Games We Played

That is true. There are some places where kids see some interesting and imaginative ideas. Of course, those are movies and require screen time to watch.

Yes scheduled plug-in free days are good for everybody.

@arthurchappell I agree! Kids need to be outside more and explore nature and use their imaginations more.

It is good that I don't have kids because if I did I would not even have a TV. As it is I only watch an occasional golf game on mine...and netflix movies.

@sofssu I think that is great! I wish more parents would do that these days.

@drannhh I know exactly what you mean.

I agree schools are cutting out recess all together! For a few years after a certain grade they didn't get 2 recesses (morning + lunch). Kids need time to stretch their legs and be kids. They only have so much of an attention span that needs a break. Plus they are cutting out recess because the kids need more time in math ect. They expanded the school day by 15 minutes by us to get back recess and keep the amount of time spent on math up. It's all about passing tests to keep schools funded than a well rounded education.

Camping is very enjoyable for a family, my husband and I used to go camping at least twice a month and always someplace we never went before so we were always seeing different things.

@GardenGerty I think your daughter has the right idea.

@Marcyaz I think so too! I used to love to play outside and you couldn't catch me indoors unless it was raining and even then, we would play on the porch.

@simone10 Same here Simone we always had something to play outside and someone to play with.

Gadgets have become a great portable time killer. Instead of books or magazines we get most of our information on a gadget now days. Depending on the wait you might find me reading a magazine, checking stuff on my phone, or crocheting :)

It's like they don't know what to do without electronics. Good for the person who was reading a book.

@3SnuggleBunnies I admit that I do have a Nook that I read books from but that is the only gadget I have and I only use it at night when I go to bed.

@Shellyann36 You are raising your kids the right way. I think it is good for them to have time outdoors if at all possible.

My little friend teaches me how to use smartphone. :) He is just three and a half years old. But the more serious stuff is if he is going to sit there in front of computer from now will his muscles develop? I worry. When I was very young, I used to love going on swing, which may not have helped my muscles, but it gave me fresh air. Thereafter, it was round us, throw ball, and badminton. Badminton stuck.

@Hatley Kids do know more about electronics that a lot of us grown ups and that is a good thing. But at the same time, they should also have time to play outside as well.

@celticeagle We also played cowboy and indians and school.

@simone10 Of course as the weather gets colder, he does spend more time inside on the computer, but our home is small, so there isn't much he can do.

You are setting a good example by doing that. It sounds like his activities are pretty well rounded out.

@jaboUK They do miss out on a lot. Playing outside offers so much to our kids.

@GreatMartin That is so true. They get no exercise at all.

@hostessman Being outside and playing with friends can teach kids so much.

@Jessicalynnt You are so right. Most of us wouldn't know how to function without electronics of some kind.

@ria1606roy I know kids like that, knowing more about technology than I do. They should be playing outside more and using their imaginations. We never had playgrounds but we always made up games or things to do. We played school, cowboys and indians and things like that.

@simone10 yeah that's what kids should do, let their imagination run wild while playing and grow sportsmanship spirit and friendship. I never see kids playing like that anymore.

@ria1606roy I don't either and it really saddens me.

@simone10 My oldes grandson whois 20,is into nothing but games. He lives and brathers them. I blame his dad thought, as he is the one that gone him and his brother started with them, and once my daughter and him broke up, she never stopped them either. The oldest one is on his own, so he does want he wants, and it is a shame that he can't get out of playing games on the computer. By the way,he does work, but once he gets home from work, the first thing he does is go on the computer.

@rosekiss That isn't good about your grandson. They can't learn proper social skills that way.

I think it is a shame also. There is a time and place for everything, even technology and playtime outside.

@TiarasOceanView We played the same games and loved it.

@jstory07 Being out in the fresh air is so good for kids. I always loved going to the library and still do.

@LadyDuck That is great and I love to hear things like that.

@CookieMonster46 Don't get me wrong, I think electronics have their place. But a lot of parents don't take the time or have the time to watch their kids when outdoors. I was a busy Mom raising 2 kids on my own while working and I always made time to spend with them outside until they were old enough to not be monitored so closely. Even then, they had rules on where they could go and I watched them while I did things around the house. There is a way to do it appropriately. We can't let fear take over our lives.

@CookieMonster46 I can certainly understand feeling protective when a child was abducted and murdered close to you. I would be the same way and would keep my children inside.

@simone10 , no you can't let fear take over, but a child was kidnapped right outside down the street, and was murdered. The child went out side for less than five min to skip rope while mom was cooking dinner. My kids before they started school had time to play outside, but we had a lot of educational toys for indoors too.. I worked full time, so no my kids were not outside at the sitters. School started, we are all way too busy for outdoors, even the weekends may or may not allow for out door play. None of the kids in the block have that time either, they are doing other things. I always had time for my kids as well out doors, then things change, where they don't want to play out doors they start getting older and doing other things, sports, I am at all the sporting events with the kids, volunteer at the school in between work and many other things we do. Neighbors kids are not home, they too have swimming, karate, other seasonal sports.When I was growing up we didn't have all these activities, I sure would have liked it, rather than be home all the time. I only had one activity, that I really didn't enjoy but I still went to hang out with other kids. A lot of families in my block moved all the time, kids would come and go.

It was fun jumping rope, wasn't it? We also played hop skotch at lot and loved it.

@gudheart Yes! We used to skip just about everywhere we went.

@simone10 Oh yea that was fun too. I was better at skipping than that though lol