Article Categories
» Arts & Entertainment
» Automotive
» Business
» Careers & Jobs
» Education & Reference
» Finance
» Food & Drink
» Health & Fitness
» Home & Family
» Internet & Online Businesses
» Miscellaneous
» Self Improvement
» Shopping
» Society & News
» Sports & Recreation
» Technology
» Travel & Leisure
» Writing & Speaking

  Listed Article

  Category: Articles » Home & Family » Article
 

Keeping the kids amused.




By Steven Pike

By offering the following suggestions, I'm not trying to tell anyone how to bring up their kids nor am I trying to point out what you are doing wrong (if anything). Parenting is not easy and keeping the little ones amused is one aspect of the job that sometimes seems much too time consuming or energy sapping to fit into our lives.

I'm sure a lot of parents do similar things with their children to keep them occupied, but maybe the following will give you some ideas that may make things easier and more enjoyable.

Take 'em away

This isn't possible on a weekly basis, but nothing will keep the kids amused like spending a day or to away from home. Whether it's camping, staying in a caravan park or hotel, the kids love exploring and visiting new areas. It is not necessary to travel too far from home and the accommodation need not be anything special. The children will pretty much amuse themselves.

If you have young children, between three and ten years for example, the area you visit does not have to have too much in the way of modern attractions or facilities. Kids at this age are like sponges; they absorb information without trying and the smallest thing can fascinate them. My six year old son loves to camp in the middle of the bush; the more isolated the better. He spends his days searching for kangaroos, wombats, birds and anything else that piques his interest. Even though he spots birds and kangaroos on a regular basis, he is still yet to find a wombat, despite sitting outside their burrows with a torch for half the night. The point is he never gets bored and manages to amuse himself the entire trip. All I have to do is feed him and answer the odd question.

Older kids, ten and over, are not as easy to keep occupied. They may become bored in isolated locations, unless they have a specific interest in the area. This can be alleviated by staying at places that provide other activities.

Wildlife parks, adventure parks, fishing spots, hiking trails and a nice place to eat are all good with the older kids and provide something different from their everyday life.

Sport

In between trips however, children are apt to get restless when they are at home. You may have experienced arriving home from work to be confronted by your kids stating that they are bored. This is a subtle hint from them to you that they want you to do something with them.

Often, having just finished working, you will be tired and maybe irritated after a bad day. The ideal activity here is to head to the local park or an appropriate open space and kick a ball around or ride a bike. Younger children will be happy to do either of these or some variation of. Be prepared to accept changing rules of the game though. You will probably find the exercise will do you good too.

Even mundane things like going to the local shops can break the monotony for kids. You can walk to the shops with the kids and dog in tow, killing two birds with one stone. A visit to the local park is good fun too at times.

There are countless toys that children have today, and often they will want to take them outside and try them out. This doesn't take much time or energy.

Indoors

This is where things start to feel like hard work for me. I'm happy with video or computer games, in moderation of course, and watching movies is also OK. It's when the board games are mentioned that I start to cringe.

I hate board games. Kids, of course, don't. If they find one they like, then, as with everything else, they play it to death. There is no getting around this. If you are a parent then you are going to have to play a board game or two. Depending on the type, they can be beneficial. Kids learn to count, add and think outside the square, so don't discourage them too much.

Watching movies and playing video games with your children can be good fun. As you know, it's hard not to laugh when your son or daughter starts and a lot of the later children's movies are great.

Relatives and friends

If you have friends with children then you can team up and amuse the kids. Sleepovers and outings can be arranged in a manner which gives each set of parents a break whilst the kids are off enjoying themselves. If all together, the children will usually mingle and leave the oldies pretty much alone.

Grandparents are a special resource. They love having the kids stay and usually spoil them rotten, which means you have to spend a day or two whipping them back into shape when they get home. Visiting the grandparents gives you and your partner a chance to recharge you batteries.

And the point is?

I think it is important to spend as much time with your kids as you can, especially in their younger years. Take them different places and show them everything. As they get older, the time spent with them decreases and they live their own lives and indulge in their interests. It doesn't take much to keep them amused and you will be amazed at how much they will learn.

Apart from the benefits to the kids, you will see obvious improvements in the way you think and view certain aspects of your daily life. It's good all round therapy.

 
 
About the Author
Steven Pike spends all of his spare time visiting country areas of his home State, South Australia, taking photographs. His interest in nature extends into the areas of camping and fishing, but his focus is on the magnificence of nature. He hopes to portray some of this beauty in his photographs and encourage people to view their surrounds in a different light.

http://smp.photostockplus.com

Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/32800.html
 
If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/32800.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked.



  Some other articles by Steven Pike
Visting the Coorong, South Australia
The Coorong is a stretch of water that runs from the mouth of the Murray River to just north of Kingston ...

Are you addicted to reading? What are the benefits?
I know, I know, it's sad. If, like me, you are addicted to reading, you will know what I am on about. ...

Fishing for Australian Salmon.
I have spent many hours on the ocean beaches in South Australia trying to catch Australian Salmon. It is a great way to spend time, not only for the fishing, but also the atmosphere ...

Remote area camping
Preparation is important when considering a camping trip. If that trip means heading into isolated areas then planning becomes crucial. Weather One of the first things ...

How to catch South Australia seafood delicacies.
Camping by the coast is a popular pastime for many individuals or families. It offers activities such as swimming, surfing, snorkelling and diving, fishing, exploring and hiking. With a little thought and ...

An Environmental Plan and the Local Government.
There is a marine ecosystem not far from where I live that was, up until ten years ago, facing the threat of being ...

  
  Recent Articles
Home Security Monitoring Systems
by David Johnson

Home Security Is Important
by David Johnson

Home Alarm Systems
by David Johnson

Benefits of a Home Security System
by David Johnson

ADT- The Top in Home Security
by David Johnson

Valentines Day : its History and Celebrations
by Arindam Bose

A step by step guide to relocating
by Ken Wilson

How much do we actually know about relocating?
by Clint Jhonson

Choosing the Correct Air Purifier for Your Home
by Kim Thompson

Hot Water Gas Heaters - Best Way to Heat Your Water
by Tanya Turner

Use your bathroom as a place of relaxation
by Martin McAllister

Planning the Birth of your Baby- A Few Helpful Tips
by Alison Hodges

Can't connect to database