Encouraging kids to go out more

DigitalJedi

I'm starting to get really frustrated with the amount of time my kids sit and play with consoles, Nintendo's and watch TV. When the weather is bad I tolerate it but like today the weather is good but neither want to go out. All they've done all morning is play on the Nintendo and Playstation.

I wanted to take my eldest to get a new bike so we can go cycling as her old one is now too small but was told that she didn't want one cos she doesn't like cycling. Suggested they call for friends and see what they're up to but neither wanted to.

I suggested that they play outside for "a few minutes" to which my youngest just started crying like I'd asked him to chop his own fingers off!

I've now banned them from any electronic gadgets for the rest of the day in sheer exasparation. Cue lots of crying!

How do I encourage them to be more active outside? They enjoy going places like fairs and working farms etc. when I take them but ofc i can't afford to take them every day. Plus I want them to socialise more with their peers rather than follow me around places.

We have a lovely little park on the estate and live on a cul-de-sac with quite a few other kids who play out. I'd even be happy for them to go a bit further as long as they were together. But it just seems like TV/DS & Playstations win the day all the time.

Anyone got any suggestions?

jetcat

ban any electronic gadgets for a full week - more if needed? worked with my friends, as he got wise to the one day rule, and would just sit it out!!! but by the end of the 3rd day, he was going stir crazy!!! so, off he trotted :j

but, to make sure they didnt get back to the old routine, friend devised a new rule of 2 days in, 2 days out - though in practice he had made some new friends, and was actually out a lot more!!

hope that helps, and good luck

Jem8472

I dont know what age your kids are but I would suggest this to anyone with kids.
http://www.aircadets.org/

I loved being in the cadets. I did loads of stuff. I have flown in the back of chinooks, done areobatics, shot the british army rifle, went solo in a glider at 16.

The only thing is I joined the cadets at 15. If I had joined at 13 1/2 (min age) then I prob would have done a lot more.

I am actually going to go down my local ATC sqd to see about becoming a civilian instructor.

eden37

I understand how you feel.My two sons 9 and 12 love their ps2 and I have to give them a time limit then its off-cue tears but I have had to be firm. My eldest hates going out for walks,to the park,basically anything except the ps2 and he moans/twists/winges for England!! The youngest isnt so bad. They have a few friends who live in the same street and the mums are adopting the same policy with the ps2!!! My 2 both go to cubs/scouts,I try to get them swimming and we enjoy the kids club cinema on a Saturday £1 each. We live near a cycle path and I get them out on the bikes-cue more moaning but they enjoy it when we get going.Perhaps a timer with a buzzer so they know when their time is up !!! Good luck!!

LillyJ

Jem8472 wrote: »

I dont know what age your kids are but I would suggest this to anyone with kids.
http://www.aircadets.org/

I loved being in the cadets. I did loads of stuff. I have flown in the back of chinooks, done areobatics, shot the british army rifle, went solo in a glider at 16.

The only thing is I joined the cadets at 15. If I had joined at 13 1/2 (min age) then I prob would have done a lot more.

I am actually going to go down my local ATC sqd to see about becoming a civilian instructor.

I am an instructor in the Army Cadets and I would second this. We get loads of kids who don't want to be there, then after a few weeks love it. We parade 2 times a week for 2 hours and it is free! You can't ask for more than free babysitting for 4 hours per week. Also we do weekends away which are only £8 and we feed and entertain them from Friday till Sunday! You can join once you are in year 8 so not sure if they are a bit young yet. If so maybe Scouts or Cubs might be an idea?

jay11_2

Hi, mine are a bit older now, both 13+, so I rarely have to limit them anymore (still do if it goes OTT). But when younger we had a 1 hour a day in hols and 30 mins school evening limit, (meanie I am), we increased it if the weather was bad and at some other times, like around christmas, this was all pre-agreed so that they knew where they stood. This time included all electronic media, and might seem a bit extreme, but my lovely good natured eldest became a monster if exposed to too much electronic media. We used a timer, and if they regularly went over we started to deduct time from the next day's allocation. It worked really well.

We also had a rule that if we (the wicked adults,) wanted to go out, like visiting/cycling/day out, and they made an OTT fuss about missing 'their' time then it was banned for a couple of days. This was part of the agreement around our flexibility when weather was bad etc. We figured that life isn't about sitting in front of a screen.

They usually used their time up as early as possible, so spent the rest of it playing, the kids knew where they stood, and now, because it was controlled, they have no probs switching off when they have better stuff to do, and regulate themselves really well. Apart from the occasional: you've been on there ages, or you're getting grumpy don't you think it's long enough, we rarely say a word now.

I'd decide what works for you and agree ground rules, kids need to know where they stand.

Spendless

How old are they? Would they go to the play park if you took them there, and then if they saw some friends there could you say do you want to stop and play for a bit whilst you nip home to put washing on etc.

findingmyownway

I think it works best if you lead by example.

How about a bike ride or walk in the woods, game of tennis or badminton, roller blading (you included!), swimming etc. It might take a bit of bribery at first but you could sell it as part of your new improved family life - they might not want to admit it but all kids love some quality time with their parents.

You could turn it into a race / competition and let the winner pick what activity you do next time? If you want them to work together then let them take you on as a team.

Make sure they see you enjoying yourself and wanting to be fit and healthy. Remember you are their role model. Maybe getting them involved with some healthy cooking / baking etc would supplement a new routine?

It might help if you join forces with neighbours / friends or let them invite a friend from school each.

Good luck!

LillyJ

I used to HATE walking when I was younger as I just didn't see the point. To me walking was to get from A to B rather than something to enjoy. So my parents used to say, let's go walk to the cafe and then we got a smoothie or something, or let's walk to get some ingredients for baking.
How about an allotment? They cost £5 per YEAR round here which is great value and they may enjoy having something to nurture. They can then eat the veg when they are grown and be even healthier! I would have loved something like this when I was younger.

BernadetteN

We do not allow games consoles from late Sunday evening to Friday evening on school days. We've had this rule since we bought them a second hand gamecube for Christmas 2 years ago and see no reason to deviate from the rule. Our kids are ages 11, 9, 6 and 2. The older 3 kids already swim 19 hours a week between them, do 3 hours of dancing, 3 hours of Beavers / Rainbows / Cubs, 5 hours of rugby or 3 hours of running club (depending on the time of year). There was no conscious decision to make them do so much outside but I'm sure the lack of electronic entertainment inside helped.

Banning the consoles for the rest of the day is hardly going to have much affect on them to be honest.


One thing that may encourage them to go out more often, apart from laying down more strict rules on electronic game usage, is to go out with them and find something you all enjoy together. That's how our kids' love of swimming started.

DigitalJedi

Well my son did go out and he played with next door's son all day and they had a terrific time.

DD stayed and sulked. She did come out briefly to play frisbee but later went back in.

Gonna limit the DS and TV watching I think. DD's making a stand about it as she thinks I'm being unfair. I know I can't MAKE her go and enjoy herself outside so will have to do it bit by bit.

I've tried to encourage them to look into school organised clubs/sports but DD especially isn't interested and DS's school do little.

Will have a look into something like cubs/guides and see if there's anything local.

Thanks all