children and activity help (they wont do them)

**emmadines** · 05-05-2009, 06:27 AM

Hi I have 4 mindees, 1x 10, 2x 5 and 1x 7, I set up activities fro them and as soon as the 10 year old states he doesnt want to do the activity they all start with the " I don't want to do activity (this is normally after they want to do it) if your following :S

what can I do?? Im getting fed up or getting things ready (sometimes buying bits) for them to turn round and for it to basically end up wasted, Im loosing the will to live with this.

any suggestions please???

we have a topic to use as a guideline which this month is "animals/pets and holidays............ any ideas on activities, Ive looked in the activity section but not really seen anything..........

many thanks x

**Pedagog** · 05-05-2009, 06:39 AM

Find out from the 10 year old what they would like to do, maybe they see the activities as a bit childish for them.

Maybe give the 10 year old something else to do, while you do activities with younger ones.

Or let the older one "run" the activities for the younger ones, you could then let them have some responsibility and have a extra pair of hands to help you.

**emmadines** · 05-05-2009, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by Pedagog

Find out from the 10 year old what they would like to do, maybe they see the activities as a bit childish for them.

Maybe give the 10 year old something else to do, while you do activities with younger ones.

Or let the older one "run" the activities for the younger ones, you could then let them have some responsibility and have a extra pair of hands to help you.

Ive asked him and all I get is the wii or ds or x box

I have him either in the morning or the afternoon very rearly both.....

I ask him to help oout if the kids are doing anything a lil bit complicated but I get a huff or a "do I have to" :S

**sarah707** · 05-05-2009, 07:26 AM

The older one is old enough to sit quietly and do something else!

I think you need to explain to him the consequences of what he is doing / saying on the other children and on you.

Is there enough space in your house for him to be elsewhere?

**gegele** · 05-05-2009, 07:42 AM

Is there enough space in your house for him to be elsewhere?

[/QUOTE]

....under the stairs ...?????? ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

**emmadines** · 05-05-2009, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by gegele

Is there enough space in your house for him to be elsewhere?

....under the stairs ...?????? ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

with just bread and water lol

**Chatterbox Childcare** · 05-05-2009, 08:25 AM

Put yourself in a 10 year old boys shoes who has been at school or day. His day is structured already and if he wants down time with the ps2, wii, xbox etc why can't he have it?

Craft might seem a bit boring to him and he will then be disruptive.

Don't think you have failed because he doesn't want to do what you would like him to do.

**wendywu** · 05-05-2009, 08:28 AM

My after schoolers just do free play. They choose what they want to do.

Sometimes they will organise a game that involves the little ones and this keeps them all happy. Other times they will watch a DVD or do homework.

**emmadines** · 05-05-2009, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by wendywu

My after schoolers just do free play. They choose what they want to do.

Sometimes they will organise a game that involves the little ones and this keeps them all happy. Other times they will watch a DVD or do homework.

i only have after schoolers...... i try to do 2 -3 activities a week unless its sunny then i try to get them out side as much as possible...
i thought osted expect you to do activities with them???

**Chatterbox Childcare** · 05-05-2009, 09:10 AM

No where in the EYFS (your 2 x 5 year olds) does it state that you have to do activities to follow the 6 areas of learning. You need to look at what they are not doing at school and fill the gaps here - PSED socialising with others, playing games etc.. Healthy - cleaning teeth after breakfast

After they finish Reception then they are outside of the EYFS so you don't have to explain that to Ofsted.

I would be less structured and you and the children will have more fun

**emmadines** · 05-05-2009, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by DebbieS26

No where in the EYFS (your 2 x 5 year olds) does it state that you have to do activities to follow the 6 areas of learning. You need to look at what they are not doing at school and fill the gaps here - PSED socialising with others, playing games etc.. Healthy - cleaning teeth after breakfast

After they finish Reception then they are outside of the EYFS so you don't have to explain that to Ofsted.

I would be less structured and you and the children will have more fun

so with the 2x 5 year olds do things relating to the psed more so then the other bit and leave that with the school??

I thought I would grab some diff fruit and get the kids to make their snack (fruit kababs) althought I do have the 10 year old who only likes junk food (self admitted by him of course)

**Chatterbox Childcare** · 05-05-2009, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by emmadines

so with the 2x 5 year olds do things relating to the psed more so then the other bit and leave that with the school??

I thought I would grab some diff fruit and get the kids to make their snack (fruit kababs) althought I do have the 10 year old who only likes junk food (self admitted by him of course)

You will find some children like activities like your snack and will enjoy doing it but if the 10 year old doesn't want to, don't make him.

Yes cover what the school don't

Have fun

**emmadines** · 05-05-2009, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by DebbieS26

You will find some children like activities like your snack and will enjoy doing it but if the 10 year old doesn't want to, don't make him.

Yes cover what the school don't

Have fun

thanks, why is nothing simple lol, maybe younger ones would be easier but beggars cant be chooses i suppose..... I gotta admit I do like my lil group no matter how noisy they can be, I only have the ten year old till he breaks up for school hols as he changing schools..... :S

hes gonna be my 1st school leaver..... huff lol they are characters im telling you that lol

I just really worry that Im not doing enough with them

**louloudi** · 05-05-2009, 10:11 AM

I have mainly after schoolers I ask what they want to do and they aren't keen on set activities. the last few weeks all they want to do is go to the park or play outside. All though find I it tedious to supervise park playing for 1 hr (mainly cause I end up watching other peoples children) they enjoy it.
I'm really fused if Ofsted don't think Im doing enough as this is what the children want to do and they are getting loads of PSED out of it!!

**manjay** · 05-05-2009, 12:40 PM

I very rarely have anything specific planned for my after schoolers. If I haven't tidied away there may be an activity left out that the younger ones have been doing and occasionally they have a go. Most of mine are boys and tbh all they want to do is play outside, computer or wii. The older girls help themselves to simple craft activities that are easily accessible to them. Most nights I have 8-10 children here so there is no way I could please everyone with one single activity, except maybe snack time as they all seem to love that for some reason

. Everyone gets to pretty much to choose what they want to do (within reason). I don't have to answer to OFSTED but my inspector was very happy with how things run here

amanda xx

**beckycoop** · 05-05-2009, 01:34 PM

I dont do anything with my after schoolers as they have been at school all day. We go to the park on the way up the hill if its nice weather and then come back and either play with toys/together/garden or have a go on the wii.

I have a 10yr old son and he does his own thing. he plays on the computer/wii or xbox or goes out to his friends etc. He does like crafts but wants to be seen as 'older' and doesnt want to be treated like the smaller ones

If Ofsted want to know why I am not doing any after school activities/crafts then I will ask them 'when am I supposed to find the time?' Only so much can be done...I would leave them to play after such a tiring day at school!

Becky x

**The Juggler** · 05-05-2009, 06:00 PM

I agree. My two 9 year olds are fine together, sometimes TV, sometimes with their action figures or out in garden to kick a ball. On their own they are a bit more lost and feel like everything is a bit childish. Never really plan anything just guide them when they say 'what can I do now?'. They love to draw or junk model.

If I've not got too many toddlers and tea is under control, one of mine loves to beat me at top trumps or UNO. If you can spare the time, or get the others involved. Maybe even snap. All my five year olds join in when we play those sort of games.

They do also like a bit of space - is there somewhere quiet he can go?

However, agree computer, tv or wii is fine for a bit after a hard days structured slog at school!

**nannymcflea** · 05-05-2009, 06:14 PM

My biggies mostly do freeplay but sometimes I plan stuff such as
Walking to/from school blindfolded/ear defenders...they love this and follow it up with buttering toast and pouring drinks blindfolded.

We play board games, buzz on playstation or Wii but we mainly do these together on a day everyone wants to join in.

Today they played "mcDonalds"..may i take your order then the 2 eldest 9 and 11 were inspectors and shut the place down !

Perhaps thats the difference with girls?Mine love craft, we have grown vegetables and sunflowers recently.

I think I'm lucky with my older ones having 4 girls, though they do winge occasionally too.

**mushpea** · 05-05-2009, 07:36 PM

yes i think it makes a difference wether its boys or girsl and i no i probalby shouldnt say that but it does
my 8yrold son comes in from school and most days he disapears in his room and plays on the ps2 till tea time then again till the others go home, my daughter whos 10 loves to help with the younger ones and join in things but also likes quiet time on her ds after a busy day. the 6yrold always asks what craft are we doing today and i have now go so that i plan one of my activites to be done after school so she can join in. tonight it was making flower placemats tommoro its making grass heads (plants theme). I think she likes to do the stuff as her two younger sisters are here and she feels a bit left out if they do things and she dont .