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Summer Activities for Kids
It's so easy to get lured into letting kids spend hours in front of the computer, Nintendo
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Children need to spend time outdoors and engaged in other activities in order to have a healthy, well balanced life. So we do everithing to get our children to be more active. We (the whole family) are swiming, diving, play tennis, go camping and many others. But my kids do not miss the chance to surf the Internet anyways. They are allowed 2 hours of total screen time in summer. We control time spent online with help of internet filter called Ez Internet Timer (set the scheduler for the whole family).
My husband and I don't allow our son to play video games or have computer time in our home. We let our son watch two hours of television (with us) a day. This might seem over the top but we don't like to encourge what we call couch potato syndrome. We try to use this time to find things to enjoy as a family that does not involve a lot of sitting. Some suggestions I have are playing board games, going for a walk, reading books, doing puzzles, playing make believe, or just going to the park and letting your kids run wild. If time in the home without your children underfoot is what your looking for this is what my husband and I do. We tell our son after ample time spent together that it is now "adult time" this is the time in our home when our son must entertain himself in his bedroom or in our backyard. We just think that a lot of time infront of the screen discourages imagination. My husband and I have seen first hand what too much "screen time" has done to some of my son's friends. They cry and throw fits when they can't watch tv, play games, etc. they are overweight with practically non-exsistant imaginations. Well good luck finding your families balance!
Well it all depends on what they are doing on the screen if you mean computer time? I've actually subscribed to this on-line learning resource for my daughter that helps her with her Language Arts, Math and Science. It's an interactive resource that keeps them engaged and learning so that way when they get back to school in the Fall they will be right on target. Let me know if you would like more information on it I'll send you the link to the site to do a free trial!
My family and I have joined a pool and tennis club this year, and we are also members of the YMCA. My kids will be actively learning to swim this summer and we plan on spending a lot of time poolside.
Thanks HelpfulGrandma! I think kids who have special relationships with grandparents are so lucky. Grandparents can teach skills and tell stories about the good old days like nobody else. My daughters had the good fortune to go on some wonderful trips in the summer with both sets of grandparents--to Washington, DC, Alaska and Russia, and they still talk about those times. And there's a special bond between a grandchild and grandparent that serves each well. Wouldn't it be great if lonely seniors in our communities had a way to reach out to families that don't have grandparents in the picture and take on a surrogate role?
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Parent Replies to "Screen time during the summer"
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