what to do with an 11year old boy

Is this at your home or his. If its a your home you could do some cooking that would help set him up for the future learning how to feed himself properly. Or is there some other skill you could share with him - something craft based?

You are very precise on the time you are "allowed" and that it is strictly one and a half hours.
Is this a contact centre? If so, I know facilities are limited.
Have you thought of showing him how to create a diary/journal?
Lots of fun entries, drawings, his feelings,pictures stuck in, thoughts, plans etc.
There are some good journals on sale that lock at Smiths or Rymans or The Works etc.
Have a happy time with your grandson.

This is not an easy one. Our GS is almost eleven and we see him often but it is not easy to find things that engage him now that don't involve a screen. He likes to bake rather than cook, and decorating cakes and biscuits seems to go down well (if you can put up with the mess!!). Last year I bought some DAS clay, which can be rolled out and doesn't need firing, and we made some decorations for the C*******s tree. If he's interested he may be able to think of other things he'd like to make. The journal is also a good idea.

simple ask him what he'd like to do ,at eleven I'm sure he'll have interests and hobbies he might want to share with you

Would he perhaps enjoy model making ? Small airfix models can be done in an hour or so. Larger ones could be an ongoing project.

Is he into lego? Baking is always good (especially chocolate brownies). Airfix kits? Card games. Painting.

ginny's suggestion of an ongoing model-making project is a good idea - something for him to look forward to and a reason to return.

As is the suggestion of cooking/baking/crafting where he can take his creation home.

I m too guessing this is a contact centre so baking etc would be out Let him lead is he into football, lego, animals cars etc maybe scrapbook his hobby finding pictures to cut out or taking photos 11 s a dead difficult age as most boys don't do sitting still they just need a ball and a foot or three Does he collect anything ? What's he into ? i ve found over the years that whatever I think they will enjoy doing is usually wrong so let him decide then try and get whatever fits into it

Chess?

Difficult one. When my GS was 11 he used to like it if I set up an easil and let him use acrylic paints on a canvas - more grown up than water colour on paper. If inspiration didn't strike I would give him an art book to look at. If he's into football there are some good table top football games around that you could play together. I got one from The Works quite cheaply once. Or you could try mini table tennis. I do find boys like something competitive. If he is a studious sort of boy he may like to try crosswords. You can buy crossword books for children. My DGC used to like sudoku, too. Enjoy your grandson whilst he's still young.

I am guessing you are at a contact centre and so that certainly limits possibilities. At that age my son loved taking things to bits - could you take a screwdriver and a broken "something". Depending on his family circumstances you could draw a family tree and talk about relatives (might not be appropriate though). Build card houses and see who can get the highest. Crosswords.

I do think contact centres need to be more pro-active in helping visiting relations to use their time productively.

My grandchildren loved doing science experiments with every-day items. Some of them are messy and require a tray to catch spills. Some examples here.
www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html

But until we know if it's a contact centre or home some of these good suggestions just aren't workable

Why not let gs take the lead? What does he want to do? If a child has a favorite game, they're often content to play it over and over.

thank you for your help ladies, my grandson is in his own home not a centre but that is the only length of time his mother will allow. She has mental health issues. She would have a fit if we used the kitchen though its a great idea and he would love it. Chess is a great idea and I always say what do you want to play and he throws it back by saying whatever you want. He is very into Harry Potter and loves writing poems and stories perhaps crosswords would be a solution or wordfinder. Any other suggestions always grateful to receive them.

Ahhh, Harry Potter.... have you tried reading a chapter or two together (taking turns)?

"We have played every game possible..."

Does that include Harry Potter games?

Also, if he has a favorite or 2, why not repeat them? He might look forward to playing them with you each time. Since a whole month passes in between visits, I don't think it would seem too repetitious.

Oh gosh much easier now we know he’s at home ( is his mother present or do you have private time with him) google Harry Potter stuff and I m sure you ll find everything from games (Top Trump style cards are great ) colouring books making stuff
If he likes writing poetry he sounds sensitive and a “desk kid” why not get him a good hard back plain page book and do some Harry Potter scrap booking, like a project, drawings, poems, cut outs you can google facts together or do a big collage with craft stuff which you can collect up

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Monopoly? Very popular with 11 year olds. Think it's something to do with all that money.

Dungeons and Dragon type role play games too.

And Top Trumps which bores me silly , but they seem to be able to play it for hours!