Kids and “work before play”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem I’m
Seeing with some of these answers is that resting, chilling, relaxing, seems to mean screens. Kids should be able to find other ways to rest, chill, relax without being stimulated by a video game, show or whatever.

But how do you relax? Aren't you on your screen? We all watched tv as a kid.

They relax with their toys or books! Legos, etc. My elementary and middle school kids still play with their legos. One kid does a lot of crafts. Sometimes they all play board games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem I’m
Seeing with some of these answers is that resting, chilling, relaxing, seems to mean screens. Kids should be able to find other ways to rest, chill, relax without being stimulated by a video game, show or whatever.

But how do you relax? Aren't you on your screen? We all watched tv as a kid.

They relax with their toys or books! Legos, etc. My elementary and middle school kids still play with their legos. One kid does a lot of crafts. Sometimes they all play board games.

Reading a book is one thing, but the rest of what you are describing is playing/play time, not relaxing. My 4th grader often has sports practice or an activity after a full day of school. She comes home and wants to RELAX for 30 minutes, not do crafts or play board games or build with legos (all of which are things she actually loves to do). She is allowed to lie down on the couch and watch an episode of something on TV. Then she plays with stuff you describe or outside, does homework, practices her instrument, helps make her lunch of the next day, helps me a little with dinner and dinner clean up, and reads -- she always at a minimum reads for like 40 minutes before bed. She needs those 30 minutes to truly relax. I highly doubt there is evidence out there that 30 minutes of a TV show a day is harmful to an upper ES kid with an otherwise busy life. OP - don't get so hung up on the order of things or completely eliminating screens. Set limits -- and stick to them -- and allow your kids to recharge. Remember that during the week, when your kids get home from school they have already actually had a full day of "work".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem I’m
Seeing with some of these answers is that resting, chilling, relaxing, seems to mean screens. Kids should be able to find other ways to rest, chill, relax without being stimulated by a video game, show or whatever.

But how do you relax? Aren't you on your screen? We all watched tv as a kid.

They relax with their toys or books! Legos, etc. My elementary and middle school kids still play with their legos. One kid does a lot of crafts. Sometimes they all play board games.

Reading a book is one thing, but the rest of what you are describing is playing/play time, not relaxing. My 4th grader often has sports practice or an activity after a full day of school. She comes home and wants to RELAX for 30 minutes, not do crafts or play board games or build with legos (all of which are things she actually loves to do). She is allowed to lie down on the couch and watch an episode of something on TV. Then she plays with stuff you describe or outside, does homework, practices her instrument, helps make her lunch of the next day, helps me a little with dinner and dinner clean up, and reads -- she always at a minimum reads for like 40 minutes before bed. She needs those 30 minutes to truly relax. I highly doubt there is evidence out there that 30 minutes of a TV show a day is harmful to an upper ES kid with an otherwise busy life. OP - don't get so hung up on the order of things or completely eliminating screens. Set limits -- and stick to them -- and allow your kids to recharge. Remember that during the week, when your kids get home from school they have already actually had a full day of "work".

Each kid is different, but in my household, travel sports are huge so legos, crafts, and reading are very relaxing in comparison. They “play” a lot too but that often means running around outside or kicking a ball around.

As a grownup, crafts and legos are very relaxing to me. Perhaps my kids take after me.