I'm a big advocate of children spending time outdoors. I remember as a young parent getting tired of the squabbling, whining, cries of boredom when children are inside too long. The noise level would force me to say, "Go outside and play." Outside holds a world of mystery to adventurers discovering a trail of ants, climbing a tree, fishing, playing hide and seek, watching the progress of the new plants growing in the vegetable garden.
Now I have grandchildren and this new world of electronics has invaded their lives and my home, Once again the noise level causes me to say, "Go outside and play." I enjoy an occasional game of Wii Sports, but all day long? And now the children have their own handheld video games, DS somethings. Enough! The outside is calling. Except...
This summer we are faced with daily outrageous heat, so what is a parent/grandparent to do?
Inside ideas:
* Find a deck of cards. Slapjack, Go Fish, UNO, Gin come to mind. Play a game 10 times and declare a winner. Post the name of the winner on the wall. Or make up silly rules for a new game. When a Queen is played, everyone must stand up, turn around, and sit down. When a 2 is played, everyone changes seats with the player on their right. What else can you think of? Be sure to let the children come up with their own ideas and play with them. It's good for children to see adults be silly.
* Get out the board games. Play a round of each game. (You may have to play with them to get the fun going.) Or the children can make up new rules for a game. (Someone could write down the new rules before play starts, so a creative child doesn't change the rules midgame.)
* Marching Band, if you can handle the noise for a short while. Everyone grabs an instrument, toys, pans, whistles, spoons, whatever you can find in the house. One person is the drum major, leading the band. March around the house, upstairs, downstairs, all through the house.
* Put on a play. The children can find a favorite book, or remember a favorite story and act it out. You can be the audience.
* Go for a train ride. Line up the chairs in the house, one for each participant. Take turns being the engineer riding in the first chair and the brakeman riding in the last chair, the Caboose. Where is the train heading? What sights do you see out of the train's windows? Is something on the track so the train has to come to a sudden halt?
* Superhero. Each child becomes their favorite superhero. It is okay to have several Supermen. A dish towel can serve as a cape. What magic powers do the heroes possess? I hear a doll in distress. Can someone help?
Outside ideas:
* Visit the local pool or a lake for an hour.
* Play outside in the early morning hours, before breakfast, when the temperature is typically lower.
* Play outside in the evening after supper. We set up badminton for our visiting grandchildren. They loved playing it so much, we sent a badminton set to their home.
* In the dark, play flashlight tag.
* Spot fireflies. As a child, we did horrible things to the poor fireflies. Now, we just have fun spotting them. Count how many you see.
Children enjoy using their natural creativity that can be squashed playing electronic games. Help them find it and memories of this summer will be made.
Now I have grandchildren and this new world of electronics has invaded their lives and my home, Once again the noise level causes me to say, "Go outside and play." I enjoy an occasional game of Wii Sports, but all day long? And now the children have their own handheld video games, DS somethings. Enough! The outside is calling. Except...
This summer we are faced with daily outrageous heat, so what is a parent/grandparent to do?
Inside ideas:
* Find a deck of cards. Slapjack, Go Fish, UNO, Gin come to mind. Play a game 10 times and declare a winner. Post the name of the winner on the wall. Or make up silly rules for a new game. When a Queen is played, everyone must stand up, turn around, and sit down. When a 2 is played, everyone changes seats with the player on their right. What else can you think of? Be sure to let the children come up with their own ideas and play with them. It's good for children to see adults be silly.
* Get out the board games. Play a round of each game. (You may have to play with them to get the fun going.) Or the children can make up new rules for a game. (Someone could write down the new rules before play starts, so a creative child doesn't change the rules midgame.)
* Marching Band, if you can handle the noise for a short while. Everyone grabs an instrument, toys, pans, whistles, spoons, whatever you can find in the house. One person is the drum major, leading the band. March around the house, upstairs, downstairs, all through the house.
* Put on a play. The children can find a favorite book, or remember a favorite story and act it out. You can be the audience.
* Go for a train ride. Line up the chairs in the house, one for each participant. Take turns being the engineer riding in the first chair and the brakeman riding in the last chair, the Caboose. Where is the train heading? What sights do you see out of the train's windows? Is something on the track so the train has to come to a sudden halt?
* Superhero. Each child becomes their favorite superhero. It is okay to have several Supermen. A dish towel can serve as a cape. What magic powers do the heroes possess? I hear a doll in distress. Can someone help?
Outside ideas:
* Visit the local pool or a lake for an hour.
* Play outside in the early morning hours, before breakfast, when the temperature is typically lower.
* Play outside in the evening after supper. We set up badminton for our visiting grandchildren. They loved playing it so much, we sent a badminton set to their home.
* In the dark, play flashlight tag.
* Spot fireflies. As a child, we did horrible things to the poor fireflies. Now, we just have fun spotting them. Count how many you see.
Children enjoy using their natural creativity that can be squashed playing electronic games. Help them find it and memories of this summer will be made.
