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3ringcircus
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| Posted: Aug 14 2012 at 8:59am | IP Logged
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What do you do w/ your LO who doesn't particularly like to be outside? It's really too hot here for much of the day, but when the sun isn't too hot, G still doesn't want to be outside & active. His body desperately needs to move, too. We take family walks & have sports/swimming lessons on certain days, but I'd like him to be able to find his own activities.
Our yard is med.-sized. We have a 1/2-court slab of cement, a gazebo w/ a cement floor, & some lawn. I'm setting up water play, but have to directly supervise when the (electric powered) fountain pump is on. There are plans in the works to put together a play set but it likely won't happen for a few months. No trees. There are a couple of dirt patches that could be OK for making mud but not much space to roam and get dirty--it's the city.
He's addicted to TV. It's usually 2-3 hrs. in the afternoon, after he's finished school work and when it's over, he doesn't seem capable of occupying himself anywhere. He gets into mischief in the house, but really doesn't want to be outside unless he soaks himself w/ the hose and then wants to finish and come in and change 20min. later.
Open for any and all ideas! I don't want to take away all TV in the afternoon but if I have to limit it, I will. He knows that he gets less duration if he doesn't get his work done in a timely manner (tv off at 5). The baby sleeps in the afternoon, and it seems the easiest way to get them quiet and give me a break, too.
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Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
Started HS in Fall'12
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Aug 14 2012 at 9:54am | IP Logged
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Does he have any special toys he likes to play with? Maybe you could let him take those out. My ds used to love to play with army guys outside. Yes, some did get lost, but at least the boys were getting fresh air and sunshine. Taking a cheap plastic wading pool and filling it with sand makes a great dessert for the army guys! It makes a great sand box for any sand play.
I think something to play on would help a lot. Our swing set gets tons of use. They start out swinging and sliding but even when they are older there are monkey bars and gymnastic type things going on. Sometimes I have to look the other way because I get nervous. Boys need to be physical though and they really don't get hurt very often.
We also have a trampoline - ditto above.
We have a little pup tent we set up for our boys and they play army or whatever.
Any other kids in the neighborhood he could play with? That usually helps too.
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Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Aug 14 2012 at 10:03am | IP Logged
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Coming back to add a big cardboard box. We had one from an appliance some years ago. I let the kids paint it. It was all sorts of things before it fell apart. Then, it was a bit of a mess in the yard, but clean up really wasn't that big of a deal.
It might also help if you are out there with him. I know that it the hardest thing when you have babies or just lots to do inside. I generally try to get my kids outside when I want to get some cleaning done. But, if I go out and take a book they tend to stay out there longer, especially if it is just one. He talks to me about what they are doing/building etc. Maybe that way your ds will learn to enjoy just being outside more and the independent play will come later.
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Becky
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3ringcircus
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| Posted: Aug 14 2012 at 5:22pm | IP Logged
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Glad to hear that your swingset is getting lots of use. We have a small spot but it already has the gravel to the right depth. I'm planning to invest in something that has lots of climbing options.
You are totally right about the allure of having Mom out there. It definitely works for him (the younger two are more independent, so they don't need my presence). This sounds like yet another reason to get me a laptop--I can move my "quiet time" outside!
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Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
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Maggie
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| Posted: Aug 18 2012 at 1:09pm | IP Logged
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Laptops are priceless for this.
My LO will ride their bikes in the cul-de-sac while I sit with tea and check email, do lesson plans, make phone calls, etc.
Definitely multi-tasking here.
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Maggie
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| Posted: Aug 18 2012 at 1:14pm | IP Logged
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Also, there is something very alluring about large card board boxes and paint.
My 5yo spends a lot of time just painting things...even small boxes from Amazon or the grocery store...
And I will say this as gently as possible, but I think you should nix the TV. I am not anti-tv by any means, but it may be that your ds needs other options (painting, sidewalk chalk, biking, etc)...and to know that the tv option is not viable. This will be painful to go through for about 2-3 weeks (Expect whining and crying and tantrums)--I only say this because we had to do this ourselves after I let them watch waaaay too much tv during a difficult 1-2 years in our lives...taking away their *addiction* was probably harder on me because I had to ratchet up the parenting and creativity...and I soooo wanted to give in.
Just my humble .02. If it doesn't apply to your family, that is fine, too. 
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Wife to dh (12 years) Mama to dd (10) ds (8), dd (1), ds (nb) and to Philip Mary (5/26/09), Lucy Joy (12/6/09), and Margaret Mary (3/6/10) who entered Heaven before we had a chance to hold them.
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Willa
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| Posted: Aug 18 2012 at 3:26pm | IP Logged
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We don't have a TV, but occasionally I have had to "schedule" outdoor time --- iow the kid in question can't have computer time until he has been outside for an agreed upon amount of time.
I've also taken the kids away from the house for field trips/nature walks. And for a while we would go outside for an hour or two before starting lessons in the morning. That made the lessons go on to later in the afternoon, but it also shortened the available screen time.
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Willa
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Angi
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| Posted: Aug 18 2012 at 7:40pm | IP Logged
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My girls love to take my old table clothes, a pile of clothes pins, and 2 old tent poles (the bendy kind) and make a fort. Every single day  Maybe provide some kind of fort making materials. PVC pipe and joints would be fun.
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3ringcircus
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| Posted: Aug 20 2012 at 8:41am | IP Logged
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We have some PVC pipe and joints already! I could get some longer lengths and have them go to town.
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Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
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Becky Parker
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Use the pvc pipe and joints and add water! The kids like to make paths for the water to follow with turns and "T"s' We got that idea from a children's museum we visited once.
Regarding the tv, or any electronics for that matter, there is a constant struggle here between the electonics and the outdoors. I require my kids to get outside time, do their chores, and finish any school work before they can get on the computer, but it's still a battle, every day. It's amazing how creative they get when they've been off electronics for a while. Sometimes we do "an electonics fast" when they seem too dependent on them. It might take a while, but after the torurous "I'm bored" for 3 or 4 days, they start getting more creative and don't miss it at all.
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Becky
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: Aug 20 2012 at 9:49am | IP Logged
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I have the same issues at times too. Looking the ages of the kids, the 2 younger ones have each other. Even if they aren't playing together, they are likely just content in each others presence.
I really like the suggestion of assigning a time to be outside before there can be any screen time. In fact, I am planning to use that suggestions myself for my crew.
You state it's hot outside. Can you mix up your day some and have them outside in the morning, burn off some energy before it gets too hot, then start your lessons? I remember reading a blog, they switch their holiday period to winter, as the heat and bugs are too much in the summer, and it worked really well for them. They schooled lightly in the winter, with lots of outdoor excursions. Of course, it depends on your climate overall, it wouldn't work for me, as we have -40 weather in the winter that keeps us house bound.
Like you, I don't have an issue of the kids watching tv, as long as they do other things. I have been really relaxed over this summer, but as lessons start, we are instituting more guidelines. No hours on end of TV. We've had some crazy weather, pouring rain for days, then scorching hot. So rather than fight it, I went with the flow.
Backyard activities. We have a sandbox, swingset, trampoline. We also have hula hoops, skipping ropes, skip its, balls. Side walk chalk for doodling. DD13 likes to bring a blanket, and lay outside and sketch, dd8, likes to create a 'science journal' and draw the bugs, animals, and plants she finds.
This isn't something we have at home, but it could be, but dd13 decided at our lake spot that she needs a frog and toad sanctuary. She spent a week digging out a spot for a pond. It is maybe 12 inches deep, and 2 feet x 4 feet. We have some recycled rubber roofing as a liner. She filled it with water and is hoping that the frogs and toads she puts in the area will be back next spring. If not, that's ok, she's trying again, and dd8 is wanting to help. This is something I could see in any back yard if you have room.
Not playthings, but I have lots of vegetable plants, in planters that always are thirsty, and tasty for a snack. My daycare kids love a bucket of water to water all the plants, dd9 also loves to do this. As they are all in planters as our mature trees leach any nutrients from a traditional bed, excess water drips out, so their isn't much danger, and I have a rain water harvester(280 gallon)with a hose on it, so it doesn't cost me.
It's hard when a child doesn't love the outdoors. But, keeping at it helps, finding new ideas helps. I have never loved the heat, so you don't often find me outside in the afternoons. We do our outside things in the morning and evening.
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4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days
Topic: physical activity/playing outside
