i have lost my mind.

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Tracy - Good for you! I complain pretty much everyday about how I loathe my children rotting in front of the tv/computer/DS etc. etc. We are late for everything, I can’t get them to do anything and I just don’t like lazy kids. I have tried limiting screen time but I eventually get lazy regulating it and the kids push & push. I have taken it away as a punishment…2 weeks at one point and let me tell you, there was no arguing, figthing, sassing etc. for 2 weeks…they were angels. I had to give it back b/c they were off punishment, but after reading this I am going back to limiting it…I like one show and 30 minutes of computer/ds.
Everyone has given you some fabulous ideas. Good luck and I will be looking out for how it is going.

theheavensdeclare@yahoo.com - Meg – you probably already know this, but you have some GREAT readers! 🙂 These comments were such a blessing to read! And, you know, the computer and the t.v. can stay restricted somewhat after the 21st, too. All the benefits you’re seeing in your children now can actually LAST if they don’t get back in the habit of lots of video games, tv, and computer time. Our four kids (ages 3-9) are home all day throughout the year, but the tv is only used for a little each week and we don’t play video games. They have great imaginations, love to play outside, and they love to read great books. It can be done – even against the cultural current. Loved this post and all its responses 🙂
XO,
Jacci in Ohio

anna - charades
pictionary
sardines
write and act out a play about a mom who is so mean that she will not let her kids watch tv… ;0)

Patricia - This summer I came up with JulyNoTVMonth! The kids were horrified at first, then mad, then they got over it by Day 3. It was such a blessing to spend more time having conversations with them rather than trying to talk to them over the din of the TV. My kids are 12 & 16 (she just turned 16 on the 29th of July and was OK with no TV on her birthday by the time the day finally arrived.) We went to the library every week (sometimes twice a week), we rode bikes, we played games, they had friends over, we went to the park, we went to the swimming pool, we crafted, we cooked, they played with old toys long forgotten about, we did puzzles, we gardened, we cleaned out closets, we napped ~ and in the end, we just plain spent MORE time together which was my main goal. When I suggested we do it again next summer, I must admit I was greeted with some major eye-rolling!
I should say that most of the things we did were THEIR ideas. I initially had a list of things to do, but to be honest, they had much better ideas! Once they got used to the idea of no-TV, they adapted very well. I did have to remind them frequently that no-TV didn’t mean spend more money …

Julie Ann - Check out the blog…one pretty thing. lots of craft ideas.

lacy brauner - I think you rock and i tell you that when i can : ) we too have cut tv. we quit paying for cable. im just wondering when my husband is going to fold and want it back… but the kids? 2 and 4… watch movies. old ones, like milo and otis and the little mermaid. i got sick of the excuses for kids shows on nickelodean and disney. my 4 year old develpoed a bad attuitude and was rude. i watched some of the shows.. there was too much whining from spongebob and too much kissing on icarly! channel 8 was always a good alternative… but i just got tired of it all around. so my family watches movies together now. we never did that when we had fox sports, the cooking channel, or disney! my kids still want to watch tv.. but now its on the bare minimum and its stuff i grew up with! and… they have a love for rock and roll and country.. because i am a little bit of country and a little bit of rock and roll.. because now i can listen to music and not spongebobs annoying buckteeth voice: ) again, you rock and youre wise

amy jupin - this is a funny post.
especially the sign taped on the computer and annie’s conversation.
i myself have tried this and failed miserably.
i say throw on some good music and have a dance party.
it may not keep the kids busy until august 21st, but it is a supreme stress reliever!!

Heather R. - I grew up with some friends who were Mennonites. No tv. We learned how to make clothes for our dolls. We listened to great bible stories for kids on the radio. I learned how to milk a goat(okay…no goat, I get it). Great games of kick ball. We rode our bikes ALOT.
I stole your idea this summer. Ironically, it was your poster. It has help us keep busy. Lemonade Stand, Box City(collect boxes from stores…let them decorate them), read a chapter book together(we take turns), volunteer(animal shelter), go fishing, sleepover, learn how to make balloon animals, wash cars by hand, Omaha Zoo(just got back). Just some ideas?
~Heather R.

Wendishopscotch.blogspot.com - Hi Megan! We don’t have a TV and limit computer time to 15 minutes a day. I think it will take some time to get used to but they’ll find something. I don’t think it’s Mom’s responsibility to entertain. I’m always amazed at what they come up with.

Robyn - these are all great ideas.
so i won’t add to it!
when in doubt… make yourself a stiff margarita and lock yourself in the bathroom 🙂
your brave!!!!!!
maybe ammend the rule to if you can play nicely and come up with some creative ideas and teamwork things throughout the day. you can EARN 1/2 hour of tv/comp/gaming at the end of the day.

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Ok – that is too funny. We just declared school nights no electronic nights – so my craziness will begin Monday. I got them a subscription to National Geo Kids and Highlights mag (very affordable)… they have to choose one activity each day (read article, etc.).
Bri also bought this game named ‘Survive’ fromm the 80’s. The kids LOVE it!
I’ll email if I think up more!

Julie Ann - Well, as a teacher I must say that I am very proud of you. You do not realize how many kids do not know how to play! I have to teach some of my kinders to actually play and not beat the toys. Ugh!
I would suggest for your sanity that you do a room time which means they need an hour of quiet all to themselves..that gives you an hour to reboot. They decide what to do, play dolls, write a letter, read books, color, they decide even just stare out the window.
When I took students on a Maple Syrup tour (I’m from Michigan…glad you enjoyed your vacation here) the tour guide said something most interesting (he was 80)…in my day and even when the Native Americans worked the maple syrup everyone had a job and worked. We all worked together for the greater good. No one had self-esteem problems because everyone was needed. So true, everyone had to pitch in for survival…what a concept we all have to do our part. Hence, chores! They will love it won’t they but they won’t complain that they are bored around you when you say you have something for them to do.
Sprinkler
water balloons
baseball game
soccer
park
bike rides
get a big ole’ box and paint it for a fort
magazine collage…torn pages to make pictures
paper mashe'(how do you spell that?)
paint the picket fence for mom?

Taylor-Ann - 1. Games are our family past time. Get out of playing the same ones over again and try some new ones. We like phase ten, LOOT, cribbage, screw your neighbor. All simple games that the kids will love.
2. We also like hiking or taking the dog to the park.
3. create a family project. Find something in the house that you have wanted to tackle; paint , make something and get all the kids involved.
4. Find a local newspaper and see whats going onin your town that week. Sporting events, the library….
There is so much to do but we forget about most of them becuase we are glued to the tube .
Good luck and I look forward to reading how it turned out for you.

Heather Young - Thinking back to what I did when I was a kid-and my mom was the same way-no T.V. during the day-find something to do! I was the oldest of 4, and would always get games going of imaginitive play. Have kids transform kitchen/dining into a restaraunt-they make menus (with things they can really make) and take turns being the waiter, cook and customer. Suggest they write and illustrate a story, then have them share with the whole family. Have them create their own summer camp. Each kid comes up with their own “station” and gets to tell the other campers how to do the station. This works great because each kid can lead something they are good at.
If worse comes to worse, and they just keep saying they are bored and have nothing to do, write a list of house hold chores they can do and post in common area. Call all the kids over and go over what you have included on the list. Inform them that the next time they can’t think of one more thing to entertain themselves they are free to choose something off the list to do. Make clear that complaining to you is not an option anymore. If they come up to you just say “check the list!” 🙂 Hope any/some of these ideas help!

Angela Atkins - Let them do their own thing. You might make a suggestion or two, but with my son, he seems to flounder for a bit and then settle into some monster story of his own with his legos or whatever for hours. Reading is good. Take them to the library if it is decent in your place. It is always so amazing what they do when they aren’t using the tv or games that I rarely want them on.

Darcie L. - Build a cardboard house out of a refrigerator or Washer/Dryer box, or more than one. We used to cut doors and windows in them, then spend hours and hours drawing on them, inside and out. Decorating them like a real house – hand-colored bookshelves with books (titled, of course) and curtains and flower boxes on the outside, and a mailbox slot to slide mail through. All colored with markers or crayons. Don’t know if they’d stay in one spot long enough to do this, or if you have a place inside from the heat to do it, but I loved it as a kid!

Catriona - PS. Have your kids got Bop It! ? It is BRILLIANT and costs about $20. Hasbro makes it. It is really addictive and I can imagine your kids loving it – although the noise will do your head in after a while…!

Erika - Put them in charge of some sort of cookie or lemonade stand and let them keep their profit! Or think of someone to give it to.
Make those little weaving loom potholders we did when we were kids. I saw them at Wal-mart today.
Make jewelry with felt and beads.
Have them advertise and do a car-wash.
Go on some sort of scavenger hunt. You’d have to organize that one, but who doesn’t love a scavenger hunt?

Maria - wow…you are brave.
We only do the computer for a couple hours a day, same with tv (well, maybe double that for tv, give or take)…but I do make them get off everyday for ‘quiet time’ (nap time for the littlest one) while the older 3 play in their rooms…legos, whatever.
I let them play much more in summer than in school time…during school days its only on weekends for computer/ds/wii time. TV for 30 min to have a break, then HW and other activities usually take over…so sometimes they’ll get more, but not lately.
playdates, swim time (I don’t even go out unless I’ll be near a pool…the heat index here is just killing us), summer matinees…
but usually I just tell them ‘go play’ and they do whatever…yesterday it was ‘percy jackson’ type play since they were playing a lego minotaur game and they watched a bit of the movie during lunch.
I guess mine are still young enough to not get too grumpy about it…but its still there…
oh, and reading time if they get really grumpy about having to have ‘quiet time’ in the first place…which they whine about at first, then get so absorbed in their books and/or fall asleep.
4 days and counting!

Jen - One more thing: read yourself some John Rosemond–his mantra “Parents were not put on earth to entertain their children”! And I tell mine that ALL THE TIME! If they say they are bored, I tell them “Only boring people are bored.” That shuts them up quick!! 🙂
My mom used to pour us some green kool-aid, line up the cups on the back step, and lock the back door! We HAD to play outside until my dad came home! We survived–and we had NO neighbors. We made MANY forts, lots of pots of dandelion stew, and many great memories!!

Mrs. Jones - Amen, sister!!
We have been playing card games. Specifically, Nertz and Egyptian Ratscrew. For the younger kids, we play Skip Bo and Ruckus (card games you buy).

bobbie - I agree about not entertaining them.. make them entertain themselves. Maybe take a trip to the library and let them check out some books to read but other than that, just let them play by themselves. If they need suggestions of what to do… I would keep the broom and cleaning supplies in plain sight. hahaha. Then send them to texas.. my house needs cleaning.

Daniele Valois - I think they will figure it out! Suddenly, they will be bored of being bored and start playing together and use their imagination! That, or tell them it is time to scrub!

tara pollard pakosta - what about board games?
for your little ones what about a good old fashioned game of find the button ?
what about the older ones designing a fun treasure hunt for the younger ones?
charades. reading out loud to all of them, a good classic. mine are loving Caddie Woodlawn right now.
paper dolls. build a doll house out of boxes for barbies/pollies (older ones can help make the furniture out of wire & cloth etc.).
I always give mine school work if they complain they are bored, that ususally gets them off playing on their own. we don’t have this problem thankfully! mine do go on the computer more in the summer I noticed though. during the school year we limit their time on any electronics.

Michelle - Let them build a huge fort in the house with all the blankets, sheets, chairs, tables, they can find. Encourage them to take flashlights in the fort and read, let them eat lunch in there, etc. I know clean up sucks, but they will make fun memories.

sara's art house - We are so on the same page. I am so sick of the tv and video games. Its not even like we use it all day- it is just that they CRAVE it. I want them to play like I did when I was young. I heard a friend say that they won’t even begin to really play until they say they about bored about 3 times. Tough it out girl! You can do it! Just try and ignore the complaining and see where it leads- it will lead to something because their imaginations WILL kick in. It just takes time. I am really trying to do this- trying to relax- it is OK if they say they are bored- they have plenty to do – they know where the paper and markers are. They know where the board games are….they have books (i have seen your pictures of their books 🙂 🙂
You can do it ! You are awesome!!!

Ana - Man, Meg, I could have written your post! My kids don’t know how to entertain themselves, either. My daughter can find ways to play by herself, she likes to color or play with toys, but my son…. the minute the screen (TV/computer/leapster) goes off, he’s as lost as can be! He and boredom are a lethal combination. It’s terrible. Nothing I suggest seems to be good/fun enough. I am looking forward to reading all the comments! Hang in there!

Courtney - Sometimes, it just takes 2 minutes to get them going on some heavy pretending. You just might have to say, “how about you can play hotel? you’re the owner, you’re a visitor…” etc. Assign a few roles. Give them a scenario… “you’re visiting a tropical island”. Maybe even throw in a natural disaster for some action? One person can be the doctor who saves the day?
Also, journaling. It saves me all the time! Of course, I mean the kind with lots of layering, tons of art supplies, etc.

Meg B. - we only have basic cable and one nintendo ds that only gets used on car trips. we save it for special movie nights or the olympics. they do have toys that they love, trains for the 7 year old and dolls and crafts for the 10 year old. the book shelf is full and they both love to read. we also make sure we make it outside some each day, early morning with lots of bug spray for when it is in the 100’s like it has been for the past few weeks. i also involve them both in preparing meals for the day and meals for the freezer. it will get easier and you may decide that after school starts they won’t miss it nearly as much. good luck!

Janelle - We started no screen time M-Th last fall and we’ve continued it through the summer. My best advice for you is NOT to give them things to do…or else they will always come to you for something to do! I strategically set out stuff for them…I’ll put a pack of UNO cards on the kitchen table…a couple of coloring pages on our project table, etc. Then I let them find them and decide what to do!

miss lynn - well. we are
the freaky family
that DOESN’T EVEN
HAVE A TV.
(except for during american
idol season. then we
dig it out of the
basement. it’s about the
size of a shoebox.)
anyway.
hit the library. check out
a fun read aloud. read the
first chapter to them
and get the older ones
to read to the younger ones.
cross your fingers.
idea number two.
water balloons.
three.
pick up a huge box
from the refrigerator
store. one for each
kid is best. they will
play for hours.
meg, you are a great
mom. have fun!

Stina - I’d just suggest doing nothing. Kids find something to do. If they are just going to whine and complain, then you could suggest a few extra chores….but, otherwise, kids usually find something to do all on their own. Good luck! I think you are brilliant! It might be a shock for a few days, but they’ll figure out that they need to come up with something else to do…and usually those are some great memories. 🙂

Lora - Love the read an hour and walk a mile suggestion! My son broke his arm on day 3 of summer break so our summer of swimming went down the tubes. There’s been way too much tv and Wii around here! yesterday I had them take the clothes off the line and make cookies…….then I rented them a movie!! sigh……..today we’re heading to the park for a picnic lunch with friends.
Good luck, dear Meg. I’ll be praying for you!!

Angela - Kudos to you, sister! I so wish that I had the self-discipline to implement and stick with it. I’ve tried to definitely limit it this summer, and it’s worked OK. My older boys are great at entertaining themselves when they can get outside. But with a heat index of 105 or higher (which we’ve endured quite a bit this summer), that can’t happen for long right now.

Michelle - Maybe I am the only one that feels this way, but why are they not entertaining themselves? They can read, color, play with legos, play with friends, go to the park, or just figure it out themselves.

Courtney - good for you! i’ve never done it for a chunck of time…but i’ve definitely done it on certain days. i always tell people it’s like pulling a bandaid off…it’s PAINFUL at first. the kids drive you INSANE! but you just have to stick to your guns and NOT entertain them all the time and you WILL be amazed at what they come up with! it’s some of the sweetest moments between my kids!

erin @ little apartment on the prairie - Good for you. I think there are times when that is the right thing to do. My parents used to shut off the tv and kick us outside, we found stuff to do. My nine year old was recently getting a little hard to handle so I took away his DSI for awhile. Kid’s get addicted to that stuff too! And though I have endured constant nagging and asking for it back, after a week or so, he’s acting better and finding things to do outside: digging, hunting for bugs, harassing the dog. It’s all good.

Angie - We start school next Wed, so I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel here! My kids (13 & 9) get 1 30 minute TV show and 30 minutes of computer time during the day. We’ve done this all summer. They’ve read a lot of books..my oldest is writing her own stories. I’ve been trying to schedule things in the middle of the day…seems like after lunch is when they get stir crazy. We have been getting out the slip n slide, going to the library and lately we have been volunteering at school. Of course, having friends over always works, but then you have the friend wanting to watch TV and get on the computer. Love your blog, btw!

tasha roe - teee heee hee!! laughing so hard at Annie’s friend!
we do treasure/scavanger hunts. instead of giving a straight list of items we make questions that have to be answered THEN find the item. might take more time to prep than it takes them to finish….
my boys like to make up their own games with cards, game boards, etc. they sometimes use playing cards, inside of cereal boxes or cardboard boxes for the board. its usually decorated with construction paper or scrapbooking scraps. they’ll borrow lego pieces, etc – very creative stuff.
i have been wanting to do this for a while – write letters to friends and family. tell them about their summer, etc. include a photo or hand drawn photo, etc.
we like to make collages with old magazines. they could decorate some folders for school or a bulletin board for the room, make locker inserts, etc
hum…homemade playdough? lol 😉

Becky - Dutch Blitz! It’s an old, fast paced card game that has become a summer staple for us. We let the littler kids start with a smaller stack of cards to get rid of but other than that it is enjoyed by all ages! Our summer rule is that you have to read an hour and walk a mile (exercise) before any electronics. Good Luck!

Niki - My boys found a toddler sized mattress in the storage room and have spent hours riding it down the stairs in the past week.
A safer activity might be to let them do a collage with magazines and anything else they can come up with. That’s always fun! Or maybe make a diorama type setting for the lego people.
When my sisters and I were old enough to use the video recorder, we made our own music videos. Lip syncing, outfits, the whole nine yards! It was hilarious!
I’m making mine clean out the gross car today. See I’m a fun mom, too! LOL It really has been stinking hot in Kansas lately! Hopefully it will be a little cooler today!

Stephanie Carroll - Maybe this is old school, but in the 80s when I was about Annie’s age, sometimes my dad would bring home a big box- like a refrigerator box? and we loved it. We made forts and stuff…this sounds really lame and country. That’s Amarillo for ya I guess.
We also loved running through the sprinklers?

barbara - you live in a massive house right? what about epic games of hide & seek and capture the flag (or a hidden treasure/philosopher’s stone, etc)…… or they could put on a play about a world where TV and Video games/internet are the ONLY things children are allowed to play with and about a rebel who brings down the system so all kids can be free to play outside, tell stories, play sports and games. wow, I’m getting carried away here! they could organize a neighborhood talent show?
good luck!

becki - I feel your pain. I am so sick of seeing my kids faces in a screen. Isn’t it crazy? Then friends come over and they all bring some kind of hand held thingy and I’m thinking “you’re friends are here and you don’t even make eye contact with them….put that crap away!!”
We allow our boys an hour of video per day and a little longer with the tv. It’s so hot here in Houston that I’ve let it slide to longer. Even the pool water is hot! It really is about the balance.
During the school year they know to not even ask about videos during the week. It is absolutely not allowed. Ever.
So to help with the hot issue….put a fan outside. We do this with the ping pong table. Also, have you seen the fans with the water misters built in? Those are good. Sometimes the boys take a big plastic bowl of ice outside and just hang out.
One of the commenters mentioned playing with a cassette player, me and my little sister did the same thing and it was a blast.
Maybe some of the kids could work together on writing a book like Diary of a Wimpy Kid…someone is in charge of illustrations and someone in charge of the story. My boys wrote one two years ago called the Adventures of Fart Boy. When they were done, Dad took it to his office and made lots of copies of it for them to hand out to friends.
I’m worried for you…pulling the plug on everything when it’s so stinking hot outside is gonna be tough, but I have done it before and could care less who thinks I’m mean.
And yes…”I KNOW you’re bored…it’s summer, you’re SUPPOSE to be bored!!!”

Danielle @ Transforming Home - My kids always love the indoor tent/fort thing. I try to use dark blankets and towels so it is dark inside the tent, then they can play with flashlights and other light up toys and it is so fun!
Good for you doing the whole “no TV and computer” thing. I have never even thought of trying it. Not that our TV is on all the time (about 1 1/2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon, then off till bedtime), but it would be a huge deal in this house to miss Calliou. Hmmmm, now you have me thinking….

naomi - Oh where do I start?
I too am tired of entertaining and coming up with things for THEM to do.
I agree with so many of your other readers … let them get bored.
Two weeks ago I didn’t ban the tv/video games, but I did tell them that I would only play WITH them actively for an hour a day … the rest of the time, THEY have to figure it out.
Sheez … I mean, when we were kids, my mom NEVER played with us …. we did it all ourselves. (and walked uphill to school, BOTH ways in the snow!)
Anywho – I have no suggestions, but love the one who shared that when they kids say they have nothing to do, give them some time to clean out their closets of all of the “things” that they don’t enjoy anymore to give away.

Joni - Oh, and I forgot to mention: we were not entertained, at all…we had to entertain ourselves! And if the words “I’M BORED!” were uttered…we had to do a CHORE! I also learned to do ironing and lots of laundry at an early age, too. So…for your older kids, laundry will take up plenty of time, it took two days out of my week!
Joni

Joni - Our family of nine grew up without a television…of course, that was back when television was the only electronic entertainer…but I venture to say your kids WILL LEARN how to entertain themselves: we did!
We read.
We played library…really we made cards, categorized all our books, had a checkout desk with a typewriter, phone and etc. This would be set up upstairs and would last for days.
We played school, same as above only it was school and dolls could be the students, although there was enough kids at home that we would take turns being teacher/student/principal.
We worked in the HUGE garden.
We rode our bikes and as we did, we pretended we were bus drivers, had our stops, etc….
We laid in the dirt and made roads, lumber yards, etc…with our matchbox cars. We had elaborate setups for all of this. The lumber yard was made with sticks broken into pieces and stacked and bundled like what we saw at the local lumber yard. Our houses might be stones, and into the dirt we would carve out driveways, etc.
Soon, your kids will REMEMBER how to play. I, too, am troubled by the amount and the hold that electronic entertainment has on our kids. Shoot, even I find MYSELF picking up the iPhone constantly to check it….
I don’t like that about myself or our culture…but it is what it is. I admire you for your efforts to get back to “knowing” your kids again…
GOOD LUCK, MEANIE!
Joni

Janine - I’m not a parent but as a teacher I have found that the all or nothing concept is never a good thing. It pervades everything else in their lives. If I don’t know it, I won’t try or do it at all. Kind of a learn to give up fast kind of attitude. Without realizing it that is what taking away tv cold turkey teaches them. It’s a subconscious thing. Your kids view this as a punishment and they may or may not know what they did wrong. I agree with you that too much tv and computer is bad. They become tv zombies. I think your sanity and the kids would be better served by setting strict tv time limits and maybe keeping the no computer rule. It may be summer but 100 degree weather isn’t exactly run around outside weather. Maybe make tv/videogame hour at the hottest part of the day, not first thing in the morning.
for non tv activites- take them to the library for a new batch of books. And see what free events are going on there. Come up with a charity activity so the kids can do something good. Have each of them make calendars for the upcoming school year. 10 mos. of pictures to make. Start brainstorming Halloween costumes. Do you have any free museums nearby or somewhat nearby? Lakes? Good luck.

Krista - Oh I am so ready to go back to school! We don’t start until August 30th. I must say “Go find something to do” at least 100 times a day to my girls, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. With it being so hot, no one wants to go outside and if they do, it’s only for a short while. I am glad you are having the same problem. You have crossed my mind many times when I am at my wit’s end. I always think “If I were Megan, what project would I have my kids working on?” But that’s as far as I ever get! Luckily my older one was busy with a pack of colored popsicle sticks, glue and sequins for hours yesterday while the younger one napped. Peace and quiet!!!

Jenni McIntire - One of my absolute favorite memories as a kid was when my younger sister and I made our own radio station. Remember cassette tapes? We would record our voices as the hosts of WCUP (yes, it’s potty humor) 37.9 with Earl and Esther. We would chat and play music. We also had segments like Scary Mary “It’s Scary” stories, cooking with Julia Child, and we would do our own commercials. We spent hours and hours doing this, laughing so hard we would cry. I wish I had the tapes–we have looked and looked and can’t find them–but the memories last forever.

Lorie - You are stinkin hilarious! I too struggle with this, although I haven’t banished the tv or computer yet….but seriously, kids these days DONT know how to play. My kids are CONSTANTLY telling me they are bored. Please! Go outside and play, although our weather here this summer has been TERRIBLY hot too, and YUCK, who wants to be outside when it’s like that.

mary - we used to have scavenger hunts, put on plays in the yard, have a drawing day in the woods, hunt for funny things around town, you know there are sites that give hillarious scavenger hunt rules for walmart and other stores, we never had any of these fun gadgets as kids, i think our biggest thing was being allowed to watch tv from 7-9 and if we were really lucky to watch saturday night live
best of luck meg!

Denise - I so love your honesty here. My kids are fine as long as the neighbors are available to play – the minute they have to come up with something to do on their own – all I get is sad eyes and the “i don’t know what to do” song. u.g.h. so glad that I am not alone here!

Amy - My kids get 60 minutes of screen time per day during the summer. If they complain about that limit or say they are bored, two things happen: they lose the next day’s screen time altogether and they get to do a chore! This summer, they’ve had to try on ALL their clothing and model it for fit, purged toys for an upcoming consignment sale and sorted all the school work that’s been piling up in a giant tub for 3 years. We have also added some outside “building” materials this year that have been fun – camo netting and pvc pipes for making shelters.

Jen - We did a Skip=Bo tournament a few years ago when we did much the same. We played each night as a family and kept track with scores, charts, etc. Kids LOVED it! We have also done reading time and bible study time–we all read the same Proverb on the same day and then each shared something we learned from it. For kids it was VERY simple but they did it!
Anywhere you can all volunteer? Any VBS programs the younger ones can attend? Helping an elderly neighbor? Let the older ones plan and cook a meal one day a week? Cooking lessons? Do they have daily chores? Deep clean/declutter bed rooms?
As you can tell–I am a “mean” mom too and have thought all this through before! 🙂

Kate - Make play doh !

Tara - my kids are away at my parents house this week and they know that when they come back…life as they knew it (with tv and computer) is OVER.
I’m not turning it off 100%, but we’re going from WAY TOO MUCH THIS SUMMER to about 2 shows per day on the tv and maybe 30 minutes of computer.
Kudos to you for quitting cold turkey.
ideas….
legos
board games
reading
playing outside even though it’s 147 degrees
let them invite friends over
remind them that you are NOT their cruise ship director and then go into all the stories of how it was when you were little…. 🙂 see if that works.

Debra - Good luck, momma & good for you!
We used to be tv-free & limited game time but have been very lax the last year. I had planned on having everyone take a break for a while until my son got a laptop for his birthday last week. I feel bad not allowing him to play on it then.

rachelle toimata - Hello, gorgeous blogger. I have spent the better part of the evening scrolling through page after page of wonderful posts about your life seen through ur lens and heart. Its really inspiring. Parts of me felt connected to the way you choose to live your life, other bits felt challenged that I needed to up my game for my family. I agree with se7en, leave them be. let them get bored. its a good experience (and a bit painful for you) but they quickly learn to make their own fun. Meanwhile, spend the time you would spend with them creating your own fun. They may want to join you or not. Do something you really enjoy. Make your favourite dessert then sit down and eat it for lunch! Hahaha. They’ll come around. Being bored isn’t the end of the world. I try not to entertain my lot all the time. They have come to love reading and drawing and calling up friends to hang out at our house. They will always play computer games and Playstation when given the option but like you, I totally think its not necessary and I also don’t like their attitudes when they are on it. When I remove these things, my two oldest start talking to each other and playing games of their own free will. I might suggest things to them, but really I try and stay out of it. You will do well whatever you do. It feels a bit ridiculous sending you ideas because you have a good handle on parenting. I look forward to reading what you choose. x

se7en - Leave them to their own devices for a couple of days – once they get over the horror you will be amazed at what they get up to!!! I am sure you have lots of crafty books and materials lying around to inspire them – leave them!!! I always have a few days when we have a break from school when my kids roam around waiting for something to do… and I so want to fill in the time gaps… But I remind myself that while I am their mother I am not the entertainment!!! And seriously after a few days they get it and then I don’t see them for dust!!! If someone really is looking for a project I have plenty of leaves to sweep and plenty of cupboards to wipe and… you get the idea!!!

Sophie - You can let them camp inside…. Either put up a real tent if you have one or build one from sheets and pillows (way more fun)
And then you can let them sleep in it overnight or just stay there during the day.
Bake
Do a treats trail. Tape a piece of yarn (one colour for each child) to the end of their beds and wind it around the house, leaving treats (doesn’t have to be candy etc) along the way. Keeps them occupied for a really long time, especially if you use the whole ball of yarn each time.

Beth - 1) Our kiddos like to play “parade” they line up some fun & creative things and then take turns parading past us while we clap. 2) Sardines… like hide-n-seek, but when you find the ‘hider’ you hide with them, cramming everyone in the hiding spot until the last person finds you. 3) Treasure Hunts 4) Yard Olympics 5) silly challenges like you can only talk in 3 word sentences all day & we keep score, if you catch someone wrong you shout “BZZZZ!” and keep score 6) Make a Family board game… this was in Family Fun magazine a few years ago… find an old game board & customize it, make up family questions & fun facts, find fun little game pieces around the house, use mint tins for keeping prizes in, find something fun to use for prizes, cover the outside of the box with family photos. *I am super impressed with your no TV/Computer idea!! But not sure if we could make it without it for 24 hours! Wow! Maybe you are starting a challenge for us all… hmmmmm