Suggest to your DD a couple of things they might do before the friend comes over. Having some craft kits on hand is a great idea. Another thing that is baking supplies -- most girls enjoy making cookies, brownies, cakes.

Anonymous wrote:My 9 year-old DD (third grade) just disappears into her room with which ever friend is over and they play dolls, do art stuff, play family, play spa, set up obstacle courses in the yard, make up gymnastics/dance routines, etc. I prefer they don't do any TV or computer stuff when they have friends over b/c to me, the whole point of having a friend over os to be social. Of course, if they are having a sleep-over or an extended play date, I will let them watch a movie or something, but in general, they don't even ask b.c they totally entertain themselves.

My dd is in 4th(just turned 10) and she is similar. She really only watches tv if shes having a friend spend the night. Otherwise they just run around and keep themselves entertained. I dont think you can go wrong with crafts or baking. At least in the beginning until your daughter warms up a little.

Having a shy DD, here is what I learned -

The girls that came over and were "bored" end up not being the ones that she developed/maintained lasting friendships with. But, I would still have them over (because she was so shy) to encourage socialization. When one of the "quick to get bored" kids came over we always had an activity like go to a movie or iceskating and then 30 minutes back at our house before pickup.

As DD got older, she expressed to me that it was stressful to have friends over because she felt pressured to entertain. We tired having two or more friends over at the same time and that helped a lot.

OP -- it's not the screens. My two girls are super social and there are no screens allowed on our playdates, except for movies during sleepovers.

But we have a very kid-friendly house with a ton of craft stuff which both my girls love. We also have a white board and a chalk board and my older daughter (10) still cooks up stuff to do with her friends using those.

They put on plays, talent shows, concerts etc. (The have access to music.)

So just load up on craft stuff -- paint, markers, stickers, cool papers, washi and duct tape. Seriously my DD and her friends could make duct tape objects all day if I let them.

If your daughter is shyer, and these are new friends, take her with you to buy "kits" from Michaels so they don't have to put too much effort into coming up with ideas.

My 9 year-old DD (third grade) just disappears into her room with which ever friend is over and they play dolls, do art stuff, play family, play spa, set up obstacle courses in the yard, make up gymnastics/dance routines, etc. I prefer they don't do any TV or computer stuff when they have friends over b/c to me, the whole point of having a friend over os to be social. Of course, if they are having a sleep-over or an extended play date, I will let them watch a movie or something, but in general, they don't even ask b.c they totally entertain themselves.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hide & Seek
Freeze Dance
Charades
Simon Says
Prank phone calls (just kixding)

For 10 year olds??

Please note the *just kidding*

I assumed they meant the kidding for just the prank calls.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hide & Seek
Freeze Dance
Charades
Simon Says
Prank phone calls (just kixding)

For 10 year olds??

Please note the *just kidding*

I think the fact that the child is shy adds another layer to this. It might be harder for her to get going with some of the activities mentioned. Watching a show with a friend may help with making her feel more comfortable or prompting things for her to talk about.

Anonymous wrote:Hide & Seek
Freeze Dance
Charades
Simon Says
Prank phone calls (just kixding)

For 10 year olds??

Hide & Seek
Freeze Dance
Charades
Simon Says
Prank phone calls (just kixding)

Anonymous wrote:We don't have cable but we don't let our kids watch tv with their friends when they are over. We don't have video games either.

Do you have a backyard? I think that is part of OP issue is they have some kind of playroom but kids don't want to play with what they got.

What about old school rec room like ping pong or pool? Or is that a waste by there is an app for that

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD and her friends typically entertain themselves. They do nails and hair. They watch tv. They make up plays. They do crafts - right now they are making jewelry and bookmarks. They make music lys. They listen to music. They shop online and then beg us moms to buy them new clothes. They bake. That's all I can think of.

Right now we don't have a tv and tend to not let kids use games/computers. We are wondering if we are outliers and that is part of why bored.

We will keep crafts handy thought they had outgrown that.

Movie and ice skating and such are great but right now we are kind of limited to at home play dates when we host.

I am sorry but you are better off not inviting the kids over

Is it the TV? We will be able to afford one soon, paying for that addition made us cut the cord and we had been just streaming on computers so far...

My 9 year old would not want to go to your house to play bored games. It's not the lack of tv. It is the lack of entertainment period. No electronics, no going out, nothing that cost money. Umm ok... take them to feed the homeless?

We don't have cable but we don't let our kids watch tv with their friends when they are over. We don't have video games either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD and her friends typically entertain themselves. They do nails and hair. They watch tv. They make up plays. They do crafts - right now they are making jewelry and bookmarks. They make music lys. They listen to music. They shop online and then beg us moms to buy them new clothes. They bake. That's all I can think of.

Right now we don't have a tv and tend to not let kids use games/computers. We are wondering if we are outliers and that is part of why bored.

We will keep crafts handy thought they had outgrown that.

Movie and ice skating and such are great but right now we are kind of limited to at home play dates when we host.

Of course you are outliers!

Sadly many kids do need to learn how to learn to entertain themselves without a screen like back in the "olden times."

Not having a tv or video games isn't a problem. Invite the kids over for an activity like pizza making. Then make yourself scarce and let them sit around and talk and eat. Most girls can do that with or without nail polish or phones.

If you want to try to introduce board games, then I'd suggest doing it with another family who likes that kind of thing and has a DD the same age as your DD. Playing games is a lost art.