What To Do With A Bored 5 Year Old Boy?

[EchoMom]

Help! What do I do to occupy a 5 year old boy??? He is very BIG for his age, and very very handy. He helps me with projects when I have them, putting together shelves, yardwork, etc. and he loves it. But I can't always do that with him. He goes to PM kindergarten for a few hours but he's here all morning before and the couple hours after until pick up as well.

My place is set up for infants and toddlers mostly. When he's bored he starts to act up and he's just too strong and big. He's absolutely wonderful and he's happy here and so is his mom so it's not a situation where I would want to term. He's terrific, I just know that he gets bored and I feel bad getting impatient with him when it's not really his fault, the environment just isn't really set up for such a BIG and older boy.

What can I do to occupy him???

[momofsix]

I have a spot (just the bottom of the stairway) that's gated off from the rest of the dc area. There are "big kid" toys in there. (legos, micro machines...)
When I want to give the big kids a chance to be "special" they get to play in there.

[SilverSabre25]

Do you have a superyard you can set up to be HIS space, where he has big boy toys like tinker toys or KNex or legos? Or at least where he can play and build without interference?

What about getting/printing some worksheets that work on skills he's doing at school? Maybe it's a girl thing but my kindy DD loves to work on a fwe worksheets here and there.

Can you let him play Starfall on your computer?

[MyAngels]

I created special "boxes" (storage type things) for my older kids. Each box contained something different to do like art supplies, legos, worksheets, small tools and balsa wood pieces, etc. They could get a box and sit at the kitchen table with it. I try to change it up every once in awhile, adding new and subtracting old. I use these a lot when I have kids that are getting ready to age out.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I created special "boxes" (storage type things) for my older kids. Each box contained something different to do like art supplies, legos, worksheets, small tools and balsa wood pieces, etc. They could get a box and sit at the kitchen table with it. I try to change it up every once in awhile, adding new and subtracting old. I use these a lot when I have kids that are getting ready to age out.

Love it! I do this too, except mine is a shelf. They also like workbooks, like trace-the-letters, mazes, connect the dots, labeled with their name, with their box of markers. My kids (all ages) get Titles. Like Flag Captain, Snack Leader, Clean Up Coordinator, Shoe Supervisor- you get the picture. The older the child, the "fancier" their title is, and the bigger the responsibilities, and the longer it takes to fulfill their duties. They totally dig jobs. Also, a 5 year old boy would likely play with those little Lego Men for hours. The tiny lego guys. Like 5 of them and a set to build cars, boats, etc. Like MyAngels said, they just need a spot at a table the Littles can't interfere.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have a spot (just the bottom of the stairway) that's gated off from the rest of the dc area. There are "big kid" toys in there. (legos, micro machines...)
When I want to give the big kids a chance to be "special" they get to play in there.

That's a really good idea.

[Cat Herder]

You can also let him do www.time4learning.com during times you need him to be quiet and occupied.

I have used it for DCKs in the past and the response from parents was phenomenal.

The price is so worth it. Parents may even be willing to pay. It is only $20 a month.

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

That is what I do as well.

I have a 4 yr old DCG and her 6yr old brother, DS 6 yrs old, DD 10 yrs old and when they are bored, especially on no school days, they can go into the spare room and play with lego, play mobil and all the other toys that are too little for the littles.

Doesnt happen all that often but they sure like it when it does.