Hobbies for DS who does not want to "make" anything?

[Michelle T]

I am trying to come up with some hobby ideas for DS, 11.5. He absolutely does not want any sort of hobby that involves "making" anything, which includes no crafts, no building hobby kits, no art, no gardening, no Lego, nothing in which one would be building or creating anything. He has poor fine motor skills, which mostly accounts for his extreme dislike of hands-on activities.

So, does that leave any sort of hobby for an 11 year old boy? He already does karate three times a week, is just barely beginning to play guitar (although not with any real enthusiasm) and goes bowling once a week.

He would really prefer to play videogames or go on the computer. He does enjoy taking pictures, uploading into computer, then making "comic books", which involve putting silly captions on his pictures.

But I'd like to give him some different options for free time.
Michelle T

[Stirsmommy]

I know you are looking for something different but how about growing his photography interest with books and things about different types of photography and composition? Also my a cool photography editing software so that he can change photos into pop art and other types of art? I was just thinking if he likes it could be a cool lifelong sort of hobby. And don't tell him but when he turns out comic books and photo albums he is making something.
My oldest actually frames his photos for the GP's each year for Christmas.

[Caroline]

Well, I guess this isn't really different, but my 12 year old son likes to use the MIT Scratch program to design video games. He also likes to play with and program his NXT Bot, but that is Leog, so I guess that is out. (I am being very little help here, aren't I?) Another activity he enjoys is cooking and trying out a variety of ingredients.

Did you see the photo books that Crissy was making? Perhaps he would like to explore that.

I hope you get some good answers, because I would love to have some other options from my son.

[Sue G in PA]

with some great photography books, editing software, books on different careers w/ photography (photojournalism, sports photography, National Geographic photography, etc.). My dd collects rocks and minerals, organizes them, ID's them, labels them, reads a lot about them, etc. She also enjoys coin collecting and thanks to my husbands step-mom's mother has an extensive collection of foreign coins! Let's see...stamp collecting, bug collecting.

[Brigitte]

They can help out with the fine motor problems and don't involve creating anything.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Give him an old computer to take apart! But be prepared for a mess. I make mine put everything in a big garbage sack between times. Give him a book about computer innards so he can identify the things he's taking out of the 'carcass'.

[one l michele]

Free program for young kids - http://www.alice.org/kelleher/storytelling/

Coin collecting? Collecting sports cards? Reading? Klutz books?