Sharon Stone Sued By Former Nanny
How to get the kids outdoors?
Filed under: Big Kids, Activities: Babies, Places To Go, Health & Safety: Babies, Development/Milestones: Babies
Ellie has a tendency to want to stay indoors most of the time. She likes to color and read and do crafts and watch television. I am totally on board with that during the winter because I don't particularly enjoy being cold. But now that it is warm out, I am looking for ways to lure her outside to play.
According to experts, Ellie's desire to stay in the house is not uncommon among kids today. With urbanization, computer games, television and shifting social values, experts say kids are suffering from 'nature deficit disorder.' I don't know that I would characterize Ellie's preference for staying inside as a disorder, but it certainly is a problem.
To battle her reluctance to venture outdoors, I have made a concerted effort to make our backyard seem like the most exciting place in the world. We have a swing set, of course. But we also have a cabinet on the back porch where I store a badminton set, croquet set, inflatable swimming pool, sidewalk chalk and various bats and balls. Just having these games available isn't enough; I have to set them up and play with her.
It's May and she is already getting bored with these activities. I know I can't be the only one dealing with a couch potato wannabe. How do you get your kids interested in the outdoors?
According to experts, Ellie's desire to stay in the house is not uncommon among kids today. With urbanization, computer games, television and shifting social values, experts say kids are suffering from 'nature deficit disorder.' I don't know that I would characterize Ellie's preference for staying inside as a disorder, but it certainly is a problem.
To battle her reluctance to venture outdoors, I have made a concerted effort to make our backyard seem like the most exciting place in the world. We have a swing set, of course. But we also have a cabinet on the back porch where I store a badminton set, croquet set, inflatable swimming pool, sidewalk chalk and various bats and balls. Just having these games available isn't enough; I have to set them up and play with her.
It's May and she is already getting bored with these activities. I know I can't be the only one dealing with a couch potato wannabe. How do you get your kids interested in the outdoors?
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
Role of Parents in College Transition Preparation
In this video, parenting expert and independent educational consultant, Wendie Lubic (The College Lady) talks about the role of parents in helping their children preparing for college.
-
Stress Solutions for Parents
Stress expert Dr. Georgia Witkin takes questions from our Moms Across America about their biggest stress concerns.
-
Parenting: Kids and Healthy Food
Dr. Laura Markham explains how you can get your child to eat healthy food.
-
Parenting: How to Take Care of Kids on Airplanes
Planning a trip with your children? Watch this video to learn how to take care of them on an airplane.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
5-22-2007 @ 12:20PM
Jessica said...I'll tell you the old fashioned way. My parents never had all that *stuff*. They did, however, have authority and told us to get out of the house. Period. We couldn't come back until some later time and we just had to make do. We had to use our imagination and come up with games to play and things to do.
Reply
5-22-2007 @ 12:40PM
Courtney said...I feel bad for you because I have a 3 year old you cannot keep inside. However, my 6 year old nephew is a "couch potato wannabe" and my sister did exactly what my parents did. Get outside, I'll call you when dinner is ready, find a way to entertain yourselves. It didn't kill him and it really expanded his imagination.
Reply
5-22-2007 @ 1:28PM
Sandyone said...Friends. Have some over and send them outside. They can bring their Barbies, beany babies, dolls, whatever. Just play with them outside. Same for markers and crayons, etc.
If you've got some sheets or light blankets, they can learn to build tents.
Don't look for the other moms to reciprocate...just keep the kids at your house or they'll wind up gathered around someone else's XBox.
You'll probably need to innoculate her. Start with sending her out for just an hour. If she absolutely must come in, it's to help you wash the kitchen floor!
Take a trip to the park and stay away from the playground. Hit the lake and find some smooth stones for skipping. Lift rocks and look for frogs and bugs. Bring a nature book with you...birds, plants, animals, etc. Buy her a simple sketch book and some colored pencils and encourage her to draw what she sees.
It *will* come down to Mom just saying, "Out. Out until I call you in." It comes down to that even with kids who love the outdoors.
Reply
5-22-2007 @ 2:34PM
Anita said...Two things that may help your daughter get outside-One, buy a sandbox. Both my kids will play in the sandbox for hours. Secondly, invite some friends over. She may just need some kids her own age to show her ways to use her imagination outside.
Also, if you sit outside with her but tell her you are not going to play with her at this time, she may just be happy having you near-by and learn to have fun and be creative outside by herself.
Reply
5-22-2007 @ 2:59PM
Maya said...I agree with Sandyone! My parents used to set up a tent in the back yard for us... HOURS and HOURS of fun... even if we were just coloring it was our special hideout!
Reply
5-22-2007 @ 2:27PM
emjaybee said...I was a lot like that. What got me outside was getting a dog, which my mom did not allow inside at all. If I wanted to play with him, out I had to go. With him, I stayed out and got filthy and had a wonderful time. And met other kids with dogs.
My dog was a wirehaired fox terrier, smart as a whip, and sweet as can be. I still miss him.
Reply
5-22-2007 @ 2:41PM
SKL said...I agree with the old-fashioned "go outside and play until lunchtime" order.
Another idea is: "Since you're hanging around the house anyway, why don't you help me clean out this closet for the next two hours?"
Or: "We're cutting expenses. No electricity until sundown."
Finding out about what's going on for kids in the neighborhood would also help. We always wanted to check out the community activities such as crafts at the playground, vacation Bible school, summer reading club, traveling zoo, etc.
Reply
5-22-2007 @ 3:46PM
Stephanie said...I just tell the kids to head out too. Works pretty well so far! I get more peace and quiet from them when I tell them to go outside than when I let them watch television - in fact, I posted about that on my site the other day.
Reply
5-22-2007 @ 4:02PM
Ginny said...I can't keep my two inside and it's 90 degrees out there. We have a lot of "stuff" like a swing set; sand box; fort; creek; and a small pool, so it's no wonder....
Reply
5-22-2007 @ 5:05PM
Ethel said...Um, you're her playmate, right? You need to go outside too. She'll follow.
Reply
5-22-2007 @ 6:15PM
Lt said...Awesome suggestions Sandyone! I forced my two boys (3 and 5) out into the yard today. I had to make a ton of cookies for the last day of preschool party tomorrow, and I can see them from the window. I let them fill up their water table, and gave them some boats and squirt toys to play with. There's also their bikes, chalk, etc. out there to play with. Still - after about 30 mintues, there they were with their noses pressed to the glass, wanting to come in. Argh! I'm going to have to get more creative, or else it's going to be a LOOOOOONG summer!
Reply
5-23-2007 @ 1:07PM
caitlin said...We do geocaching (http://geocaching.com ). It's like a high tech treasure hunt. There are a lot of caches that focus on points of historical interest (virtuals usually), and earthcaches, which showcase neat geological areas.
Everyone finds it impressive that we've been able to give up the stroller at right around age 2. But that's mostly because of geocaching. My son gets so interested in looking at all the rocks, flowers, and different kinds of trees that he'll happily walk nearly two miles before getting tired. The first thing he usually asks when he gets up is "Go find treasure today?".
Reply