"Keeping the kids entertained"

[Bonzo77]

I've seen and heard a lot of people discussing ways to keep their kids entertained during the school holidays recently.

 

Now, this may be testament to what a good job mine did on that front, but I don't remember this being much of a problem in years gone by.

 

We used to play with our mates. When it was hot my mum would fill the paddling pool. If it rained we did Lego, or painted, or occasionally got to make cakes. We also had projects. I demonstrated that a seven year old can push toy cars around for days on end without getting bored. When I was a bit older I counted the number and types of birds on the bird table. I used to go with the retired chap from next door when he walked his dog sometimes. We played cricket. We went to the park. Very ocassionally we'd pay to use a tennis court there - a bit of a luxury because it was 30p (this was the late 80's)

 

My mum couldn't drive when we were small, and besides my dad took our only car to work, so we never went far,although sometimes my grandparents would take us to a local National Trust place or something in their car.

 

It seems these days it's all about having as many 'experiences' as possible - Gullivers Kingdom, Blackpool Pleasure Beach - all that stuff.

 

Am I being misled by nostalgia and a distorted view of 'modern kids'? Or did us 30 somethings just do simpler, cheaper things to amuse ourselves?

 

I think parents are too afraid to let their kids out of their sight these days. I can remember building tree houses down the road from where I used to live. Most parents would panic seeing their kids up a tree these days.

[Louise2011]

I think it's also that that kids these days expect to have money spent on them and don't know the meaning of having free fun because they class it as boring. Parents need to show kids more than free activities can also be loads of fun :-)

[Tony Erikson]

I think it's also that that kids these days expect to have money spent on them and don't know the meaning of having free fun because they class it as boring. Parents need to show kids more than free activities can also be loads of fun :-)

 

If they do expect then that's purely the responsibility of the parent.

[Bloomdido]

I went fishing with mates at Aston ponds on our bikes. A £17 telescope brough me hours of fun (we backed on to a lot of houses) bird watching and star gazing. I went to Wath Ings Mecca with mates to see rare birds.

 

One summer, I took up origami and would stay awake until 2 in the morning with bits of coloured paper and I had a guitar that I was desperately learning to play. I went to the library to find out as much as I could and my parents didn't do that much except provide the resources.

 

I bred budgies and learned about inherited traits and I had a fascination with chemistry. I see my boy sat on his xbox every day and nothing I do tempts him away from it.

[Louise2011]

If they do expect then that's purely the responsibility of the parent.

 

True! Totally agree with that. It's has to be about parents nag kids going out and having fun together and realising that this doesn't have to costs alot

[Tony Erikson]

I went fishing with mates at Aston ponds on our bikes. A £17 telescope brough me hours of fun (we backed on to a lot of houses) bird watching and star gazing. I went to Wath Ings Mecca with mates to see rare birds.

 

One summer, I took up origami and would stay awake until 2 in the morning with bits of coloured paper and I had a guitar that I was desperately learning to play. I went to the library to find out as much as I could and my parents didn't do that much except provide the resources.

 

I bred budgies and learned about inherited traits and I had a fascination with chemistry. I see my boy sat on his xbox every day and nothing I do tempts him away from it.

 

I'm not a parent so my opinion may not carry much weight but could you not eliminate the Xbox? Do you play Xbox? Is your child mimicking you? I'm genuinely interested.

[Bloomdido]

I'm not a parent so my opinion may not carry much weight but could you not eliminate the Xbox? Do you play Xbox? Is your child mimicking you? I'm genuinely interested.

 

I have never played his xbox. I am working and a single parent effectively and he is left to his own devices a lot but then so was I at his age and I was never bored.

 

He hasn't seen his mother in over a month which puts more pressure on me. I wish he had more friends to do stuff with rather than online friends, who are still from his school, they just don't meet up.

 

I need to do something about the xbox but I'm not sure what. I have banned it before.

[kittenta]

I have never played his xbox. I am working and a single parent effectively and he is left to his own devices a lot but then so was I at his age and I was never bored.

 

He hasn't seen his mother in over a month which puts more pressure on me. I wish he had more friends to do stuff with rather than online friends, who are still from his school, they just don't meet up.

 

I need to do something about the xbox but I'm not sure what. I have banned it before.

 

I just limit the time mine spend on theirs. If the weather is good then there is no need for them to be glued to screens. Get him to invite some friends round or something.

 

If friends are a problem, could you get him to join a group or youth club or something so he can meet new friends?

[Odin's Wrath]

I was born in 1988 so relatively recently compared to most of you i'd imagine (no offence!)

 

My generation; or at least the people I socialised with seem to have been the last bunch of kids to actually act like well, kids!

 

We built dens, played football and rode bikes for miles but i absolutely sucked at computer games so i think this was a blessing.

[Draggletail]

Today I took our two down to Grindleford, walked along the river, happily dodging the sheep poo and spent a a great time playing at Pirates and excavating the river of 'big' stones, followed by a picnic and then an hour in the playground.

 

If we don't do something like this on a regular basis in the summer holidays we tend to feel guilty, like the hols should be made the best of .....

 

And indeed why not? I have memories of long, hot summer days that were often boring (not too many children on our street, no brother or sister to play with - a bus or train ride to Blackpool with my Mum would be a highlight of the holiday, later on my Dad would pack us both off to a caravan out in North Yorkshire for a good four weeks (not many children there apart from the weekend, when he'd join us after happily (or not) after getting ****** at home, alone)

 

Even now, on hot, sunny days I sometimes get feelings of sadness and loneliness that come from that time...

 

I've always been a friend to our eldest (almost six) and to be honest he's wanted/needed that since very young, it's an honour and a pleasure to be his friend and I love the closeness we have (his younger brother is a little more independent, but that's just probably younger brothers)

 

After our Grindleford trip today, we called at Bardwells electronics on Abbeydale Rd and parked on a side street at the corner, as we walked to the shop he said 'Daddy, there's children playing on he street and on the road, they don't have Mummys or Daddies with them' (they're taught pretty strictly that roads (even side roads) aren't good for playing on due to the mount of road traffic)

 

Tomorrow it's going to rain - a playcentre visit maybe for us then, maybe a bit of TV or a DVD or a Video Game later in the afternoon.

Friday I'm working so it's over to Mrs D, Sat they'll help me with a bit of DIY (they love it - max attention span 25 minutes)

 

That's just us, our family, and how we are, not answered the OP in particular, given me the opportunity to have a good ramble.

 

Now, well past time for bed - Playcentre in the morning