What do your 9 year old boys do on playdates?

[Anonymous]

We still do not allow screens when friends come over, and lately whenever my son has friends over they complain a lot about being bored. My standard reply is "do you want me to take you home?" to which they usually reply "no!" and manage to find something to do. But I'm curious - what do your 9 year old boys do on playdates that is not screen related, if they are not playing outside? My son and his friends used to play a lot of board games, but lately they don't seem so interested. Laser tag guns were a hit for a while, but now are boring too. Same with air hockey table. and Legos. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We still do not allow screens when friends come over, and lately whenever my son has friends over they complain a lot about being bored. My standard reply is "do you want me to take you home?" to which they usually reply "no!" and manage to find something to do. But I'm curious - what do your 9 year old boys do on playdates that is not screen related, if they are not playing outside? My son and his friends used to play a lot of board games, but lately they don't seem so interested. Laser tag guns were a hit for a while, but now are boring too. Same with air hockey table. and Legos. Sigh.

You won't like to hear this but they play x-box. Then they get bored and run around the house, go outside for a while, come back in and play more x-box.

[Anonymous]

They have a lot of nerf gun battles.

[Anonymous]

8:34 here again-- YES, lots of nerf gun battles too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We still do not allow screens when friends come over, and lately whenever my son has friends over they complain a lot about being bored. My standard reply is "do you want me to take you home?" to which they usually reply "no!" and manage to find something to do. But I'm curious - what do your 9 year old boys do on playdates that is not screen related, if they are not playing outside? My son and his friends used to play a lot of board games, but lately they don't seem so interested. Laser tag guns were a hit for a while, but now are boring too. Same with air hockey table. and Legos. Sigh.

You won't like to hear this but they play x-box. Then they get bored and run around the house, go outside for a while, come back in and play more x-box.

OP here - I am realizing that our "no screen" policy is probably going to have to end soon. My 14 year old nephew does nothing but play video games when his friends come over. I realize that's pretty normal.

[Anonymous]

I let them play video games also. It's fun to play with a friend. They do that for a while; they will also play bball in the backyard, sometimes watch a movie. My kids only ever play board games with us. We are not big on nerf guns, but do allow screens.

[Anonymous]

basketball, football, soccer in the yard, nerf basketball in the house, then Playstation or Ipad.

[Anonymous]

board games have never been a big boy playdate thing around here

[Anonymous]

Board games, legos (didn't play with them for years and they are back in a huge way), nerf wars in the basement, we recently got a dartboard for the basement and they are loving that! OH< card games! We taught the kids gin and rummy and they have started playing those a lot.

[Anonymous]

Oh and OP, do what you want to do. You don't have to get video games ~ we chose not to and our kids have a ton of friends. As per your question I only listed what they do inside, but they are mostly outside playing street hockey on rollerblades or playing football when they have playdates.

[Anonymous]

We do allow some video games, but also legos, kiva planks, knex.

[Anonymous]

Legos (there are also some lego board games), Minecraft on the computer, or sports outside. I limit the computer to 1 hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh and OP, do what you want to do. You don't have to get video games ~ we chose not to and our kids have a ton of friends. As per your question I only listed what they do inside, but they are mostly outside playing street hockey on rollerblades or playing football when they have playdates.

We do have an xbox and I have occasionally let them play for maybe 30 minutes but it's a treat. I'm wondering if this will become more the norm as they get older.

[Anonymous]

Legos, board games (one night werewolf is a hit), tablets/video games, playing outside - kicking a ball around or walking over to the playground one block away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We still do not allow screens when friends come over, and lately whenever my son has friends over they complain a lot about being bored. My standard reply is "do you want me to take you home?" to which they usually reply "no!" and manage to find something to do. But I'm curious - what do your 9 year old boys do on playdates that is not screen related, if they are not playing outside? My son and his friends used to play a lot of board games, but lately they don't seem so interested. Laser tag guns were a hit for a while, but now are boring too. Same with air hockey table. and Legos. Sigh.

You won't like to hear this but they play x-box. Then they get bored and run around the house, go outside for a while, come back in and play more x-box.

This. If it's not too cold they do take breaks to do something sporty but usually it's back to the video games. We only have puzzle-type and cooperative games.