MDC 5,878 Posted January 10, 2019 ... what do you do with your kids on weekends when its rainy or too cold for outdoor activities? I hate to have my kid watching TV or playing video games all day when you cant go out. But when its 30 degrees its hard to insist on the playground or whatever. Ive done story podcasts and board games, taken him to kid friendly museums etc. I really enjoy cooking and have tried to get him interested in that and arts and crafts stuff. Looking for new ideas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
porkbutt 860 Posted January 10, 2019 roller dancing. that's what pothead drobeski thinks my son does for some reason Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Patriotsfatboy1 1,432 Posted January 10, 2019 Teach him how to use tools. Build something. Do a puzzle. Play a board game. Take him to a strip joint. Visit your parents. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MTSkiBum 1,593 Posted January 10, 2019 How old, 5? Legos. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cloaca du jour 2,064 Posted January 10, 2019 Well...unfortunately...you feel like you have to be responsible for your childs entertainment. Your child doesnt need 24 hour entertainment. Dump the phone and video games...get them some legos...an erector set...some crayons etc...age appropriate..and let them learn to entertain themselves and use their imagination. Otherwise your kid may constantly be "bored" since they cant function without your lead. That leads to co dependence...and we know how that turns out 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MDC 5,878 Posted January 10, 2019 How old, 5? Legos. 6. Theres a Legoland Museum around here I thought about taking him to. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fandandy 3,311 Posted January 10, 2019 Sounds like you're doing a fine job. Maybe have another kid to give him someone to play with. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MDC 5,878 Posted January 10, 2019 Well...unfortunately...you feel like you have to be responsible for your childs entertainment. Your child doesnt need 24 hour entertainment. Dump the phone and video games...get them some legos...an erector set...some crayons etc...age appropriate..and let them learn to entertain themselves and use their imagination. Otherwise your kid may constantly be "bored" since they cant function without your lead. That leads to co dependence...and we know how that turns out There is definitely some of that. On the other hand the weekends is my time to spend with him so I try to do things with him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vuduchile 1,940 Posted January 10, 2019 Michigan winters can be brutal, so we have to do a lot of stuff inside. Getting them a dog to play with was a game changer. A basement where they can run and jump around with her also helps. At home: Video game time is earned by reading or practicing a sport. 30 minutes of reading or basketball handling= 30 minutes of video game time. Maximum is 1.5 hours per day. Weekends only. Old school board games. My boys like pictionary and monopoly Card games. I'm teaching them to play poker and black jack. I'm also teaching them to shuffle and deal, something every guy should know how to do. Wood working. They got remote controlled ferraris and buggatis for Xmas Last Sunday they decided to build garages from scrap wood, a hammer, nails, some paint, and even a light. Cooking, as you mentioned. They both get more into cooking when it's food they love. Away from home: They have basketball games on Saturdays starting this weekend, so that will take most of the day. We also go the the local high school for open gym on Sundays where they can shoot hoops, Indoor baseball clinics start in 2 weeks. Finally getting some snow up north now, so they'll get do some skiing and tubing in Jan and Feb. There's also an outdoor ice rink in town when it's cold enough. I don't skate, but my wife does, so she takes them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mobb_deep 917 Posted January 10, 2019 Bowling, Library, and the movies are our 3 go-to rainy day activities. We only have 2 or 3 rainy days a year here, so not too hard for us. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cloaca du jour 2,064 Posted January 10, 2019 There is definitely some of that. On the other hand the weekends is my time to spend with him so I try to do things with him. A couple hours is fine. With legos...challenge him to build the tallest tower he can...free standing. You can design activities as challenge games where he works by himself. Puzzles and riddles and mind teasers are a great way to get kids to think. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gladiators 1,904 Posted January 10, 2019 Teach him how to use tools. Build something. Do a puzzle. Play a board game. Take him to a strip joint. Visit your parents. Solid recommendations. Best part is that it can all be accomplished at 1 place/time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MDC 5,878 Posted January 10, 2019 Solid recommendations. Best part is that it can all be accomplished at 1 place/time. My parents strip club doesnt allow puzzles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NorthernVike 2,080 Posted January 10, 2019 Show them how to safely download pron from the internets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gladiators 1,904 Posted January 10, 2019 Do you ever take him swimming? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NorthernVike 2,080 Posted January 10, 2019 Or have them sign up here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MDC 5,878 Posted January 10, 2019 Do you ever take him swimming? Yes he has summer (outdoor) lessons 1 day a week and I took him to the pool 5-6 times last year. Theres a Y with an indoor pool nearby, maybe thats an idea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sderk 1,040 Posted January 10, 2019 6. Theres a Legoland Museum around here I thought about taking him to. This for sure. Sounds awesome. Now that I'm thinking about it, is 6 too young to enjoy that? I have no idea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Patriotsfatboy1 1,432 Posted January 10, 2019 Have him take up karate. I thought you gave him a name that will have other kids beating him up otherwise. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gladiators 1,904 Posted January 10, 2019 Yes he has summer (outdoor) lessons 1 day a week and I took him to the pool 5-6 times last year. Theres a Y with an indoor pool nearby, maybe thats an idea. We do the indoor pool at the Y every couple weekends. My boys enjoy it. Good for them to keep up on their swimming and it's good exercise. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KSB2424 3,082 Posted January 10, 2019 It's a good topic. Lego's was my first thought. Movies and Bowling also....... Over the Holiday Break it was raining and my kids were bored so I taught them how to make paper airplanes. We had a blast for hours. I got online and looked up how to make different ones. We had fighter jets, crop dusters, all sorts of planes. My little 6 year old got out the crayons and was coloring them, drawing windows and pilots in the window, flames on the wings, etc. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KSB2424 3,082 Posted January 10, 2019 NERF basketball too Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kanil 519 Posted January 10, 2019 My kid (7yo) loves to read so if we tell him no screen time he usually picks up a book. Outside of that he like to play chase/tug-of-war with the dogs, he's in karate so he'll practice his forms/combos, he's got a ton of legos/magna-tiles, and a billion other toys to keep himself occupied. He's an only child and does a great job entertaining himself when he's told to. That said, he is an only child so I do try to play with him quite a bit. Whether that be rough-housing, board/card games, craft project, cooking, or something else it's always a good time. A great way to get a kid to entertain himself is to tell them to find something to do on their own, and when they're done it's time to clean the house. Kid will entertain himself forever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RLLD 3,455 Posted January 10, 2019 Ride dirt bikes, camp, movies, board games, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sderk 1,040 Posted January 10, 2019 Take them to gun range. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kanil 519 Posted January 10, 2019 Ride dirt bikes, camp, movies, board games, Indoor activities that aren't movies/tv. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cyclone24 1,805 Posted January 10, 2019 Give him a handle here at the message board. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
avoiding injuries 1,220 Posted January 10, 2019 Trampoline place, rock wall climbing place, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reality 2,710 Posted January 10, 2019 Youth sports leagues, they all start around that age. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MDC 5,878 Posted January 10, 2019 Give him a handle here at the message board. Good point. Most geeks read and write at a 1st grade level anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerryskids 5,172 Posted January 10, 2019 Well...unfortunately...you feel like you have to be responsible for your childs entertainment. Your child doesnt need 24 hour entertainment. Dump the phone and video games...get them some legos...an erector set...some crayons etc...age appropriate..and let them learn to entertain themselves and use their imagination. Otherwise your kid may constantly be "bored" since they cant function without your lead. That leads to co dependence...and we know how that turns out Good list. I'll add Knex to it. When my kids were younger we had a hard time finding boxes of random Legos; it seemed that they moved on to almost exclusively pre-set kits. F that, I want the kid to create something. Plus Knex are easier for young kids. Have him take up karate. I thought you gave him a name that will have other kids beating him up otherwise. Snarkiness aside, I'm a big proponent of martial arts for as young as 3. https://www.ataonline.com/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tanatastic 2,061 Posted January 10, 2019 Take them to gun range. He can take him to the range where that great dad put an Uzi in his little girls hand and the recoil promptly murdered the instructor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MDC 5,878 Posted January 10, 2019 Good list. I'll add Knex to it. When my kids were younger we had a hard time finding boxes of random Legos; it seemed that they moved on to almost exclusively pre-set kits. F that, I want the kid to create something. Plus Knex are easier for young kids. Snarkiness aside, I'm a big proponent of martial arts for as young as 3. https://www.ataonline.com/ How old before I put him on a keto diet? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kanil 519 Posted January 10, 2019 Snarkiness aside, I'm a big proponent of martial arts for as young as 3. https://www.ataonline.com/ KanilJr (7yo) has been in karate for about a year now. I don't know if it's just him getting older or if it's a result of karate but he's able to focus and stay on task so much better than he was a year ago. He's also put on a bunch of muscle which has helped his skiing a ton. Kid's turning into a beast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iam90sbaby 2,121 Posted January 10, 2019 Good list. I'll add Knex to it. When my kids were younger we had a hard time finding boxes of random Legos; it seemed that they moved on to almost exclusively pre-set kits. F that, I want the kid to create something. Plus Knex are easier for young kids. Snarkiness aside, I'm a big proponent of martial arts for as young as 3. https://www.ataonline.com/ Knex >>>>>> LEGO Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kanil 519 Posted January 10, 2019 Knex >>>>>> LEGO They both have their purpose. Lego's make great ammunition for your Knex catapult! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sderk 1,040 Posted January 10, 2019 He can take him to the range where that great dad put an Uzi in his little girls hand and the recoil promptly murdered the instructor. Yikes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerryskids 5,172 Posted January 10, 2019 How old before I put him on a keto diet? Well, it's never too young to teach your child good dietary habits like avoiding sugary sodas and powdered drinks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerryskids 5,172 Posted January 10, 2019 They both have their purpose. Lego's make great ammunition for your Knex catapult! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cyclone24 1,805 Posted January 10, 2019 Good point. Most geeks read and write at a 1st grade level anyway. Well what better way to teach him about losing and losers who can accept results? And drone day after day about one person. I mean I can't think of a better way to teach them about the lowest of the scum of the Earth spend their days complaining all the while with this false sense of arrogance of superior intelligence don't you think? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites