Getting your kid away from the computer

Saturday 9 Feb 2013 – Getting them away from the computer.

For an eleven year-old, playing outside is in direct competition to everything else available to them these days; Web-based videogames (Adrian is really into Minecraft);  the I-Pad-mini  and the You Tube videos (mostly about animals or videos produced through Minecraft);  Facetime and Skype video calls with his cousins, school mates and other friends; texting nonsense with friends for no reason other than to annoy parents; and of course there is always the old reliable I-Pod Touch that he carries in his pocket in case of “emergencies.”

The biggest struggle is prioritize activities.  My priorities for his “free-time” activities are:

1.  School Work (homework and study)

2.  Swim practice (exercise)

3.  Piano practice

4.  Outside activities and socializing with friends (face to face)

5.  Computer, games and web activities

Of course, his priorities are:

1.  Computer, games and web activities with I-Pad

2.  Computer, games and web activities with I-Pad

3.  Computer, games and web activities with I-Pad

4.  Computer, games and web activities with I-Pad

5.  School Work (homework and study but only if I remind him constantly)

(Swim, Piano and outside activities are not even on his priority “radar screen.”)

My daily challenge from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. is to get him to prioritize his activities.

Saturday was an outside activity day and I took him and his friend Alex sledding – and I quote “the most fun we’ve had since playing Minecraft the night before.”  They got some serious exercise!  Take a peek at the 3-minute video clip:  http://youtu.be/78a9WN8RCag.