Exercise, lieing to kids, and old fashioned childhood rant

[backyardfarmer83]

I'm guessing you own the one in your avatar? That's such a cute picture. I've never seen a horse roll in the dirt before. What city in Oklahoma are you in? I was born in Tulsa and still have family there.

 

[newfoundland]

It is sad that children seem to need to be entertained by adults. Certainly in my childhood this was not the case. We played our own, often imaginary games. We sometimes acted out episodes we had seen on TV, the night before, such as Robin Hood or The Lone Ranger. Play was very physical in those days. At school we played skipping or hop scotch, or just plain old chase! As adults, after lunch, every day, we wheeled our babies to the park, or just around the streets, we must have walked miles in this way. When they were of walking age, we kept up the same routine and they walked miles with us. No need for organised exercise because we went most places on foot. we carried heavy loads of shopping as well. My children walked to school, as i did. I believe walking is thew bst single exercise there is. For my grandchildren it's a different experience. Most children get taken to school in cars. All that built in exercise just doesn't exist in their day! I wonder if the high price of petrol will reduce the school runs?

 

[dkvart1]

When my girls were growing up I worked midnights so we wouldn't have to pay for day care and so one of us was always home for them.
For several years when my children were young we went without a TV, which was honestly the best of times. We rented a farm house on 80 mostly wooded acres and my girls were always outside, playing with our dogs (one of which kept them from wandering to far and would protect them with her life), building forts, collecting caterpillars to hatch then freeing what emerged, catching fireflys then turning them loose. Riding their bikes, weekly trips to the library, belly botany (nothing like laying in the grass looking at little critters with little ones!) Hanging out in the garden... we had rabbits and a goat that played tag and hide and seek with the girls.

We were rather minimalistic so housework was a breeze which left plenty of time to hang out with them and play. Oh how I miss those days!! My girls are grown now, with kids of their own. What a differnent life for kids now. It makes me sad at what they are missing.

edited to add: There are certain products I no longer buy because their commercials show people lying to one another or their children. I won't support a company that encourages dishonesty... I know they are tyring to be "cute", but to me there's nothing cute about lying.

 

[sheaviance1]

Quote:
You are the only other person I have ever "met" who says the same thing about Santa and the Easter Bunny.

As a child, if it wasn't dark or storming, I was outside. We watched Saturday morning cartoons, and then out the door we went. My children have a mix. We live in the country in a relatively safe environment. I say relatively because I cannot let them ride their bikes on the road. People drive way too fast. My son's are involved in sports, we camp, canoe, fish, hunt, garden, tend the critters, go for walks, etc. They do have a certain amount of game/computer time. In my area, a child can almost not do their homework without a computer, so this one was a must for our household.

 

[schellie69]

When I was a kid unless it was raining or blizzard we where out side playing. With my kids when we lived out in the county/small town it had less then 30 people living there they where outside from breakfast in for lunch unless we had a picnic in for dinner then out to bath/bed time. When we moved into my home town they still played out side a lot. Now that they are out of school they spend more time on computer but we don't have cable so we watch movies or shows on dvd. My grand daughters only got out back with an adult I have a 6 foot privacy fence but not sure I feel safe letting them play outside by themselves yet. When we get our farm I know they will be outside more. About the article I have done something like that on a rainy day if the kids where looking for something having them search for it instead of telling them where it was. I think it teaches them to do things for themselves. I don't believe in lying at all. Even if crime is down why are more people afraid of something happening. I don't know it does seem like more crimes are happening now then when my kids where little.

 

[Mattemma]

We shut down the tv (no cable) in a week. I told the kids *tough get used to life without tv!* There was always some excuse not to cancel the cable.

We have a yard full of weeds and plenty of pets to keep us all active. I see no reason to lie to my kids to get them moving. I have told them they need to be careful of their caloric intake and exercise,because they certainly don't want to end up like dh and I .We aren't just fat we are unhealthy.Many of our health issues are a direct result of our weight,and I tell the kids that so they avoid our mistakes.

 

[mom'sfolly]

Yes, crime is down. Awareness is up, and the national media is involved. It takes a lot of filler to keep multiple national news channels running 24/7 so you get people like Nancy Grace, the queen of white girl kidnapping. She specializes in missing or dead middle class white girls...it keeps the "danger" in the national consciousness. In previous generations a kidnapping in California or the Caribbean would make local news, and maybe, briefly, national news. It would not be on broadcast TV for months on end. Now every incident gets the same coverage as the Lindberg baby.

My kids have video games, TV and they have bikes, air soft guns and lots of outdoor activities. We live on a cul de sac, and back up to undeveloped land. The kids make jumps, ride their bikes, climb trees, shoot things, play video games, and watch TV. The little one is outside most days from the time school is out until dinner time, but it depends on the activities of the day. Some parents schedule their kids so tightly that they have no idea what to do with free time. They simply haven't experienced it enough to know how to use it. They go to school, do sports, homework and other activities, and never learn to schedule or prioritize on their own. Al ot of the kids not playing outside is parent driven.

 

[kfchickenlady]

We dont have any tv except netflix so I havent seen that commercial. How dumb. Am I supposed to have a lightbulb moment when I see that commercial? Wow, thats ridiculous! My kids go outside to escape interrogation about chores and homework , etc, also, theres not a lot to do inside unless its reading. Wow, that all seems familiar! My mom did the same, also never bought junk food. Ever. If we were hungry between meals, we got a banana! We also were told if you want to fight go outside!

I guess we fought a lot....

 

[paddock36]

Quote:
Hey I think were related 'cause your mom sounds like my mom. I usually tell my kids you can either go outside and play or clean your room. For some reason they always go outside. (Then they have to clean their room when they come in later, but they havent caught on to that yet)