I have a confession: I have a pet peeve – it’s children + electronics. Call me old fashioned, a stick-in-the-mud or a fuddy-duddy. It’s okay. I still don’t like children and electronics. When you put an electronic device in a child’s hands, their minds are disengaged. Checked out. They hear nothing around them. They see no one around them. They are in Cyberspace until the beeping of a low battery signals them back to earth.
It’s summertime, moms! Can I encourage you to get your kids outside and on the move? Give them some fun activity to do every day while they’re on break and put a “no-electronics” rule in place. How about sitting down with them and making a list of fun things they’d enjoy doing? Then cut those into strips and drop them into a jar. Let someone choose out one activity each day. Let the anticipation build. Make summertime fun! Why not unplug for summer? Need some suggestions?
- If you have a large tree at your house, hang a tree swing in the branches.
- Build a fort outside under a tree.
- Go to the park and play on the playground equipment. Eat lunch there.
- Go to the library and everyone pick out 5 books to read this week.
- Attend a Bible club or VBS.
- Make Popsicles with fruit juice.
- Play in the sprinkler.
- Fill up a small swimming pool in the backyard.
- Have a lemonade stand and give away cups to people who pass.
- Go to the local Hands-on-Museum.
- Have a play date with other moms and their children.
- Bake cookies.
- Wash your bikes. Add streamers to handlebars. Have a bike parade.
RefreshHer 