When I was a kid (i'm 38) we used to walk miles, swim in the rivers, stay out fishing for hours on end, eat apples from the trees, basically play and be adventurous until the sun went down. In between this we played sports. I played rugby from being 7 up to 22(ish), I also enjoyed playing music too. I know kids can't do many of the adventurous stuff these days and I would worry if my kids stayed out as long, but they CAN go out and play. Kids these days are more interested in sticking a headset on and playing call of duty with friends for hours in their rooms. Technology and the abundance of "Stuff" is turning kids into selfish zombies. I am seriously thinking of taking the tv out of my 11 y/o's room and forcing him to spend time with us. We are 3 miles from the beach, I would have loved to have been here as a kid. When we even bring up going to the beach the 11y/o turns up my blood pressure through his miserable selfish frustration. How do we get them out of the room and WANT to be outside breathing in fresh air??


Peace

I have similar problems with my 11-year-old daughter. I have to just take away her devices sometimes, and she hates me for it. She knows how to ride a bike fine, but doesn't feel comfortable on one, so I sometimes make her ride bikes with me when the weather's nice. You'd think I was torturing her.

Originally posted by kaylaluv
I have similar problems with my 11-year-old daughter. I have to just take away her devices sometimes, and she hates me for it. She knows how to ride a bike fine, but doesn't feel comfortable on one, so I sometimes make her ride bikes with me when the weather's nice. You'd think I was torturing her.

Had that problem too.
Try changing the type/style of seat on the bike.

Why does he have a tv in his room in the first place?

Originally posted by GrandStrategy
Why does he have a tv in his room in the first place?

I agree. I have one in a corner in my house that I haven't used in several years. I have no use for one whatsoever. It's a mind control device and i'm sick of being brainwashed.

I chose to live in a small town setting in a large city for a few reasons, one of them being this. In this borough you can't escape the kids playing in the street...All summer long

My teen boys both have game systems and television in their rooms, but they aren't obsessed with either one, especially not television.

It's common sense really. I'm lucky to live in a neighborhood where kids knock on the door and say 'Can Johnny come out?'. I just never give my kids the option...If REAL live friends want to play, they come first. I told them they will thank me when they don't miss out on some really fun adventures outside... They do chores 5 or 6 days a week and they moan and groan and need to be reminded sometimes, but they do it or they don't get money. If they want 25 dollar tickets to go to 'fright night' at the amusement park, they do 25 dollars worth of work.

Sometimes keeping it going can be gruling and I do feel like a bit of a slave driver at times, but consistency is important. Letting kids become lazy and spoiled is not worth it to me, I'll keep cracken that whip until I push them out of the nest.