So while it would be nice to send the kids out to play like it was when we were young? We can't anymore - times have changed. But you CAN unplug the video games and the computer and make them read, and take them to the library,
I'm going to type this REALLY fast, and then duck - 'cause y'all gonna throw stuff at me.
Can't send the kids out to play? Oh yeah?
SURE YOU CAN.
You just have to do it differently.
And you DON'T have to "hoover".
Really...
Try...
- leisure card passes - swim/skate/weights/cardio/classes/sports/etc. all in one place - Johnny goes to play basketball with the other teens, Suzie runs the track, Dad lifts weights and Mom goes for an aerobics class. Then they all jump in the pool for a swim.
- take up fishing and/or gardening - great for the body, mind, and spirit - and if you're good at it, good for the pocketbook too.
- get a dog, and learn how to train it in an "active" activity - agility, fly-ball, tracking, search-and-rescue... and then participate.
- if you don't want to be tied down with a dog but like dogs, become a "dog-walker" family!
- volunteer at your local rink (oops - only applies in the north country where we get real winter!)
- bike riding as a family
- camping (except, gotta be really careful with that axe... and the matches... and...)
- non-motorized water sports (canoe, kayak, sailboard, etc.)
- start a walking school-bus (go look it up - great concept)
Get off your blankety-blank buttsides and DO SOMETHING.
TOGETHER.
Now that I think about it... back when I was a young-un, we DID have parents around. Just not watching US directly. On our block alone, 4 neighbors were early-risers and in their gardens by 6, half-a-dozen homes had parents on shift work, so Dads or Moms were coming by just after 11 pm. Some parents worked split-shift, and were around in the middle of the day, or worked part time and were there in the mornings or afternoons. There were always four or five parents "out and about" every single evening. In addition, the older kids (13-15) kept an eye out on the rest... our payment in return was being allowed to stay out half-an-hour later than the younger ones. (Biggest payback was Halloween, but that's a different thread!)
Now... most parents are gone all day, leaving about the same time and getting home about the same time... the whole culture doesn't support kids "roaming free", because NOBODY is watching (except the "bad guys")