Can I just say that my 7-yr old is already moody. Oh man, what are we in for in a few years? She has been so overly sensitive and very mopey over the past week or so. She doesn't seem to want to talk about it either. I question her all the time about whether or not something is bothering her and she just sits there. I'm at a loss as to what may be making her so blah. One thing I do know is that I LOVE the book "The Five Love Languages" and I've already recognized that she's a child of "words of affirmation". She thrives on us telling her that she looks pretty, does something well, or excels at something. I'm going to try lavishing more kind words on her over the next couple of days and see if that helps. I highly recommend reading that book. It really helps a mom recognize the ways their children feel loved. My oldest enjoys spending quality time with his mom and dad, and my youngest loves physical touch (mostly in the form of hugs).
So, I'd love to weigh in on your thoughts about video games. My son is really into Mario and for his birthday, he bought the newest one. That kid would play that game the whole night through if we let him. Both my hubs and I grew up with video games, so we can understand the excitement of getting to that next level. But, there are times where I wish that we would've never introduced them to it. It can be a big distraction and I find that when I tell them to turn it off, they are bored. The funny thing is, it created boredom for my two oldest, but my youngest will have creative play on her own time where she will pretend that her stuffed animals are mario, luigi and the princess. So, in essence, it has helped her have a medium to be more imaginative. I think there is some middle ground, but we just aren't sure what that is yet and how to incorporate it. And, please don't get mad at me for saying this, but there are times as a worn out and tired mom that it's just plain nice to have a few moments of uninterrupted time. What do you think?
I'm really excited about this coming week. We are taking the kids to Great Wolf Lodge. It will be our first time there. We will also be making a quick trip to IKEA, my favorite store ever. I should have some great picts to share for next week's TWIP.
Have a great Tuesday!
I can't give any advice, as I'm a 20-something that still lives with my parents, so I don't have any perspective from a parent's position. However, I did grow up with cartoons and video games, as well as with Legos, stuffed animals, dolls (though I preferred action figures; I was never much of a girly-girl), and a swingset in the backyard. I don't remember even once being bored as a kid, because I always had something to do.
ReplyDeleteVideo games were a part of that, and they're something I continue to play today during my free time, but I also played with other toys and games. I would run around the backyard, shooting my sister and cousins with our Nerf guns, and during the summer, we'd bring out the Super Soakers and water balloons. Indoors, we had card games and board games to keep us occupied, especially when we wanted to play games with our parents. I built houses out of Legos, and I'd imagine scenarios the Lego people would go through.
There was always something stimulating to do, and for that, I feel like I was a lucky kid.
My children are grown and I am now a grandma of 3 girls. My son is now 21 and will graduate from college in May with a degree in mechanical engineering. He always loved video games when he was younger and still loves them to this day. They provide a stress relief for him and also help him to socialize with others while they play. He has always gravitated toward sports video games and has not had a lot of interest in the more violent types.
ReplyDeleteThe important thing here would be moderation. I can remember when our son was younger and I could always tell when he'd played too many hours. His mood would become more argumentive and it was harder to get him to do the things he needed to do. After some thought, I made a rule of only one hour a day during the week and two hours a day on the weekends. At first, he really fought me on this but I stayed firm and eventually, he was able to follow the rule. His moods improved and he looked forward to being able to play as it was a privilege and not a right anymore. It also meant he had to find other things to do in the extra time.
As I watch young parents today, it seems that many struggle with thinking that they are depriving their kids if they don't let them do everything they want, but actually the opposite is true. They need limits and this would be a great way to start. There is nothing wrong with moderation in all things and this builds healthy minds and bodies.
Good luck and I love your cards!