subject: Distracting Your Kids From The Digital Doldrums [print this page] With the availability of the internet, gaming systems, portable entertainment devices, and cell phones, it seems like kids are always surrounded with some type of electronic gadget. If you find yourself constantly trying to separate your kids from their digital appendages, offer them alternatives that will make them forget about staying indoors on nice days. Here are a few suggestions to help you keep your children's minds active and away from the droning of the digital world.
First and foremost, limit the time they spend on their systems. You are the parent. Make sure they know there are rules associated with the time spent on their computers and gaming systems. Set expectations that your children will be able to remember. Let them know that if they want to play on their systems, that they can do so after they play outside or for a half hour or so when they get home from school. This way there will be less fight when its time to move on to another activity.
Second, provide attractive alternatives to video games and surfing the internet. Take your kids to the park or for a nature hike. Plan activities for your family that will excite them and keep them entertained. Look up museums in your area and take your kids to cultural events so they can broaden their horizons and learn more about the world around them. Let each child pick an activity every week and help them plan out the event for the rest of the family. Creating and executing fun and exciting events for your kids and families will help them forget about spending hours in front of the television.
In order to stimulate your children's minds and help them spend more time using their imaginations and staying away from electronics, buy or make toys that will educate and entertain. Keep on hand a supply of dress up clothes and building toys for your children to play with. You can make fun and educational toys yourself and can find patterns to make things online or at craft stores. If you keep a supply of toys on hand for your kids to play with they will have more opportunities to play and use their imaginations.
Teaching your children to pull themselves from their digital entertainment devices will be something they will thank you for later on. If you set realistic expectations for the time the are allowed to spend on their systems they will use their time more wisely. Plan thoughtful and exciting activities for you family to enjoy. Keep a good supply of educational and entertaining toys on hand for your kids to use so they can cultivate their imaginations. As a final thought, use the digital equipment in your home for family activities like watching movies and playing games together. This way you can spend more time as a family and learn a little about what your children are doing when they are playing on their systems. Your kids will thank you for your distractions later when they have a host of memories from their childhood that don't involve isolated time spent with computers or video games.
