New Boy

[sharlan]

I have a new guy (8 yo) starting in a week. For the first week, I'll have him full time, after that, 4 mornings a week for 15 - 30 mins a day. My two oldest ones will already be back in school, so they won't be here at all while he's here.

It's been 12 years since I had an 8 yo boy. I've totally forgotten what they like to play with. I have tons of Legos and K'nex. Hundreds of Matchbox cars. I can ask his mom to bring his bike for that week and we can go on bike rides. Our Wii broke, so that's out. All the other gaming systems are upstairs and off limits.

What else can you do to entertain an 8 yo? He will be here alone with the 4 yo. There's an older boy down the street, but I'm not even going there.

Give me a girl and I'd be fine. I'm just learning boys as 90% of my former kids were all girls, very few boys.

[mom2many]

I find boys this age LOVE legos! The 7 & 8 yo boys I have had this summer have a blast creating things with them. I also gave them some clay one day and they had fun making things out of that. I went to the $ store and bought a bunch of 100 piece zig saw puzzles too. Those were a huge hit with this age group and it was something they could do on their own! I print up word searches and cross word puzzles too and they have had fun with those. It's always harder when you have only one older child. Today I had an 8 yo boy and 4 yo girl for the afternoon and they got along great having fun with the legos!

[sharlan]

That's what I'm going to have except both boys. I have the perfect table for puzzles. He's an only child so, he is used to being alone.

[mom2many]

That's what I'm going to have except both boys. I have the perfect table for puzzles. He's an only child so, he is used to being alone.

It does help when they are used to entertaining themselves. I have to say, those puzzles were the best investment I made all summer! I always stress about it though just like you are! I want the kids to be happy and not get bored, when they don't have playmates their own age. I have also made cookies with them and they absolutely love baking and it is always a special treat!

[jojosmommy]

Tell mom that he needs to have a book at daycare he is currently reading. It needs to be left at daycare and he can read that whenever he isn't interested in what the other kids are doing.

I had a 7 yr old (who just turned 8 last week) here all summer and she never complained one time.

[Sugar Magnolia]

My son is 7 and he loves to draw. Craft stuff too, like gluing macaroni, collages, etc. Agree with the Legos mention too, esp the tiny ones. He also loves naming the state capitals, but he's weird like that :: He knows all 50 state capitals, so now he's moving on to state mottos, I kid you not!
Is Pokemon still around? My 16 year old son loved those when he was 8 years old.

[wdmmom]

At 8 years old, he should be able to read, I'd provide him with some age appropriate books, workbooks to practice math, spelling, etc. Legos are good. Maybe a small remote control car, etc.

If it's only a week that he'll be there full time, I wouldn't invest a lot of money into it. 15-30 minutes each morning isn't enough time to do much so I'd just have him play toys until it's time for school.