Comments on: Stay inside!?! http://childwild.com/2009/06/03/stay-inside/ embracing the wild heart of parenting Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Simple gratitude for play — ChildWild http://childwild.com/2009/06/03/stay-inside/comment-page-1/#comment-509 Simple gratitude for play — ChildWild Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:58:52 +0000 http://childwild.com/?p=2258#comment-509 [...] posted before about how frustrating all this relentless and wanton child’s play can be, but it’s also [...] [...] posted before about how frustrating all this relentless and wanton child’s play can be, but it’s also [...]

]]> By: Sierra http://childwild.com/2009/06/03/stay-inside/comment-page-1/#comment-239 Sierra Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:10:36 +0000 http://childwild.com/?p=2258#comment-239 We do have, and have always had, a pretty steady routine. The kids are just going through a transition, between the shift in seasons and their own growth patterns. Surely you've had rough patches with your own children? We do have, and have always had, a pretty steady routine. The kids are just going through a transition, between the shift in seasons and their own growth patterns. Surely you’ve had rough patches with your own children?

]]> By: Sierra http://childwild.com/2009/06/03/stay-inside/comment-page-1/#comment-2470 Sierra Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:10:00 +0000 http://childwild.com/?p=2258#comment-2470 We do have, and have always had, a pretty steady routine. The kids are just going through a transition, between the shift in seasons and their own growth patterns. Surely you've had rough patches with your own children? We do have, and have always had, a pretty steady routine. The kids are just going through a transition, between the shift in seasons and their own growth patterns. Surely you’ve had rough patches with your own children?

]]> By: Abbi http://childwild.com/2009/06/03/stay-inside/comment-page-1/#comment-240 Abbi Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:54:08 +0000 http://childwild.com/?p=2258#comment-240 From your background in child development, you must know that the best thing for kids at this age is boundaries and clear expectations. Instead of descending into a frustrating chaos where neither of you gets what you want, why not set up a daily schedule, so both you and she can know what to expect of the day. Two hours of quiet play in the morning while you get stuff done, park time, lunch, rest, errands, another hour of park time, dinner, bath, bed. Make the schedule together, preferably with pictures so your younger one can understand too and explain that just like there are things that she needs to do during the day, you also have things you need to do during the day. A family is a give and take between all members and that requires compromise and boundaries, even at the young age of 5. The greatest gift you can give to your daughter is this lesson. From your background in child development, you must know that the best thing for kids at this age is boundaries and clear expectations. Instead of descending into a frustrating chaos where neither of you gets what you want, why not set up a daily schedule, so both you and she can know what to expect of the day. Two hours of quiet play in the morning while you get stuff done, park time, lunch, rest, errands, another hour of park time, dinner, bath, bed. Make the schedule together, preferably with pictures so your younger one can understand too and explain that just like there are things that she needs to do during the day, you also have things you need to do during the day.

A family is a give and take between all members and that requires compromise and boundaries, even at the young age of 5. The greatest gift you can give to your daughter is this lesson.

]]> By: Abbi http://childwild.com/2009/06/03/stay-inside/comment-page-1/#comment-2471 Abbi Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:54:00 +0000 http://childwild.com/?p=2258#comment-2471 From your background in child development, you must know that the best thing for kids at this age is boundaries and clear expectations. Instead of descending into a frustrating chaos where neither of you gets what you want, why not set up a daily schedule, so both you and she can know what to expect of the day. Two hours of quiet play in the morning while you get stuff done, park time, lunch, rest, errands, another hour of park time, dinner, bath, bed. Make the schedule together, preferably with pictures so your younger one can understand too and explain that just like there are things that she needs to do during the day, you also have things you need to do during the day. A family is a give and take between all members and that requires compromise and boundaries, even at the young age of 5. The greatest gift you can give to your daughter is this lesson. From your background in child development, you must know that the best thing for kids at this age is boundaries and clear expectations. Instead of descending into a frustrating chaos where neither of you gets what you want, why not set up a daily schedule, so both you and she can know what to expect of the day. Two hours of quiet play in the morning while you get stuff done, park time, lunch, rest, errands, another hour of park time, dinner, bath, bed. Make the schedule together, preferably with pictures so your younger one can understand too and explain that just like there are things that she needs to do during the day, you also have things you need to do during the day.

A family is a give and take between all members and that requires compromise and boundaries, even at the young age of 5. The greatest gift you can give to your daughter is this lesson.

]]> By: Sierra http://childwild.com/2009/06/03/stay-inside/comment-page-1/#comment-242 Sierra Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:37:07 +0000 http://childwild.com/?p=2258#comment-242 It's a mystery to me as well, and a pretty recent development. From my child development background, I've read a lot about five-year-olds going through a phase where they suddenly announce that they are bored with everything and become very demanding. I suspect this is what my girl is going through now. Additionally, she's feeling a lot of freedom and intense desire to be outdoors, to be with friends. Of course she knows where the art supplies are, and where her dress up clothes are. But the sun is out there, and her new bike, and the girl around the corner. It's not that she wants my attention all day long. It's that she wants to be outdoors all day long, and there's not much for me to get done out there after I've weeded the garden. As I mentioned in this post, it's pretty clear to me that there has to be a balance between my getting stuff done and her getting to play outdoors. Which makes me sad, because it's pretty clear that the best thing for her would be to fall out the door in the morning and stay out there till supper, with a possible interlude for lunch. But we live in an urban neighborhood where that's just not practical without some supervision. If I was happy to spend my entire day reading a novel on the porch, I could. It's my desire to spend a few hours each day indoors that she's fighting me on. It’s a mystery to me as well, and a pretty recent development. From my child development background, I’ve read a lot about five-year-olds going through a phase where they suddenly announce that they are bored with everything and become very demanding. I suspect this is what my girl is going through now. Additionally, she’s feeling a lot of freedom and intense desire to be outdoors, to be with friends. Of course she knows where the art supplies are, and where her dress up clothes are. But the sun is out there, and her new bike, and the girl around the corner. It’s not that she wants my attention all day long. It’s that she wants to be outdoors all day long, and there’s not much for me to get done out there after I’ve weeded the garden.

As I mentioned in this post, it’s pretty clear to me that there has to be a balance between my getting stuff done and her getting to play outdoors. Which makes me sad, because it’s pretty clear that the best thing for her would be to fall out the door in the morning and stay out there till supper, with a possible interlude for lunch. But we live in an urban neighborhood where that’s just not practical without some supervision. If I was happy to spend my entire day reading a novel on the porch, I could. It’s my desire to spend a few hours each day indoors that she’s fighting me on.

]]> By: Sierra http://childwild.com/2009/06/03/stay-inside/comment-page-1/#comment-2473 Sierra Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:37:00 +0000 http://childwild.com/?p=2258#comment-2473 It's a mystery to me as well, and a pretty recent development. From my child development background, I've read a lot about five-year-olds going through a phase where they suddenly announce that they are bored with everything and become very demanding. I suspect this is what my girl is going through now. Additionally, she's feeling a lot of freedom and intense desire to be outdoors, to be with friends. Of course she knows where the art supplies are, and where her dress up clothes are. But the sun is out there, and her new bike, and the girl around the corner. It's not that she wants my attention all day long. It's that she wants to be outdoors all day long, and there's not much for me to get done out there after I've weeded the garden. As I mentioned in this post, it's pretty clear to me that there has to be a balance between my getting stuff done and her getting to play outdoors. Which makes me sad, because it's pretty clear that the best thing for her would be to fall out the door in the morning and stay out there till supper, with a possible interlude for lunch. But we live in an urban neighborhood where that's just not practical without some supervision. If I was happy to spend my entire day reading a novel on the porch, I could. It's my desire to spend a few hours each day indoors that she's fighting me on. It’s a mystery to me as well, and a pretty recent development. From my child development background, I’ve read a lot about five-year-olds going through a phase where they suddenly announce that they are bored with everything and become very demanding. I suspect this is what my girl is going through now. Additionally, she’s feeling a lot of freedom and intense desire to be outdoors, to be with friends. Of course she knows where the art supplies are, and where her dress up clothes are. But the sun is out there, and her new bike, and the girl around the corner. It’s not that she wants my attention all day long. It’s that she wants to be outdoors all day long, and there’s not much for me to get done out there after I’ve weeded the garden.

As I mentioned in this post, it’s pretty clear to me that there has to be a balance between my getting stuff done and her getting to play outdoors. Which makes me sad, because it’s pretty clear that the best thing for her would be to fall out the door in the morning and stay out there till supper, with a possible interlude for lunch. But we live in an urban neighborhood where that’s just not practical without some supervision. If I was happy to spend my entire day reading a novel on the porch, I could. It’s my desire to spend a few hours each day indoors that she’s fighting me on.

]]> By: Abbi http://childwild.com/2009/06/03/stay-inside/comment-page-1/#comment-241 Abbi Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:19:09 +0000 http://childwild.com/?p=2258#comment-241 It's not clear to me why they can't play on their own while you get own stuff done. Even my one year old knows how to play on his own now, and certainly my 6 and 4 year old daughters do. They know where the art supplies are, they have a box full of dress up clothes. I'm truly stumped as to why your kids need your attention for 12 hours straight. Park time is great. For 2 hours. Not all day. It’s not clear to me why they can’t play on their own while you get own stuff done.

Even my one year old knows how to play on his own now, and certainly my 6 and 4 year old daughters do. They know where the art supplies are, they have a box full of dress up clothes. I’m truly stumped as to why your kids need your attention for 12 hours straight.

Park time is great. For 2 hours. Not all day.

]]> By: Abbi http://childwild.com/2009/06/03/stay-inside/comment-page-1/#comment-2472 Abbi Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:19:00 +0000 http://childwild.com/?p=2258#comment-2472 It's not clear to me why they can't play on their own while you get own stuff done. Even my one year old knows how to play on his own now, and certainly my 6 and 4 year old daughters do. They know where the art supplies are, they have a box full of dress up clothes. I'm truly stumped as to why your kids need your attention for 12 hours straight. Park time is great. For 2 hours. Not all day. It’s not clear to me why they can’t play on their own while you get own stuff done.

Even my one year old knows how to play on his own now, and certainly my 6 and 4 year old daughters do. They know where the art supplies are, they have a box full of dress up clothes. I’m truly stumped as to why your kids need your attention for 12 hours straight.

Park time is great. For 2 hours. Not all day.

]]> By: Tara http://childwild.com/2009/06/03/stay-inside/comment-page-1/#comment-238 Tara Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:36:42 +0000 http://childwild.com/?p=2258#comment-238 THIS! I also envy friends with office jobs. I romanticize my previous cool, urban loft life where I walked down streets full of beautiful, old architecture to get to my extremely easy desk job in the civil servce. I miss lunches at trendy little cafés and shopping at cool boutiques. I miss the camraderie with my coworkers (I worked with amazing people) and the post-work beers on a patio in the market. Man...I had it so good. But then again, I wouldn't change this life for the world. My current job is more fulfilling but has no status but it does pay more. I get to watch Lily learn and grow and sometimes it's nice to not wake up in the hustle and bustle of the city but instead rouse to the different bird calls. I think of it as a grass-is-always-greener situation. I have it so good now too, just in different ways. THIS!

I also envy friends with office jobs. I romanticize my previous cool, urban loft life where I walked down streets full of beautiful, old architecture to get to my extremely easy desk job in the civil servce. I miss lunches at trendy little cafés and shopping at cool boutiques. I miss the camraderie with my coworkers (I worked with amazing people) and the post-work beers on a patio in the market. Man…I had it so good.

But then again, I wouldn’t change this life for the world. My current job is more fulfilling but has no status but it does pay more. I get to watch Lily learn and grow and sometimes it’s nice to not wake up in the hustle and bustle of the city but instead rouse to the different bird calls. I think of it as a grass-is-always-greener situation. I have it so good now too, just in different ways.

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