A good resource is Keepers of the Faith; they have lots of craft ideas for children. Also the Nature Friend and Timberdoodle catalogs.

You are probably already be doing this, but keeping him with you as much as possible as you go about your routine is helpful in that he will learn to be industrious. See how much you can allow him to do.

Collections are good at this age – anything. My 5yo has recently taken to collecting moss because she heard me say I liked moss. Other ideas might be cutting up old cards to make new ones, fingerprint critters, bookmaking, Legos or other building sets, an aquarium, woven potholders, simple sewing, being outside just as much as possible… A fun thing we like to do is what we call ‘doing a book.’ We select a book of activities from the library on any subject and do the projects in it until we’re ready to move on or have completed it. Perhaps your husband would give you the money he’d spend on a game system and let you spend it at a nice school supply store! 🙂 Five can be hard because there is not a ton of things they can do all by themselves and if you have other responsibilities (who doesn’t!), the little ones can find themselves spinning off into boredom. Pray that God will give you ideas.

I have three boys and I’m always ready to wave the warning flag regarding game systems. I have found that boys, especially, really have a hard time not becoming addicted to video games. I truly believe it is the enemy’s attack on this next generation. Not that you wanted to get this deep into the subject, it’s just dear to me since my oldest son struggled with it. We were given a game system by a well-intentioned friend and now my son (20) is wanting to get rid of it all so that his younger brothers do not fall into the same trap.

Blessings,

Cindy

I don’t know what your housing situation is, but we have a mini-farm of 2 1/4 acres, and having animals that require chores has been a big plus! There is the work, but they also get to play with some of them (my younger girls love to let their baby goats out while they’re running around doing their other outside chores–the goat kids are bottle fed so they follow their surrogate “mamas” everywhere!) It gets to be quite comical at times! 😀

I agree with both Cindy and Michelle’s wonderful ideas! I have had my little girls have some time at the sink, I fill it water,(well, not FILL!) and let them use measuring cups and plastic bottles to fill.

My boys are only 3 and 17 months, but I definitely caution the game system, too. We have friends who have 9 dc, 4 of them boys, and the mom said that boys’ temptation is entertainment, and for the girls, it’s vanity. I’d have to agree from what I’ve seen of young men (and even dads!) that are addicted to the game systems. And I am so sad to see the “blank gaze” from many of these dc that stare at tvs, computers and game screens for much of their day. 🙁

Let him help as much as you can, give him real work (and yes, it will mean MORE work for you in the beginning, but trust me, it will get better! 😉 ) to make him feel his contribution is important (which it is!).

And I had always thought I’d get some of those neat building type stuff from Timberdoodle! Right now ds is happy with duplos! LOL!

Blessings!

Trisch

Oh, I forgot. All my boys have done Cub Scouts/Scouts. They have all kinds of CHEAP craft/handwork kits for Cub Scout aged boys that you might look for. You don’t have to have a Scout to buy the kits, and they keep them cheap so den leaders can buy one for each boy. We used to buy these sorts of things for birthdays and Christmas–there are simple woodworking kits, woodburning, leatherwork, making little boats and cars that run on balloons and lanyard lacing and making a radio or a flashlight or a camera, leatherwork, science kits. There is a website, I think it is scoutstuff.org or .com, can’t remember, and many hobby type stores will carry the stuff.

For in the future, look up and get The American Boys Handy Book, and The Dangerous Book for Boys, and when he’s a little older, get him Backyard Ballistics and The Art of the Catapult. OR you could do it now if Dad was willing to help him with it. There’s nothing quite like a kid with a potato cannon or a working catapult. 🙂 My boys have made homemade kites, you name it.

Enjoy that boy!

Michelle D

Never underestimate how much a 5 yo is capable of doing around the house, in the yard, etc., chore/responsibility speaking. The earlier he learns how valuable he is as a member of the family and how important it is to serve others-starting with MOMMA, the better.

Is he a builder? An artist? Plays w/animals? Like trucks, trains, planes and autmobiles? The older the toys, I believe the better. He needs to have to make them come alive and work . Nothing that entertains him without him putting in the effort. It’s Spring now (well at least down here in GA,)and so much to explore! Blocks, Trains, cars, Wedgits, Legoes, Lincoln Logs, Lauri sets, wooden stuff, puppet making (with your help), lots of art stuff, playdoh, wooden animals and a forest to play with them in. What about dress-up? Does he like to color in coloring books or design his own pictures? I never did invest in anypredesigned coloring pictures beyond some good quality coloring books-bile based and creation based. Dover has a multi-tude of choices. Does he have an real live animal that he has to care for? What about starting a container garden or finding a plot of land for him to choose some plants and care for through the growing season? I have a 7 yro and he’s great fun!

BTW, there’s book out there called “Preparing Sons” with accompanying website

http://www.preparingsons.com/

concentrating and encouraging us to seriously consider the types of “entertainment” we provide.

Another author to consider is Dan Beard, co-founder of the Boy Scouts. His books are here:

http://store.doverpublications.com/0486461912.html

Hope this helps alittle