Parent Stress

September 24, 2004 — Children constantly see games and toys on TV. The advertisers convince them that these are the items that they need to be happy. Parents and caretakers often feel that in order to make the kids happy they must buy these toys for them. But then after the toys are bought; the toys are thrown into dusty corners and ignored. The best thing a parent can give to their children is not toys, but rather quality time with their children. The good news is that there are ways to spend quality time with your children that don?t include spending a lot of money or accumulating junk. Here is a list of
great activities you can do with your children without reaching for your pocket book, because memories last ? stuff doesn?t:

1.    
Play ball outside.

2.    
Go to the Park and let your child play on the playground equipment.

3.    
Have a picnic. Let your child help pack your picnic
basket. Bring along a Frisbee or a ball to play with. You could even play hide n? go seek with your child. You don?t even have to leave your own backyard.

4.    
Read a novel to them slightly above their age level. This helps them build a bigger vocabulary and encourages them to love reading.

5.    
Teach your children how to window-shop. Let them pick their favorite place to shop and go there just to look. Encourage them to think about what they want in the future (on their birthday or at Christmas).

6.    
Bring them to a free zoo nearby. Read to them about the different animals.

7.    
Play ?Movie Theatre? at home. Have your children help you make popcorn, tickets & fake money. Let them ?buy? their own popcorn& pop from the theatre personnel (you) & purchase their ticket to see the movie from you. Watch a favorite home video you already own! This creates great fun & wonderful memories.

8.    
Set up a pretend restaurant. Serve your own homemade happy meals with a cookie or a toy. You can serve anything you want inside the happy meal, but try to give them at least two choices for their meal. Your child could help make the menu!

9.    
Check out a small town nearby. Many family friendly small towns will have inexpensive entertainment. The small town we live in offers a public pool for only 25 cents admission, has great parks with lots of trees and wildlife, has a dollar store, many nice shopping places, an ice cream shop with inexpensive ice cream (50 cents for a child size ice cream cone and $1 for an adult size), parades and many other forms of wholesome entertainment.

10.    
Make up a story with your child. Take turns making up the story.

Entertainment never has been expensive. Many large corporations would like us to think that entertainment is expensive & they condition us to think this, but in actuality kids want parents that care about them. Many children are no longer learning how to use their imagination because the media does it for them. The video games have replaced pretending. These ideas will spark creativity in your child!

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