She Can Text Like Crazy, But Can't Converse One-on-One

I began my latest TV show with the top 10 definitions of a teenager.  One of them went something like, “Someone who can figure out the latest electronic gadget but can’t make his bed.”  While my studio audience thought it was a riot, it doesn’t wander far from the truth.  Our kids and teens have a tremendous technical skills and a huge appetite for TV, video and the Internet screens.  We parents have got to step up to the plate and create more balance in our children’s lives to keep them becoming absorbed into too much technology.


There’s a great article on CommonSenseMedia.org titled, “5Ways to Help Kids Find Balance,” and it serves as a good reminder for parents to come up with other activities for our kids to get involved in.  Like most parents, I would cringe at the thought of hearing the, “I’m Bored,” statement from my kids.”  I can understand why some parents feel the need to just let them be plugged into a video screen because it gives us a break and gives us emotional space to get done what we need to get done.

The article mentions taking measures to find “Off-Line Time” for our kids and that is so important.  One device that I’ve found that is incredibly effective for managing how much screen time your child or teen has is the visual timer "On-Task, On-Time.  Traditional audible timers just don’t work with kids and if you’ve ever been to one of my workshops (http://www.cooperativekids.com) then you’ve seen me demo visual timers and them share how well they work.  Children have great difficulty in experiencing the passing of time waiting for a bell to go off, but when using one of these visual timers, you will gain so much more cooperation from the kids.  Check out these incredibly timers on Amazon now.
On-Task On-Time For Kids


Here’s an item your kids may choose over the video screen more

often than you might think; the trampoline.  Because there have been too many injuries reported on the use of this item, many stores are only selling those with safety features.  On Amazon, you’ll find this state of the art trampoline that includes galvanized steel legs to reduce the chances of it tipping over and the extra padding and safety nets that surround the entire frame are designed to keep your kids safe.  Check this item out on Amazon just in time for the warmer weather to get your kids outside.
Ultega 10-Foot Jumper Trampoline with Safety Net


And to give children an indoor option to blow off some steam, Amazon sells smaller trampolines just big enough for one child.  The best part about these models is that they come with handles for the child to hang on to and not fall off.  One of the best things you can do for your kids is to give them the opportunity to exercise and become more active.  Check out this affordable Safe Bounce Trampoline from the Original Toy Company.
Safe Bounce Trampoline

For more parenting tips and advice, find me at http://www.CooperativeKids.com and check out my TV show now on online for FREE at Vimeo.com and Youtube.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DAY 12: MAILBOXES

Image
14 DAYS OF TIPS FOR DEMONSTRATING LOVE TO YOUR CHILD DAY 12: MAILBOXES – In a family meeting have everyone make and decorate a mailbox using any household craft items. On slips of paper, have everyone write short love notes to everyone at the table as a practice run and then insert them in the appropriate mailboxes. Have everyone hang their mailboxes on their bedroom door knobs for accepting mail whenever someone desires to write a note.
Read more

HELP! My Kid Will Scream if I Limit His Screen Time!

Image
How to Break Your Kids' Addiction to Screen Time What if a parent realizes the importance of limiting screen time for kids, and admits she didn't take measures to set up boundaries at home? Is it too late? I say, not at all, but there are two things the parent must take into consideration: implementing the limitations gradually and being prepared to deal with challenging behavior that may result from the change in boundaries. Why Screen Time is Bad for Kids Experts agree that too much screen time is bad for kids for two reasons: it affects the frontal lobe of the brain and it can become a digital addiction. The frontal lobe is in constant construction until around the age of 25 is responsible for many important cognitive skills, such as judgment and managing emotions, both things we need our youth to develop effectively and on time, and at the very least to keep themselves and others safe. According to the publication Psychology Today, excessive screen time damages br
Read more

Helping Children Deal with Tragedy in the News

Image
Preschoolers and young school-aged children easily can be frightened by images of disasters.  They live in a world somewhere between reality and fantasy, and often have difficulty distinguishing between the two. They also have not yet developed their full understanding of mortality, or whether something on television is far away or close by.  Here are some guidelines for handling children’s exposure to devastating events in the news.    Limit Their Exposure .  This is a good time to fall back on effectively managing their access to the television by limiting the amount of time they watch it.  If you have to watch it yourself, get your children involved in another activity at that time.  There are numerous university studies that confirm the high amount of violence on television and the effects on children.  Some of these effects include desensitization to the pain and suffering of others, more fearfulness in general, and increased aggressiveness toward others.    Explain It to Th
Read more