack lunch,visit a museum,park,place of local interest that you could decide on before your trip.
Look on groupon for cheap deals for cinema or ten pin bowling.find out about early bird sessions.
Have u heard of nano lego? We love it. You could prob find it v cheap on eBay. It's like tiny lego tiles. Very addictive little kits. Also have you heard of the 3d model building kits,we have one of London bridge,houses of parliament.
Do you have a laminator? How about asking him if he could help you make some resources for the younger children. My son printed of sheets of money then laminated them. The younger children really enjoy playing shops and love having their own laminated money to buy each other's goods! Make yr own unique picture bingo.
What about the two of you making a water play activity in yr garden for yr younger children. You just need old piece of drain pipe that u can cut using a small hand saw,string,marg tubs etc.that would b a good design challenge for him?
If all else fails,u could see if u could get together with another minder! Why don't u email him and actually ask him what he'd really like to do? He might just suggest a movie or going swimming,which would take up most of the morning!
Have u got an old picture you don't use? Get him to repaint the frame and then get a selection of photos,overlap them all to make a collage. He could perhaps print some off at home to bring with him?
Hope this helps!
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