In the aftermath of Christmas, I am beginning to doubt the gift choices of Santa this year. The boys are all happy with their gifts, well more specifically their video games and electronic gifts. Spending hours upon hours playing one video game after another. What about the other gifts? The gifts of a non-electronic variety.
The nerf guns are long forgotten. Sitting all alone in the corners of the boys rooms, while the electronic gadgets and gizmos are being played with non-stop. So I put a ban on video games for a day to see what would happen. Of course, I forgot to also ban the TV so that is where all their time was spent. So I tried again and this time I remembered to ban the TV.
Amazing things happened. Books were opened and read. They all ventured outside. Sidewalk chalk was well used in making beautiful artwork on the walk and driveway. Bikes were taken out and "worked" on. Footballs and baseballs were passed. Hide and seek was played.
I remembered my youth and how much fun it was to simply play outside. How my siblings and I would play outside from dawn until dusk with our friends. I want my kids to know that there is more to life than texting and playing video games.
Next year for Christmas, I think that we are going to ask Santa to give things that don't require that they be plugged into a wall outlet. Books, balls, board games, frisbees. Its time to bring back things that nuture their minds; bring the family closer together.
Much love ~ Shell
I too have tried to limit the video games and TV and tried to play more "real" games that do not require batteries or a TV.
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