Ideas for entertaining 9 yr old grandson

bikerhiker he’s not able to go out ! Just out of curiosity why can’t he go out ? I can’t imagine a week indoors with a 9 year old boy all mine would go stir crazy, is he or you ill if not and there’s nowhere to go but up your short road can’t you get a bus to somewhere shopping centre, swimming pool, gym , playpark aren’t there any other kids nearby I couldn’t manage a child in all day every day for a week, youre a better woman than me
Lots of good ideas from other posters
Personally I don’t think there’s much wrong with screen time as long as it’s not all the time

DGs aged 10 is into story boards..ie planning a short film by drawing each scene... then filming!

Lots of good ideas so far - my DGD(9) loves arts & crafts so I always have plenty of supplies.

As has been said, a week is a long time for the lad not to go out, other than up the road or in the garden, I think you should allow him more screen time. All very well for his mum to restrict tablet/TV but that's when he has his normal home routine.

Is he not at school by the way?

Download and print off a street map of an area that includes his home, school; infact any familiar places. Give him destinations to navigate to from his home and get him to write down the directions including what he would pass on the way.

We used to masks out of stiff paper or card, or paper mache.

I made a banana loaf a few days ago and it was lovely. I think it was a Mary Berry recipe I got from the internet. You would need a couple of very ripe bananas though. I plan to make another next time my GC are staying here.

Junk modelling was always popular with GS. Get together a collection of cardboard boxes, plastic bits and pieces, egg boxes, polystyrene, cardboard tubes, and build something, then paint it with poster paints. Board games and card games are always popular here too. DAS modelling clay is good too. It air dries and then you can paint it. It is a tad messy though!

A week is a long time to be stuck indoors playing cards, is he allowed any screen time ? Not even an hour a day? You could watch David Attenborough or some good programme together for maybe an hour in the evening? It would be good to have a longer project on the go that he could have something to show for his time with you. Make a big scrapbook of something he’s interested in like dinosaurs or space, but maybe using the internet for this would be allowed? Make a Norman castle out of some big cardboard boxes with all the correct rooms, knights, ladies - again you’d need a book or internet for reference here this could take a while, or maybe make a model Viking boat or something else you could research. Make a big collage/ drawing on lining paper of your area- collect leaves, acorns, pine cones whatever to draw or stick, different bird species he can observe through the window and find out about, he’ll need some time to run around so maybe get a small goal post and football or swingball you could put in the garden so he can have a bit of outdoor play. Have you got any neighbours with similar age children you could invite round?

Old fashioned classic games such as dominoes, draughts, tiddlywinks - today's children often don't get to play them.
Sure you'll both enjoy cooking together, both treats and actual meals.
Sewing and knitting are useful skills for boys as well as girls.

There are websites with instructions for science experiments online, for instance an impressive, and perfectly safe, volcano can be made with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda plus some scrap cardboard.
Sure you'll enjoy each others' company a lot!

My grandchildren love lots of the old favourite board games, such as Ludo and Snakes and Ladders. We have all – well, not the the three-year-old – recently learned to play Chinese Checkers and the ten-year-old is an absolute wizard. I have also taught them to play backgammon, which is one of my favourite games. Card games from snap and go fish to beggar my neighbour and sevens also amuse them from time to time. Cooking is always a good wheeze, especially if it's something easy such as chocolate chip cookies or cheese muffins – and helps with learning weights and measures. If you're short of time, go for a no-cook recipe, such as lolly cake – utterly disgusting but kids love it. I also have one grandchild who is never happier than when polishing the silver – not that there's child exploitation nor anything…

are fun

you're musical.

Word games eg a fruit or veg starting with each letter of the alphabet. Crosswords and puzzle books.

Helping you round the house - he could fold laundry, prepare veg, make his bed, dust and maybe even Hoover if yours is not too heavy.

Science experiments are fun, check out websites for ideas. Bug hunting, although that may not be too successful this time of year! Bird spotting esp if you have binoculars and keeping a log. Gardening work, if it's not too cold outside.

Knitting and sewing is fun, and sewing is an especially useful life skill. Will you go shopping at all? Thinking of meals, writing shopping lists etc then putting away the food. If your musical, making music or singing together.

If you have any pets, looking after them will be enjoyable. My 5yo GD, who has no pets at home, has had great fun feeding our two cats!

Have fun!

A pack of playing cards provides entertainment and education. My children learnt to mentally count up to 21 very quickly from playing pontoon. There are several versions of Patience/Solitaire to enjoy. Also card tricks to learn and practice to impress parents.