Does anyone have any good ideas on how to entertain children without television?? I'm running out...?

Question

I have two boys, 4 and 5, and all they want to do is play computer games and watch television. I limit their time doing this but I don't know what else to do with them. They get bored playing outside and painting. Can anybody help?

Answer 1

I have recently started taking tv out of their major past times as well. My kids are 3 and 6. Books, coloring, board games, and outside play is all allowed during certain times of the day, and if they are good during this time, they do earn some tv time for later. You should get involved. A kid will stay attentive to a board game longer when mom and/or dad plays with them then if it was just them. Same with a book or outside play.

Answer 2

I take water buckets, one on each end of the sidewalk. A couple of squirt toys. They like that. Also that crazy foam soap is pretty entertaining. Build little car ramps outside. I use the lounger lawn chair. It adjusts. The cars fly over the end and crash. This was like 2 hours of non-stop fun. Play school. Build tents with blankets. Be monsters in hide and seek. Or animals like a lion in the den. Mostly I find kids like the adult to be close by.

Answer 3

Our family recently got into geocaching and it's lots of fun (have a 5 yr old)... especially with the "travel bugs". You just need transportation and a GPS unit. Can you afford a GPS unit? We picked a decent one up for under $200 Canadian.

http://www.geocaching.com

Every Thursday (when the library is open later here) we have a mother-daughter trip to the library, and then have supper and/or an ice cream treat on the way home.

Baking is always fun too :)

.

Answer 4

Put them in sports or clubs they will enjoy to keep them busy. Computer games arent bad either if they are something that makes them think and use some skills and tv isnt always bad either depending on what they are watching. Get them books. I love to read, ever since I was a child.

Answer 5

theres loads of stuff! like plenty of boardgames that u can buy them, even card games. buy them a basketball and a hoop they'll have fun with that, baseball, football, skateboarding, bike riding. take them to the park once and a while. let them go over to friends houses. make them do small chores to get their mind off being bored. have them bake things, thats actually pretty entertaining. (also making jello or posicles, or pudding, something easy) and there is much more they can do! Good Luck!

Answer 6

Try reading. Board games are a good one as well. Puzzles. Take them for a walk. It's good for both you and your boys. Disconnect the video games and unplug the TV.
Have your 5yr old read to your 4yr old. It's good practice. Space out all activities. Like how much time they can spend doing each thing.

Answer 7

Are there other kids around for them to play with? Do they have bikes and know how to ride them? Do you play with them?

We weren't allowed in the house unless there was really, really horrific weather when I was a child, but those times seem distant now. We could run around freely in the woods and around the neighborhood without much fear. I'd be scared spitless to let mine do that these days.

Answer 8

Coloring books
Reading
Take them to the park
Go for walks
Go to the local pool
Go shoping (you dont actually have to buy anything)
Go to a local fair

Or just give in.. TV never really hurt anyone. Or try having them watch more educational TV.

Answer 9

Do they have any toys? Toys always kept me and my brother entertained. Board games also. Coloring & activity books. Try taking them to a playground or a park. Do something with them.

Answer 10

Buy them books, take them out to play,
guitar lessons, make them appreciate the world outside