Happy Friday: “Mommy, I’m Bored!” Summer Chores
Sent from reader, Johanna:
I just wanted to share my Summer of FUN 2016 with all of you! As a mother of 4 boys (ages 3-10), it’s hard to go and do things. Every summer, I put away EVERY Tablet, iPad games, and electronic device in the house. Tragic at first~ yes, but they get over that when they remember how to play with each other and use their brains again. And if they are decent kids (keep up with chores, get along for the most part), they get to pick where we go for Summer Vacation at the end of summer.
IF they get all their stuff done by noon or one (rooms, laundry, reg stuff) they get the rest of the day just to play and so far it’s been a great summer. I think it’s good for kids just to be kids – it’s AMAZING how much fun they DO have just being kids and I haven’t had one say I’m bored yet..LOL!
HAPPY FRIDAY!
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I hate hate hate how my boys always want to be on electronic devices, so I regularly make them take breaks from them, but then it’s like everything else is just done in order to earn back their devices…and all done as quickly and grumpily as possible
Oh my…I could’ve written this same comment. LOL ^^^
My boys are the same, but I dont let them touch video games, ipads , etc… until summer homework get done and read at least 20 min. I believe if the kids need to keep their brain active. I also use the timer, so 30 min of video games is plenty for them…. I know every house is different. Have a FUN summer everybody!!!!
Depends on what type of games, not all electronic games are bad these days. I let my boys do kinect sports, they sweat buckets afterwards just as if they were playing outside. Minecraft is approved in this household for creativity/building.
We only allow our kids (3,6,8) to use devices in the car while driving places. This has always been a rule so there is no complaining and they appreciate it that much more when they can play them.
This sounds like torture
Haha, that was my first thought too. I have 4 boys too but this is maybe a little too harsh for us. To each their own.
👆 what’s wrong with society now! Sounds to me like a mother with ground rules that teaches her children responsibility, accountability, and self discipline. I love it! Wish I could be discipline with my kiddos. I guess you can count me as a lazy parent! Lol. But I am strict during the school year…maybe explains my laziness during the summer. 😂(Mother of 3 here- 2,4, and 6)
I agree I have very strong rules during School so in the summer I just want to treat them to fun things for all the hard work they have done. My kiddos do so well in school and in the summer I want them to relax 😊
I was so looking for such creative ideas..will give it a shot
My 14 and 12 both hate video games ( 1 year doesn’t understand yet) so for us that isn’t even an issue and they don’t have tv’s in their rooms or tablets…My 14 year old daughter got a phone last year so that seems to be glued to her hands talking to friends and do on…So for her taking her phone seems to be the only way to punish her lately… If they want money for things like snacks at the pool they need to do extra choirs to earn it… It is hard when there is an age gap between the kids but u make it work… I need to send my son to u because he comes up with the craziest stuff… Give him a pile of trash and weeds and he can make believe anything…
Clean you room, hide yo wife, hide yo kids, collect yo eggs…
Great job, Johanna! Keep up the good work; your children will be so much better off than most 🙂
Agree! Great job momma!
I have a 16 and a 12 year old M-F they don’t get any electronic device( including cellphones) until 4:30. I let them watch tv but only after picking up after themselves and they need to do their summer reading (30 minutes). Saturday morning are cleaning & laundry day once they are finished they can have Wiiu, phones etc
I love this! I have 4 boys as well & hope to use some of your ideas with mine! I think it’s hilarious that anyone finds this harsh! Teach them how to play & use their imaginations!
Mom to am one year old but absolutely love these ideas.. Very good parenting!
Very cool! We use the tablet as a reward. But I would love to just throw it out the window for good because that’s all he asks for. I like the idea of no tablet for the entire summer. Our son is earning a Lego minecraft enderdragon set that I bought-a H2S deal, of course! He can earn 5 points per day. One point of the 5 is completing a journal entry at the end of the day. We add up his points each night. He always looks for the set at stores to see if it’s on sale-little does he know it’s already in my closet!
Ha ha. That’s what I do! My daughter looks for “super clearance” deals on toys she’s into, but it is usually already in the attic! And the enderdragon legos are super cool!
This sounds horrible
I like some of this, BUT to me it is approached in a negative/ disciplining way. Children always do better if things are done in a way that are more positive/reward based. For example how about a list of “I am bored” list of play…
1) play with Legos
2) build a sheet fort
3) make Rice Krispie treats
4) walk on stilts
5) play soccer
6)take the dog for a walk and show him the sights in the yard( that is where the squirel lives, that is where I scraped my knee, etc)
7)build an outdoor obstacle course
8) outdoor scavenger hunt
Where is your article! Haha! Love your list!
Great job!! You are preparing them to be great adults. For the people who are saying this is too harsh, it’s sad that giving your kids responsibility is harsh. It’s our job to guide them and prepare them for the future.
This is amazing! I will definitly be borrowing these ideas this summer!
Love it!! Our iPads are currently locked away in the basement and we don’t allow the kids to download or play on our phones. Now if I could just limit the tv time… I have it blocked so they can only watch certain channels.
I will definitely incorporate some of your ideas, thanks!
I agree with chores but omg some of these sound like lazy parents that don’t want to do their own chores so they pass them off to the kids. Weeding the garden?
Ummmm, what is wrong with kids weeding the garden and being taught to work. I am so glad my parents taught me to work. I had so many college roommates that had no idea how to clean or take care of themselves. Plus walking into some of these peoples homes is a bit disgusting and they need to teach their kids to get off the couch, put down the electronic device and clean up after themselves. I type this as my daughters are cleaning the kitchen (7 and 5) ::gasp::….
Absolutely!! Kids can do alot more than most adults think! …the key is teaching them how first!
I don’t think it’s lazy parenting. I have my kids do chores like this and usually it ends up being more work for me because I have to teach them how and usually end up redoing a lot of the work (when they aren’t looking of course). But they are usually proud of their responsibility and what they accomplish. We usually do it together and make it fun. I think it’s important to find joy and reward in every day tasks because once they are adults I don’t want them to be bored and unhappy with real life.
I think we can agree that everyone has their own parenting styles, and what works for some doesn’t work for other families. I never made a list like that and don’t take away my kids’ electronics. I just incorporate their chores into our everyday routines and they don’t even realise that it’s work. They are older (14 & 12) so they make their own lunches, cut grass, bring in/put away groceries, laundry, bake, babysit, just whatever needs done. But we keep it casual in the summer, no hardfast rules. School is work and they appreciate the freedom of summer. Quite frankly, so do I!
Thanks for all the lovey comments y’all! Quick thing~I didn’t want to make a positive Bored list, (then they get rewarded for being bored..) because I wanted them to inspire them to come up with their own fun things to do on their own..instead of me ‘using my brain’ to tell them how to how fun. They really DO come up with their own games, and fun things to do. I understand everyone is different, and that is great…you know what works you!
Children need structure, but also freedom their childhood summers afford them, for they will never live through that time in their lives again. The school year is very structured, as their adult lives will be. Make good memories.
I think it’s awesome! I have four kids, oldest is 10 and we have no electronics….teach them to do real things that make a difference!
I just told my kids the other day, if you are bored then you can clean the windows, take out the trash, sweep the floors,etc. We made a list of things we will do each day so that we are structured and the day was much better vs prior days. Its a matter of figuring out what works best for you and your kiddos
Can’t you just tell the babysitter to come up with the activities? Why does the mom have to do it? Or do you fit all these activities into the summer weekends? School is still in session in NY for a few more days, so I haven’t had to deal with summer boredom yet.