Home-schooled boys boredom syndrome

[Timothy]

OK, maybe you guys can give me some suggestions?

Once a month, there are a number of home-schooled families that get together and have a fun time out with eachother. It's good for them to get out and about and play with children that are "odd" like them (because they are home-schooled). The girls go off and play or talk like girls do. The girls are quite fair dinkum. But the boys...

I volunteer to play with the boys, right? I'm the oldest (I'm more than twice their general age), so I look after them. Well, they are hard to handle. Half of them are young teenagers, and they are so prone to getting bored. Personally, I think it is just that their attention spans just over 1 minute and 30 seconds. I had a bit of trouble with them last time.

Unfortunately, I'm hopeless at thinking up games for these guys to do. They need the work, as they don't get out and about that often. So when they get together, they usually have a lot of energy, but NOTHING to do with it.

Usually we play tennis, but quite honestly, they are terrible at it (except for one). They like poisonball, but they have played that to death, and last time I got some rather painful bruises from that stupid ball... I got some painful bruises from that stupid tennis ball too...

So we have soccer balls, and tennis balls. We have a tennis court with an ashfelt base... yes, I have gone for a nasty slide on it a couple of times myself... rather dangerous, but those boys change colour more often than what I do because of it. Personally, I don't think they care that much...

Anyone got any more ideas what these guys can play?

Any ideas?

[Psalms18_28]

sounds like they need more discipline from you when they get carried away.

I don't know for sure what you can do, but growing with with two brothers (one who get in alot of fight and one who has Learning disability and is not motivated to do anything) and having a 6 years old son myself, it certainly does sound like they need rules and disciplines.

here is my suggestion: Write a set of rules... and if they have three strikes, then they are out. Boys should not get so rough that they could cause someone to end up in a hospital. They should be playing for fun. Report to their parents if their attitude will not straighten up. Their parents will ground them.

If they play bad, it sounds like they need practice first.. have them do a warm up practice.

meanwhile, talk to their parents about having them to do more active work at home because it is not healthy for them sit around the house all the time. like walking the dog, or mowing, or go jogging with them.

[John81]

You say you have soccer balls; do they enjoy soccer? If so, that's a great game to burn off energy and keep them busy for a long while.

Are tennis and soccer the only choices for games there? How about flag football, basketball, some form of races, any area for a nature-made obstacle course?

[HappyChristian]

As I was reading this, the first thought that came to my mind was football, just as John suggested. It fits in with what P1828 said about discipline, too. They have to play as teams, so they learn teamwork; it uses a LOT of energy; it's competitive, which kids need to learn how to handle; and it's not a suitable game for girls (sorry to all those who think girls should be allowed to play every kind of game...football needs to stay a male's game!!!). If you're afraid they might get too rough, especially with the younger fellows, start out with flag football. Another advantage of football is that you can use up all the guys at the same time. With tennis you can't.

My brothers played football any chance they got when they were growing up...and that was a lot! With many or a few, they could always get a game going.

[Anon]

Maybe add some good competition and some incentive for when they win. Like...well, small bribes. Have a bag of small chocolates for the winning team or whatever. I know its silly but you never know, if they actually have a reason to play a game and play it right, they may do okay.

Or get permission from the parents to allow the winning team to skip a page or two of homework that night or something.

[HappyChristian]

Maybe add some good competition and some incentive for when they win. Like...well' date=' small bribes.[/b'] Have a bag of small chocolates for the winning team or whatever. I know its silly but you never know, if they actually have a reason to play a game and play it right, they may do okay.

Or get permission from the parents to allow the winning team to skip a page or two of homework that night or something.

Rewards, Suzy, not bribes!!! A bribe is payment for doing something wrong, whereas a reward is recognition for doing something right, well, and/or with a good attitude. Just had to insert that! :wink

[Trish]

kids, yes, even teens, will catch on to your excitment. If you put forth the effort and overextend yourself to make games look like fun anything you do with them will be great, because they will think you are the greatest and they will strive to please you. Remember to keep the athority you need to though.

[Anon]

Rewards, Suzy, not bribes!!! A bribe is payment for doing something wrong, whereas a reward is recognition for doing something right, well, and/or with a good attitude. Just had to insert that!

:Bleh :lol:

[IM4given]

How about skipping the games and putting all of that youthful energy to work?! I know that seniors would love to have yard work done and gutters cleaned. Volunteer work at a soup kitchen or a thrift store - moving big boxes of things or furniture, etc. Do construction cleanup at Habitat for Humanity. Get creative! If you do it as a group and then all go out to have pizza afterwards it can actually be a lot of FUN and make them feel as if they are contributing to their community and not just sitting around being bored all day!

[Bakershalfdozen]

Our youth group did many activities together. You can create lasting memories for these fellas with a little imagination and creativity. I hope I can be of some help to you. A few questions first:

1. Do you always meet in the same place?

2. Is it outdoor or indoor (sounds like from your post that it is outdoor)?

3. Do you have access to the other (outdoor or indoor)?

4. Does everyone have to stay in one place, i.e. no leaving the premises?

5. How large of an area is this?

6. Is there any chance of doing group activities with all the kids and even some adults?

Until I hear back from you regarding those questions, here are a couple of ideas to get you started. From what you have described, it sounds like you will be able to do these at your present location.


CAPTURE THE FLAG

**SETUP**

2. Divide territories for the teams. Streets, trails, creeks and fence lines all make good border markers. 3. Agree on two items to serve as "flags." They should be brightly colored and a foot or two across. (Old t-shirts make excellent flags) 4. Decide what happens when captured. Either choose to make players "out" for the rest of the game, converted to the team that caught them, or put in a "jail" to be rescued by their teammates. (Being put in jail to be rescued by teammates is the most fun; however, for smaller games, it's best to have captured players removed from the game for the sake of simplicity.) 5. The size of the playing field is dependent on terrain and number of players. The more players, the larger the territories. 6. Teams should be balanced in speed and endurance (i.e., an even number of little guys vs. bigger guys) 7. Outer boundaries for the playing area are not required, but may be agreed on for safety or convenience. 8. Avoid areas with dangerous objects, broken glass or cliffs, especially at night. [/list:u] **PLAYING THE GAME** 2. Split into attacker and defender groups within your team. Attackers and defenders can switch jobs as needed. 3. Using strategy, attempt to sneak across the border, find and capture the enemy flag, and then race back without being caught if you are an attacker. 4. Hide around your flag or along the border and try to intercept and catch any opposing players who sneak across if you are a defender. 5. Capture enemy players by tagging them while they are on your side of the border. 6. Win by capturing the enemy flag and carrying it back to your side of the border. [/list:u] **TIPS** Captured players must obey your orders. They cannot yell information back to their side. Once hidden, the flag cannot be moved. Once you capture the flag, you have to carry it across the border. You can't throw the flag across. Guarding the flag is poor sportsmanship and also reveals the location of your flag. Agree not to post a guard within 10 feet of the flag. Wear dark or camouflage clothing and tennis shoes. You can play with three teams and three flags to make things more complicated. [/list:u] **JAIL** 2. Rescue teammates by sneaking across the border, finding the jail, tagging your teammate, then racing back across the border. 3. Recapture players by tagging them again before they reach the border. [/list:u] ******************************************************************** CAR WASH - WATER FIGHT This activity will serve two purposes: getting a vehicle clean and having a boatload of fun!

1. Divide into two teams of three or more people.

1. Retreat by team into your territory to hide the flag. The flag must be hung at head height and be visible from 20 yards away on at least one side.

Avoid hiding the flag in a great hiding spot. Instead, put it in a deceptively open spot, where no one will think twice about it.

1. Put captured enemy players in "jail" by picking an area with a clearly defined border to serve as the jail.

*This activity assumes you have water access of some kind like a spigot, hose, sink, lake, etc.*

1. Get permission ahead of time from the parents to have some of their vehicles washed while at this homeschooling get-together. 2. Make sure there are enough cleaning supplies 3. Tell the boys ahead of time to bring water guns, water balloons, old dishsoap squeeze bottles and anything else that will make a great water weapon. 4. Divide the boys into teams of 4-5. 5. Assign each team to a vehicle. 6. Tell them whichever team finishes first (vehicle must be properly cleaned) wins a prize chosen by you (or they can win setup and strategy rights for the water fight that will come later). 7. After all vehicles are cleaned and supplies put in their proper place, have that water fight! ********************************************************************** FOOD GAMES Is there anything more hilarious than food games? :Green Here are some of the food games we used to play: 1. Lick the bowl clean without using your hands. This is to be done using a deep bowl and a fun food like pudding. Since they can't use their hands to hold anything, they will have to bend over and lick the pudding out of the bowl. It is sure to get all over their faces. 2. Baby food. Jr. high boys just LUV baby food. :frog That is, they love it when they see someone else have to eat it. :Bleh Divide them into teams. Each team is to choose someone to be the "guinea pig". That person gets blindfolded and is seated in a chair. Another teammate feeds the blindfolded teammate a gross baby food like strained peas or spinach. Whichever teams finishes first wins. Way too funny! ******************************************************************** OTHER GAMES Tug-o-war is a classic Organized games like football, soccer, kickball, dodgeball, softball Frisbee - our family loves to play frisbee. If you have several going at one time, it is even more fun. I hope this helps you. I know that energetic boys can be a handful but you can make this time something they look forward to instead of dreading because of boredom. :thumb

[Timothy]

Hey peoples! Thanks for all the posts so far! Already I feel really encouraged to "not give up", and persist with these young fellows. I guess that's what I needed most of all, even though I didn't ask for it, and it came indirectly. Have you noticed that when you pray too? You pray for something, and you are not quite sure what you want? So you pray for something, and God supplies your real needs--most of the time better than what you asked for. I'm glad for His wisdom! We serve a wise God!

Just quickly, I'm going away for a few days... a real estate agent fouled things up with a relative and I have to sort out a "situation" that could get "legal"... I don't like being in court... mostly because it is boring, and you have to sit about waiting for your summoning, and it is usually when you start kicking yourself because you didn't look for the restrooms on the way in... Anyway, I'm going to sort it out so that doesn't have to happen. So please be patient with me; you have been most-helpful already.

Psalms18_28, discipline really needs to be in order, yes. It wasn't because I wasn't greatly involved, but after last meeting, it seemed as though I really needed to do MORE. It's a great idea.

John, no, we aren't limited that much. Hey, when I think about it, there is a nice parking-lot out the back of the place that is GRASS! That's better than playing on ashfelt.... didn't think of that. I guess I need to get them out of the "court" and into the "field"?

HappyChristian, someone once taught me how to play "Aussie Rules". Because most of us are home-schooled (even me), we can play sport better than most professional players (generally), but we don't know all the rules to these games. We are a little dumb in that area. I'll try it: get a couple of boys, and start playing... surely they rest will join?

Kitagrl, thanks for the suggestion, and it is too bad about the "rewards" correction, I was going to really go ahead with "bribing" them :lol

Trish, yes, I have noticed that! These boys look up to me, probably because I take a great interest in them. The girls look up to me too, but I'm a little "scared" of some of the older ones... ha ha. (Yes, I'm still single, and this is the disadvantage I have: scared of them!) Anyway, it is very encouraging, and I really want to organise some kind of "harmony" in whatever they do, and I want to encourage that. They are good, and all of them are very special to me.

IM4given, would you know how good that sounds to me? That's a great idea, but it is a little gathering at a remote place (welcome to Australia) usually, so many things are out of the question. On the other hand, if I had an opportunity to make "work look fun", I would get away with... he he he...

Bakershalfdozen, wow, this is your field!! I will happily sit and listen to your advice/suggestions all day!
A1: Yes, we usually meet in the same place. Mostly because no one can think of a better place to meet for suck good rates...
A2,3: We have access to both outdoor and indoor (indoors is a "community hall", so it is nice and big), and outdoor has a nice large area out the back where people park their cars. (I got an old steel plated 4x4, so it is resistant against cricket balls--everyone else's car... well... I'll ask permission... at least...) It is grass, and occasionally mud. There is a tennis court also, as previously mentioned. Unfortunately, if it rains, everyone else goes inside, well, the boys get kicked out... (just musing the thought)
A4: I think that it is best if they don't leave the premises so that their parents can keep an eye on them. They kind of behave better, you know?
A5: It is hard to tell off the top of my head just how large the place is. It isn't THAT big, and outside the court there is nothing between us and the road. While it is not a dangerous road because there isn't much traffic, but there is a long-stretch just before it, and the cars are sometimes going past a little quickly. Anyway, that's beside the point I guess, but the area isn't as large as what would be "nice". The shape of the property is a "triangle" with a couple of buildings on it...
A6: Yes, there is a great possibility to get everyone together and have a go at something... except for the mothers; most of them like to talk, or they are rather large with with baby. Three or four large families together, and they could quite easily make a crowd! There is no problem with anyone joining in any activity.

I'll just print out what you have there, as I don't have much time now, but I really appreciate the effort you put into the post. I'll be happy to receive more ideas from you! Thanks in advance!

I'll be on at a later date; probably Wednesday next week, so please don't think that I have given up interest in this thread... thanks muchly!

[SimplyComplex]

Some things we played (and still do :lol ) are dodge ball, kick ball, lots of variations on base ball (think tennis racket for the bat, and beach ball for the ball... played one time where the bases were hoola-hoops, and as long as a foot fit in the circle, that many people could stay on base!)... Theres also volley ball (get the gals involved) and games less active like the mafia game and "do you love your neighbor"... hmmm.... you could get really creative and have bible questions, with certain things you have to do if you get questions right or wrong (push-ups, sit-ups, etc).... Thats all I can think of for now. Let me know if you want rules to any of them.

[bzmomo7]

When we were teenagers we loved to play soccer and also floor hockey with a ball on a hard surface.......was totally fun! (not to mention it used up a lot of energy!) Pizza is good for kids as a reward.........ummmmm, try and stay away from sugar and caffeine if you can. It never ceases to amaze me how fast those kids can get hyper--not to mention that fact that moms don't always appreciate kids coming home hyper from an activity at church or something either. :wink

[speerjp1]

Hackey sack.

It can be played by guys of all ages, anywhere, large or small groups, and the game is easily made more or less difficult with the skill level of each individual factored in.

We used to play 10 Hit Kill in highschool during our lunch break. Get several guys in a circle and use soccer touch rules to volley the sack among the players till you reach a set number of "hits" (The game's difficulty is adjusted by changing the number of hits before a "peg." If the group gets a lot of hits, then you set the number up to 10 or more; if they are not so skilled, then you can set it all the way down to 3.) Once you reach the number of hits, then anyone can grab the sack out of the air and, within a couple of seconds, throw it as hard as they can at anyone else from the group. Normally, everyone scatters, but if you catch the intended peg, you can throw it back at the person who tried to peg you. That ends a round, and then you just keep doing that until you run out of time or you keep score and someone wins.

It is a good way to improve soccer skills.

I always enjoyed it and we always got our energy out.