Me: Payton, you've got 5 more minutes of computer time.
Payton: What?!? I've only been playing for 20 minutes!
Me: That's 20 minutes too long. Go find something else to do. It's summer! Go outside! Play!
Payton: It's too hot outside. There's nothing to do.
Me: Find something to do.
And usually he will go find something to do, or someone to play with, but inevitably, later in the day, he's asking to play video games again.
I don't have a problem with him playing on some electronics this summer. I realize it's the age in which we live. But I do have a problem with electronics when I feel like it's an isolating activity. For example, if he's playing Team Fortress Two alone on his computer, he tunes out the entire world that's happening around him. But if he's playing Minecraft with three of his friends in the same room, then they're talking and creating and having fun together.
We're still adjusting our summer electronics rules, but for now, it seems like he does best if he stays off electronics all morning and does something like a camp, or go the pool with friends, and then has a chunk of time to play them in the afternoon. We'll see how this goes as the summer continues.
Fortunately, aside from video games, Payton really loves to read. And he'll read just about anything that I suggest. He's read a lot of the classics (Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe, Charlotte's Web, The B.F.G., Trumpet of the Swan, The Witches, The Prince and the Pauper) and several of the Harry Potter books, plus a lot of mystery series that I've picked up at the library.
So, when I'm stuck at one of those moments when it's time for him to shut off the electronics, but there's not a friend to play with, reading is always a great activity for him. And to make it even more fun, we've been using this reading rewards program the past few years:
It's a free downloadable reading chart for kids of any age and it works kind of like Bingo. The child reads for a pre-determined amount of time in all sorts of places/times/situations (on a Wednesday, under a tree, before breakfast, etc.) and then crosses off the box when they've completed it. Once they get a "Bingo" they get to redeem a reward "coupon."
The reward coupons are blank, so you can fill in whatever you like (movies with a friend, a music download from itunes, frozen yogurt, etc.). It's worked so well in years past, Payton actually asked me to create another one for this summer.
You have to subscribe to the web site called "How Does She" in order to download it, but I think the emails they send out are really useful and interesting so I'd probably subscribe to it even if it didn't offer free printables! Here's a link to the page where you can read more about the reading chart and subscribe if you wish.
And if you've got any great book ideas that you or your kids have loved, please send em along!
Happy reading y'all!
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