Kids today, don't know how to play!!
So my 3 SDs would rather plant their butts in front of the TV all day then play. I don't mind watching a movie now and then, but it seems like kids today would rather watch Dora The Explorer or SpongeBob then being imaginative and physically playing. I believe that is why 2 out of 3 of my SDs are obese; because the way their mother keeps them from annoying her, she turns on cartoons and gives them candy and cookies all day. When I was a kid, I was always doing something productive and fun; mudd pies, catching fire flies, freeze tag, climbing trees, playing with my dog, running through the sprinkler, playing hide and seek or playing with friends from dusk till dawn.
When I do get tired of cartoons and turn them off. The middle SD complains constantly! Running in and out of the house, "I gotta pee, I need a drink, I wanna cookie, I wanna watch a movie." just a few examples... They literally don't know how to play like normal kids!! What is this world coming to? We have a play set in the back yard, privacy fence, sand box, tire swing, outside toys galore and a pool; everything I could of only dreamed about when I was a child. Yet they constantly find some excuse to be up my butt and back in the house. I get them full time in about a month for the summer, and I want this to not be such an issue anymore. I want them to be physically active, not mentally brainwashed by the lame cartoons of today!! I swear, I loose valuable IQ points watching the nonsense of these new version cartoons. Me and DH try to go out and play with them, get involved and help them have fun. Yet every time we turn around they are yelling, screaming, hitting each other, just to get attention or in trouble so they get to go back inside. You remember when your parents used to say "if you don't play nice, you will be sent in the house"? Well these kids WANT to be in the house, sitting on their butts. It is so aggregating.
When I was growing up we
When I was growing up we didn't have a tv or toys and yet we had the most fun with friends and our imaginations! I do remember my mom a couple times actually locking us kids outside and saying "go play!!". Now that action would be considered abuse
Moms NEED time to regroup and get the house in order sometimes and when kids are always there it's so draining.
Try "breaking" the tv and not getting it "repaired" for a week. lol
I used to have "power outages" when my kids were small and it was amazing what they found to do
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I agree!! When I was a kid,
I agree!! When I was a kid, my parents locked the front door and had to look for me when they wanted me to come home. It amazes me how this generation of kids needs to be entertained... I'm not their personal activity coordinator!!
My SS8 plays outside all the
My SS8 plays outside all the time (great right?) only he requires DH to be out there playing with him. SD11 is fine, she plays well with my DD's 9 & 6 - they play (inside or out) with no fuss and no bother.
The SS8 however, OMG that child! The second DH leaves him to talk to me he's there, "Daddddddyyyyyyyyy, give me a piggyback" Daddddddyyyyyyy, play basketball with me" "Daddddddyyyyyyyy, watch me ride my bike/do tricks on my scooter/ whatever he can think of to get DH away from me"
Last week DH picked them up from school, spent 2 hours playing with both of them at the park (alone time - my idea - they need to spend time just with dad - no worries!) Get home, I am sitting on the bed watching TV (I have a broken ankle - so sort of stuck at the moment) SS walks in the house, walks past my room (door is open) 3 times, then plonks on his bed (just over the hall from our room) and waits. DH is carrying in their school bags etc from the car as they are lazy little sods and don't do anything. He puts down their stuff and heads straight in to see me, I can see SS watching out of the corner of my eye. The second his Dad goes around the bed to me he's up and in the room "Dadddddyyyyyy (baby talk voice which drives me INSANE) give me a piggybaaaaack" DH (bless him) says "Not now ***" SS leaves the room, DH leans down to say hi and give me a kiss, SS is back in the room - "Daddddddddyyyyyyyy, come watch me on the bike" DH says "give me 10 minutes ****" Sits to chat with me. 2 minutes later SS (who has sat briefly on the bed watching is back again! "Daddddyyyyy"
Cut off by me telling him to please get the fuck out of my bedroom *ok said it more politely than that!!
I'm glad I am not alone on
I'm glad I am not alone on this!! My SDs are either planting their lazy butts in front of the TV, or fighting and fussing with each other to simply get attention. When they do play outside, they are always doing something their NOT suppose to do!! Bad thing is, I am all alone in this. DH, is always finding SOMETHING to do to avoid the whole situation and his brats; leaving me to do all the work. So this summer, I am going to try and use your techniques to good use. They ARE playing outside, finding something to do, using their imaginations and NO TV except 1 hour a day, if their lucky. Burn off them couch potato calories doing what kids are suppose to do! Even thought about sending the oldest off to camp. She is 7 and needs to meet friends, be active/loose weight and stay out of my hair lol! If they whine about coming inside, they are going to do some house chores with dear ol step mom
Maybe that will teach them that playing outside is not so bad after all!
DH and I just had this convo
DH and I just had this convo yesterday, both sd and bs would rather be watching tv than playing. I shut off the tv an hour after they're home from school but then it's computers or ipods or xbox. bs will sometimes go out to play but it's not his first choice. sd never goes outside unless dh is with her so she can constantly say watch me do this watch me to that. As a kid I was always outside until the street lights came on, my mom had to remind us to come in to eat lol. It's sad. We decided to limit their time to an hour of electronics including tv per day especially since summer is coming and they'll be home all day. They can either be "booooooored" or get off their butts and go play.