Exhausted to keep my kid engaged

[Anonymous]

He needs exercise, books to read, and friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have never heard anyone actually use phrase ‘gifted’ in real life - typically code for ‘my child is on the spectrum and I am in denial’

Really? It’s a recognized IQ category, and has no diagnostic relation to autism.

[Anonymous]

Foster a love or reading, legos etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chores and play dates.

I was going to ask if assign a chore was still an acceptable response to “I’m bored/play with me.” That’s certainly what my parents always did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chores and play dates.

I was going to ask if assign a chore was still an acceptable response to “I’m bored/play with me.” That’s certainly what my parents always did.

“I know you’re bored, and you think I can fix it…but you can fix it.” Short, sweet and—once your kid gets the memo—empowering.

If your kid is used to having you provide on-demand entertainment, this new approach might require some commitment on your part—namely because self-reliance doesn’t happen overnight; nevertheless, it’s a tremendously important life skill to encourage. Just stick to the script, stay the course and let your kid be bored. By doing so, your child will have no choice but to show some initiative—and you might be pleasantly surprised to see just how creative and resourceful your kid can be.

[Anonymous]

I feel you OP. I have an only child, 7 as well. She has always relied on me to play with her. It's tough to disengage. I make her play by herself until we wake up in the mornings. She needs to do some chores to earn screen time. I play a bit with her then fade myself out. My child can play by herself but she prefers not to. It's a work in progress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have never heard anyone actually use phrase ‘gifted’ in real life - typically code for ‘my child is on the spectrum and I am in denial’

Really? It’s a recognized IQ category, and has no diagnostic relation to autism.

Not all gifted kids are Autistic. That’s a terrible myth that has gotten a lot of kids misdiagnosed.

If your kid is gifted, why not let him on YouTube to watch the Crash Course series. Download the app and let them play the games that quiz them on the material?
Or let the do the online cartoon math classes offered by Art of Problem Solving?
Or go to one of the Chess master sites and get a video game to learn chess?
You get a break and they get the mental stimulation they need. Screen time doesn’t need to be all brain rot. It can have him info your not an expert in.