to help me engage with my 12 and 10 years old kids. I am a working mother and when I find time, I like to be left alone. But I am afraid that this is not right all of the time. I am looking for ways to engage with my kidds other than watching TV or movies together; may be sharing games like scrabble. I need to talk to them about how to be useful to their own family, friends, community but without lecturing them.
2007-02-18 16:21:40 · 8 answers · asked by figo 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Get out and enjoy the outdoors together. Go for hikes, walks, bike rides etc. Make a picnic lunch and take it with you to eat on the way.
We live near a large city that has lots of museums and interesting things to do and see. We'll go and ride the free train through town and just wander through shops.
Play sports with them, Frisbee? Soccer? Basketball?
Take up a new hobby together, take a pottery class, work a large puzzle together on a table that you can leave it set out on to work on it over several weeks.
Good luck!
2007-02-18 18:08:53 · answer #1 · answered by rtlsimpson 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You said it, 'talk to them'. Perhaps phrasing it 'speak WITH them' would have been better.
Do daily activities together. Make the time to eat breakfast and supper together. Encourage them to help you fix the meals - it may take longer at first but will be worth it.
Find out what they want to do. Ask them. You asked about making them 'useful' to their family and community.... ask them what chores they think they should be responsible for and if it is reasonable they become their chores. Get them active in church youth groups and/or scouting.
Some of the best conversations I have with my kids is in the car. It is non-confrontational time and we are all stuck in the same place for a while so we may as well talk.
2007-02-19 09:53:11 · answer #2 · answered by Andrew 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have two computers or maybe one PC and a laptop, try making them play Scrabble online on the internet. Scrabulous is a great site for that and you can turn off the lobby chat so your kids wont be subject to any abuses (it is pretty clean anyways).
Check it out at http://www.scrabulous.com
2007-02-18 16:31:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is an actual Parent's Guide, or at least some guidance:
The book "Parenting Teenagers" by Don Dinkmeyer, et al. It is part of the series called "STEP" - Systematic Training for Effective Parenting.
Published by AGS - American Guidance Service, 800-328-2560.
This training is given to parents of middle school kids at my son's school, so I have personal knowledge of it.
2007-02-18 17:05:43 · answer #4 · answered by DadOnline 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was a single parent with 2 children and I was a teacher. When we all got home, I was exhausted, so we talked and decided they would do something by themselves for 30 minutes so I could de-stress and then I would be refreshed and ready to deal with them. Worked great. Boundaries
2007-02-18 18:53:19 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have family game night - we play board games (clue, monopoly, Life, etc) and we cook together too. The Scene-It games are great!
Just going for a walk around the block together as a family does wonders, too!
2007-02-18 17:37:42 · answer #6 · answered by HCC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to a toy store and purchase a kite. Take the kids out kite flying. It is a great way to get exercise and bond with your family as well.
2007-02-18 19:13:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know my 9 year old likes to build stuff. Maybe you could find a project for the three of you to work on. Unfortuately I have figured out the older they get, the less time they want to "hang out" with mom. Face it we're not "cool" (lol).
2007-02-18 16:40:59 · answer #8 · answered by Angel D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋