Reply to Activities for Always Bored 4th Grader

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[quote=Anonymous]I have one exactly like yours (11yoDD)-  I don't think it's (all) my parenting, because my other kids are not constantly "bored," and DH is the exact same as this DD (and his parents basically neglected him as a child). We try to do something social or a family activity every weekend day. We have a pool, so in the summers we usually have people over to swim or go to people's houses to swim, but we also do bike rides to a some type of destination, host play dates, gather with our couple friends at a local pickleball spot (where the kids can play their own games), etc. But we can't really do a "hang out by ourselves at home" day - DD will just resolve her boredom by picking fights with her siblings. DH also gets grumpy.

It has helped a little bit because she is now at a point where she can babysit our 6 yo. She feels proud of herself and takes her role seriously so she will find things to do with him. This is probably not helpful this summer, but I wonder if going into 5th there would be any younger neighbor kids your dd could play with as a mother's helper for a few bucks an hour. 
 
As far as the few things she will do solo, she has dabbled in just about everything, but will reliably cook, bake, do her nails, sometimes read graphic novels (she reads before bed but otherwise doesn't usually pick up a book during the day unless it is a magazine or graphic novel). She makes friendship bracelets and crochets, but usually only while she is also doing something else (riding the school bus or chatting with a friend - we have a landline). She also does Duolingo (that is an exception to our usual screen rules). She has a 500+ day streak at this point. When she was in elementary I also enforced piano practice daily.

Of a little different vein, we started going to church when she was a baby - she was "bored" even then lol and I didn't know what to do with her crying all the time- and she still prefers going to Sunday School over having to be home. Sometimes I just drop her at Sunday School and get a cup of coffee in the church lounge. At least that gives her some socializing and it is something to do on a weekend day if we don't have any plans.

On snow days, we will give the kids an hour of screen time per hour of chores / educational activities (like a math workbook, reading, etc.). I don't think that I would do that every weekend day, but if you just have a day here or there where you are at your wits' end, that can be helpful.

TV time in moderation is also OK. Second the rec for "Just add magic." [/quote]

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