Hobbies for grandson

As you are the ones doing the inviting, then surely they must respect the fact that you want just the one child to come to play!

I agree, it's a disaster the other mother insisting the older brother must come. It's quite a bizarre notion anyway, as it's usually older siblings not wanting the younger ones tagging along.

I think it's because of the older boy's behaviour issues and their parents want to have a couple of hours without them both. Twice they just left them at the front gate and drove off. Huge remote controlled gates and the two of them left on the other side. She didn't even get out if her car.

It may not be Sims Ginny42, but I'm fairly sure that's what it's called - you build a virtual world, virtual cities etc.

That's a pity about the younger brother who is not allowed to visit without his sibling. The younger boy would benefit from some time away from his older brother too.

Yes, Fifa is really good and amazingly realistic. I love it too. He used to really like Minecraft but has gone off it a bit. I'll take a look at Sims Jalima.

They have 3 cats, one of which is his own cat and he's very caring about them all, plus a stray we call Miaow, which we feed and pay vets bills for when necessary.

Transport isn't a problem and there is a school bus from the village to the school 25km away. Our problem is that the youngest of two brothers who live closest was/still is a good friend of my GS, but his mother will not allow him to come to play unless we invite his older brother too. The older one is very badly behaved and when the boys were younger they just did as he told them, but now they're older they stand up to him and we got fed up of dealing with his controlling behaviour. She said if they're not both invited don't bother! A couple of times a term the boys in his group have sleep overs and then there's birthday parties often with a sleep over.

The really good thing about the computer games is that he's having conversations with his school friends.

Thank you again for the ideas.

The other thing I thought of - does he have any pets? Perhaps a dog? He would have to learn to look after the animal and could have some fun playing with the dog.

Fifa, Minecraft and is there one called Sims? You can build a virtual world; it could be the same as one my friend told me about years ago and if she approved of it, then it must be OK!

I do realise how difficult it is if he lives way out in the country without other families nearby or any facilities; however, I hope that you have transport and you or his mother will just have to be prepared to find some activities and become a taxi service to avoid him becoming isolated.
If he is a quiet, studious kind of boy, is there a chess club or something similar that he could join?

Of course there are non violent computer games the ganesshop man was talking out of his rear end
My grandson would play Fifa all day if he could (that’s not violent as one example) I don’t know anything about Minecraft but I m told that that is really good for problem solving and is even used in some schools
Think of computers as yesterday’s books
I think your last statement is the worrying one ‘his mother and I are essentially his play friends’ I understand he lives far from his school friends but can’t he belong to something in the area something like scouts His life sounds so organised maybe after a long day at school and homework he just needs to unwind and chill out aren’t there any boys live nearby that he can kick a ball or ride a bike with
Let him just be sometimes

There's loads of non violent computer games so the man in the shop is in the wrong job. Both my sons played loads of computer games these days they talk to their mates with their headphones while doing it and yes they still play even though ones 30 and the other 38. Fifa isn't exactly violent, well no more than playing football, there are loads of similar sporty games. Shoot em up's don't make kids violent either that's a load of tosh. They do know that shooting people in the heads not real.

Glad you’re Soety about it Melanie ???

Soety about writing 8f. I meant "if".

I went out for lunch so fingers a bit fat this evening.

He's the kind of child who needs challenge and when one activity is ending, he needs something else to move on to. Left to his own devices he would play computer games all day. Fortunately he's a reader. He does some after school clubs like robotics which he enjoys very much.

Yes, Paddyann I know computer games have many advantages, but too much screen time and games like Fortnite is not good, and shooting people in the head is a hideous concept. We asked at the games shop if there were any non-violent games and the man said not. It's what his friends are playing though. He's always been mad about trains though and is now constructing a layout and I'm going to help him paint a backdrop.

He lives far from his school friends and is an only child so his mother and I are essentially his play friends.

Thank you all for suggestions.

I think it all sounds very controlling I think computer games are the equvelent but so much better of books games and jigsaw puzzles we had all those years ago
My grandson used to talk to and play with his friends over a fifa game which was nearly as good as socialising as his school was a good way from home
Your lad really does sound like he’s from another era Let him decide what he want to do and please don’t see the computer as an enemy Hasn’t he ny friends in your area he could ride a bike or climb a tree with

Scouts? I am not sure 8f this is an old-fashioned suggestion. I think they're still active.

Get him out of the house. Swimming, football, tennis, cubs, drama.....

I would never suggest either a train set or stamp collecting for a 10 year old.You do understand that the computer games etc are actuallybeneficial to him? Trying to turn him into a 1940's child amongst 21st century children will be a huge mistake.Let him find his own way,he wont thank you foor interfering .

If I suggested stamp collecting to my grandson ( which I wouldn't) there would be a lot of rolling of eyes

DGS collects coins but, quite frankly, there is not a lot you can do with them! Collect, arrange and look at them for a few minutes!

I agree with other posters and with Maggiemaybe about letting their own creativity kick in.
Too many children are not capable of amusing themselves these days because of 'helicopter parents' hovering over them and organising their lives in minute detail.

If he lives far from friends at school, could he join a club nearby where he could meet other boys his own age? Is there a local football club or somewhere where they teach Soccer Skills - something outdoors? My friend's DS disliked football and rugby but took to hockey and still plays for a men's team now he's an adult.

I’m a great believer in letting children get bored. That’s when their own creativity kicks in and they find out what they want to do, rather than what we think they should.

He's already doing masses! Don't make your plans into a chore for him. ie not something he feels he has to do for Gran's sake. Leave him be.

Oh, and I should have added, re a photography hobby - there are some very good, free photo editing software packages around, which could give him hours of fun.

They sound like grandad hobbies that a 10 year old might do with grandad not really something they'd do on their own. Left to his own devices he might well surprise you, my youngest used to be very into world of warcraft which still seems to be going strong. He became expert at painting the figurines and sold quite a few on ebay for profit. He had himself a profitable sideline going for quite a while. I was surprised he was so good at it as he'd never shown any artistic leanings previously.

I too think stamp collecting is deadly dull and to be honest, rather anachronistic. I don't think any children collect stamps these days, any more than they collect tram or train tickets. These were the hobbies of their grandparents, not even their parents!
Buffybee's suggestion of a musical instrument (if he's interested) is an excellent one, as is photography. It is cheaper than ever these days to get an entry level DSLR camera, especially if you try the specialist second hand dealers - this could give him a hobby for life.

Thank you greyduster. I'll check them out. He lives in Europe and skis, swims, and roller skates. He's also completed a beginners sailing course this year and although he'll happily skis down a black run, he's small for his age, and found sailing daunting. He's keen on sports at school, especially football. He's also interested in following the International Space station and the planets and stars.

Lynne, he'd love to be good at art but he's not great artistically and gives up in frustration. He can copy pictures using a grid.

BB I spent an interesting afternoon yesterday doing Pokemon Go with him and he has hundreds of cards but these fads come and go in seasons. Right now his friends are into Fortnite and No Man's Sky. Yes he does play those games, but he's not allowed them during the week.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

What about learning to play an instrument, if he says he might be interested in it?
My Dgs started to play a guitar 2 years ago when he was 8, he spends lots of time practicing and has passed several Grade exams.
He is now the youngest member of a group, formed by his music teacher and they have performed at Church Fairs over this Summer.
He also plays Rugby and has two practise days and matches at the weekend.
Sport is great for getting them away from their ipads etc.