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It sneaks up on me every time. One day, that little boy is totally happy to just build train tracks and push engines in an endless circuit. The next, he’s sighing deeply and looking for trouble with an “I’m bored,” look plastered on his face.
And as my husband’s grandfather reminded me many times: shame on you if you let a little boy get bored on your watch, because it will not go well.
Recently, John Mark made The Leap. I can trace it to it’s beginnings because I keenly remember the realization that he was shadowing me every.where. Asking even more questions than usual. (Apparently, this is possible.) Being reprimanded for coming up with cockamamy– and slightly dangerous– plans involving Lincoln Logs, marbles, and the dog.
Yeah, he needed something more.
In my years of parenting boys, I’ve learned a few things. I am not so bold as to say I’ve learned it all. Oh, no. But I’ve learned a few things. And here’s one of the very best tips I can offer you if you have a little boy somewhere between 7 and 10:
Busy hands for growing brains.
In other words, give the hands a purpose that feeds that hungry brain and you will have hit the jackpot. In our house, we try to find the sweet spot between encouraging creative pursuits (art, music, and writing) and exploring the disciplines now touted as STEM. Keeping a happy balance not only gives a child access to a well-rounded education, but also helps him find his strengths–and weaknesses.
Finding tools to build that kind of free time work/play can be tough. It has to be fun. It must be engaging. And let’s be honest– the cool factor must be very high. So far, we’ve found that John Mark gravitates towards visual art and technology. Given art supplies and a block of time, he will lose himself in the act of bringing the scenes in his mind to life.
The tech end has been a bit trickier. Many of the toys on the market don’t seem designed for long-term playability. There are apps, too. But because we focus on being creators rather than consumers– and most apps have such a limited shelf life of interaction, to boot– we have steered clear of those for the most part. That seems to just leave the next tier of tech gadgets– those designed with much older kids in mind. Sigh.
Our biggest win right now is the Ozobot, a deceptively simple learning tool designed to open the doors of coding and programming. It’s slight size, lack of complicated gadgetry, and easy-to-understand color coding make this the perfect first robot for curious but antsy boys like John Mark.
The Ozobot is interactive. While it comes with a handful of pre-made codes (and more are available online) that you can use to get your feet wet, kids have to research, plan, and execute their own OzoCodes to really get the fun started. The combos are endless, and are easily sketched out on plain paper with colored sharpies. Free apps allow you to turn your iPad or tablet into tracks as well.
It also has enough cool factor happening to draw the eye of a certain 15 year-old boy who was once madly in love with robots himself. But I digress …
We’ve found that all of these hands busy, brain growing pursuits are best as solo activities. Yes, you can draw or program with the little robot with a buddy. But what guys this age truly need is free exploration. Trial and error, the chance to make mistakes, try the same thing again, and finally decide that nope, that’s not going to work … it’s priceless.
We’ve also found that sticking close by to encourage and troubleshoot when asked is a valuable part of the process. Little boys becoming big boys can easily reach a frustration point when the huge project they have orchestrated in their minds doesn’t translate to reality. A gentle guiding towards dividing the big picture into smaller, bite-sized segments, or even just a listening ear that lets them talk through the vision, finding their own way. Also, adding a new dimension when things are losing steam or seeming stale (“Hey, I just printed out a new Ozobot track for you. Want to try it?”) can reignite interest as it wanes, heading off the dreaded boredom.
This age of boys? It’s magical. The curiosity, the adventure, the discovery. It’s all absolutely beautiful … and kind of tiring for a parent wanting to balance the much-needed open-ended time with just enough purpose to keep the matches safely in the top of the cabinet and the dog unshaven. Listen closely to your son’s heart, and challenge him with tools–and toys– that help him explore the world around him and develop a desire to know more.
What are your favorite toys, tools, activities, etc., for keeping boys this age busy and growing?