Would you encourage your children do some outdoor activities rather at home?

I want my children to grow without feeling deprived of childhood plays. Many times it was proven that outdoor activities have more benefits than indoor games when it comes to physical and social growth of children. I grew up with overprotective parents and as an adult I sometimes feel terrified of the outside world. The best outdoor activity I could let them get involved is in sports. And probably go on a picnic with them. Parenthood is never easy. I am not a parent yet so I guess I will just have to cross the bridge when I get there.

For most of the time they should just be outside or hanging out with friends, if they do watch tv or play video games make sure they are socializing with people weather its having a friend over or playing with them online. Make sure they do some type of sport, try and get them interested in one, but dont make it seem like your forcing him/her into it.

I think that is an age old question...are outside activities the best for children? I think so..but I also think there is a limit to them as well. I know quite a few people that have their children in after school activities but they have them in way to many. The kids don't have a chance to be a kid when their schedules are so full that they don't have time to breathe. My daughter is in girl scouts and my son was in boy scouts until they finished for the year. I will be getting my son into little league football once it starts up here in a few week and my daughter will try gymnastics but to me those are enough for them at their ages at 8 and 10. With summer coming I like to have them not as active in after school sports because we have things that we like to do in the summer time. My son likes to play video games but I feel as long as we limit his time on their then it is alright. We also have the game system in the family room and only allow games appropriate for his age. We like to encourage them to get outside when it is nice and I think that it is a good thing to do even if it is just taking a walk, throwing a ball or swinging on a swing.

We will be limiting our kid's video game usage. We will try to balance outdoor activities and video game time.

The only thing that we own in the house that games could be played on is the computer. Since my husband or I are using it most of the time the kids don't get much of an opportunity unless they are at their Aunt's house. I am very fortunate that all my kids (even the youngest at 1 1/2 years) love to be outside. Whether it's helping in the garden, helping their dad, playing with the neighbour, with each other or by themselves, they would much prefer to be outside then in front of the TV. I'm sure if I let them they would watch television all day but that's not going to happen. If you have chips and pop in the house, keep the pop out of the fridge, put the chips up high and maybe make snacks that they can have access to all day (cut up vegetables, slices of cheese, fruit) and can get themselves. That way, if they have the munchies, they have no choice but to go for the good stuff. An egg timer may work for the video games, computer, tv, set it for one hour and once that hour is up, that is it. If they don't turn it off, do it for them and take it away for a day. My kids get to watch an hour and half of tv before bed so they can wind down but the snacks (the junky snacks) stay out of the house. I also try to set the example of not eating chips or drinking pop so my kids don't ask.

I don't let my kids have soda or sit around playing video games and watching tv all day. I think the best option is to just put your foot down about it. It's in thier best interest to not just sit around and play video games. I'd limit thier time and follow through with it. If you need to sign them up for summer sports and get invilved with practices and games. My daughter could spend the whole summer outside playing and be happy. We also make sure she doesn't take in any access sugar or snacks. Keep it healthy.

My question is who is in control at your house? You or your kids? I do understand that it is harder to get or allow kids to play out side theses days because of all the things that can happen to them. but you can control the food that comes into you home. You can also control the amount of time they spend on those games. You do have the responsibility to get your kids out and moving. Go with them them. They are going to rebel if you just send them out. Put a time limit on how long they can play the video games an take them for a walk or jog around the park. Set them an example. Get a volley ball net and ball or a bad mitten set and go out and play with them. You will get to know your kids better and you will fell better too.

thanks to all etec.games,plus computers and tv.,and junk food we let our kids eat.even the grow ups are over weight here in America.we all got lazy and it is hurting our kids.9 out 10 kids are over weight.we as parents need to get our self and are kids up and out of the house and get moving.instead of potato chip give the some fruit to eat.quit buying the junk food.it is all up to you.

Hey, it's the summer time, it's probably just starting to get really bad, because it's something new. If you're truly worried about keeping the weight off, there are some great wii games designed to promote activity - check out Outdoor Adventure, for example. That's a great one. I'd get rid of the chips and coke though - the calories in that junk can add up really quickly. When pushing them to be more active, try not too be incredibly bossy about - explain the reasons why they need to get going. good luck to you.

hello clorissa i don't have kids yet but if i'm gonna have, i think i will encourage them to play outside with other kids...its better for them to interact with other kids and i think its not really good to let children always in front of computers...its somehow put their health at risk..they need exercise and i think playing outside is a good form of exercise for them...i remember my childhood days, when these technologies are not yet popular, i always play outside with my neighbors and it was really fun and good, one of the best thing of being a kid that i always remember and i want my kids to enjoy the life of a kid! :-)

Oh,although i don't have child now,or i myself is a still a chid,i do agree that children should do some outdoor activities rather at home. I love sports,and i like to go out sometimes.But those days,internet,TV,all the tenology try to conviente our life,but at the same some lazy our life.This do a lot of harm to us,espercially children,we all know the benefits of going out activities,so next times,when u see ur children staying home eating ,and playing,please ask them to out ,enjoy natural life,enjoy what nature offer us.

yes i will, when i have kids i hope to encourage them in outdoor activities just to get them active and who i knows they may actually develop their talents and become great sports personalities or even entertainers such as singers, actors, actresses and may even be into fashion stuffs, It is very much ideal to combine education with outdoor activities for kids.

Surely kids need outdoor activities and I make it a point to ask them to go out and play just go for any game of your choice in the park and they are off, mostly they do cycling!

hello!clorissa123,i am very sympathy with you.Children donot understand their parents .I think that they will understand you when they grows.So you donot worry about it.I feel let it be.

This summer i sent them to a soccer camp so that they can play real soccer and not play FIFA on the PS. I thought it would better if they get out of the house and learn a sport. But i'm not sure i'll do it again though. The house gets quiet without them and me and my wife became a bit lonely

Well the children we have at home still are 16, 14, and 2. They love being outside, riding their bikes or anything else. We dont own a game system and the TV and computer only comes on at night for the most part. We are also a working family and on weekends are outside working together, be it gardening, mowing, or doing wood.

My children are five years old and we do not own a game system nor do they play computer games. We are all about playing outside and using our imagination. I know the time is coming when they will be introduced to video games, but I am not yet ready for it. When they do start playing for them, they will play but there will be a timmer and when it goes off the game system goes off as well.

In my home on a school day, no tv until after dinner. On the weekends in the afternoon for about 3 hours everything gets shut off and they have to go outside or find something to do. Usually that 3 hours turns into more cause they find something they get into that is other than watch tv or video games.

If i could go back in time, I would have never bought their first video game console which I believe was Nintendo 64. They have been getting alot better at going out and being more social only because I've pushed them to. It makes me crazy to see them playing video games for hours. When I get aggravated, I tell them to go to a friends house and play basketball or go walk around with some friends. I try to encourage them to do other things. There are so many other things to do, people to know, friends to make,sports to play. I feel it's a waste of time to just sit all day in front of the TV playing games and the reality is they're not learning much from it.

First of all, I think children stopped playing outside when both parents started to work full time. Rather than worry about the children outside, they made them stay in until they came home...what where the kids going to do...so the computer games, and TV occupied their time. Secondly, with the apartment complexes and condominions that they are building, don't allow children to have free reign of the yard surrounding their living space. In condos, you only have a small area, and in the apartment complexes, the playgrounds aren't often near your apartment...they're either down several buildings from you, or across the street. Unfortunately, years ago, we could let our kids out in the backyard when they were 5 or 6, and you only had to keep an eye out from inside. The ruling then, was "not to cross the street", and "stay in your own yard". With the playgrounds now situated a distance from you, you can't let them play out on their own, without going out with them. When both parents work full time, how many of them have time to sit outside with them, when they come home. This makes for a child to stay indoors more often, and get glued to the TV and computer. Sad! Family life has really gone haywire, and I'm glad I don't have to start all over again.