Comments on: Entertaining Themselves http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/2009/06/22/entertaining-themselves/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:44:48 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Barbara Frank http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/2009/06/22/entertaining-themselves/comment-page-1/#comment-1146 Barbara Frank Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:57:22 +0000 http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/?p=531#comment-1146 Thanks, everyone, for weighing in! :) Thanks, everyone, for weighing in! :)

]]> By: Sebastian (a lady) http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/2009/06/22/entertaining-themselves/comment-page-1/#comment-1140 Sebastian (a lady) Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:48:07 +0000 http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/?p=531#comment-1140 I'm still deep in the schooling trenches this summer. We had an overseas move last winter, so we didn't start our normal academics until January. The kids have had some fun stuff, like scout camp and summer swim team. But we're also enjoying the luxury of freetime for reading, robotics and even games once our lessons are done. We live on a military base and while there are a lot of summer camp options, there are also a lot of families who want their kids signed up nearly every week. I know parents who were in line on sign up day at 4 am and were still 20th in line. I just wasn't getting the on fire response that I would have needed to make me camp out to get summer camp slots. Maybe a good number of these families have both parents working and see camp as a day care substitute for the months when school is out. But I wonder how many just don't want to have to deal with their kids on a daily basis. I’m still deep in the schooling trenches this summer. We had an overseas move last winter, so we didn’t start our normal academics until January. The kids have had some fun stuff, like scout camp and summer swim team. But we’re also enjoying the luxury of freetime for reading, robotics and even games once our lessons are done.

We live on a military base and while there are a lot of summer camp options, there are also a lot of families who want their kids signed up nearly every week. I know parents who were in line on sign up day at 4 am and were still 20th in line. I just wasn’t getting the on fire response that I would have needed to make me camp out to get summer camp slots.

Maybe a good number of these families have both parents working and see camp as a day care substitute for the months when school is out. But I wonder how many just don’t want to have to deal with their kids on a daily basis.

]]> By: Jerelene http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/2009/06/22/entertaining-themselves/comment-page-1/#comment-1102 Jerelene Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:49:04 +0000 http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/?p=531#comment-1102 Hi Barbara, I met you on the homeschool lounge...We had a lot of sickness this last school yr. so we're still puttering along to the finish line. At this point, I think we're just going to continue at a snail's pace on through the summer and just take a few weeks break before starting again. I'd love for you to come see me at my blog. I hope it's not rude for me to leave my blog info. I hope you are having a wonderful summer so far!! :) Blessings, Jerelene http://jerelenesblog.blogspot.com/ Hi Barbara, I met you on the homeschool lounge…We had a lot of sickness this last school yr. so we’re still puttering along to the finish line. At this point, I think we’re just going to continue at a snail’s pace on through the summer and just take a few weeks break before starting again. I’d love for you to come see me at my blog. I hope it’s not rude for me to leave my blog info. I hope you are having a wonderful summer so far!! :) Blessings, Jerelene
http://jerelenesblog.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Crimson Wife http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/2009/06/22/entertaining-themselves/comment-page-1/#comment-1101 Crimson Wife Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:18:02 +0000 http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/?p=531#comment-1101 I don't know, summer camp is an old tradition where I grew up in New England. Both my parents attended and I'm pretty sure they are older than you (unless you had your kids on the later side). I don’t know, summer camp is an old tradition where I grew up in New England. Both my parents attended and I’m pretty sure they are older than you (unless you had your kids on the later side).

]]> By: Tori http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/2009/06/22/entertaining-themselves/comment-page-1/#comment-1099 Tori Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:31:09 +0000 http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/?p=531#comment-1099 I wish I felt safe enough to allow my kids to run off and entertain themselves away from me! Every time I think something like, "When R is ____ years old, I'll let her go to the playground by herself (it's 2 large blocks away and would require crossing a relatively busy street)," I learn about another child snatched from their yard, or some children that were inappropriately approached and then chased by some men at a local park! It's alarming. And those who do evil are doing it more openly and brazenly than I've EVER heard of before. So, I think I'll just keep my girls (THREE of them) under my eye until they are teenagers. I sure would love the quiet time, though! ahwell... I can dream and send myself to the quiet place in my mind. heeheehee I wish I felt safe enough to allow my kids to run off and entertain themselves away from me! Every time I think something like, “When R is ____ years old, I’ll let her go to the playground by herself (it’s 2 large blocks away and would require crossing a relatively busy street),” I learn about another child snatched from their yard, or some children that were inappropriately approached and then chased by some men at a local park! It’s alarming. And those who do evil are doing it more openly and brazenly than I’ve EVER heard of before. So, I think I’ll just keep my girls (THREE of them) under my eye until they are teenagers. I sure would love the quiet time, though! ahwell… I can dream and send myself to the quiet place in my mind. heeheehee

]]> By: Michelle http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/2009/06/22/entertaining-themselves/comment-page-1/#comment-1094 Michelle Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:04:24 +0000 http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/?p=531#comment-1094 This is how I parent. We bought ten acres just so our kids could go out and play. This is how I parent. We bought ten acres just so our kids could go out and play.

]]> By: Janet http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/2009/06/22/entertaining-themselves/comment-page-1/#comment-1092 Janet Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:37:06 +0000 http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/?p=531#comment-1092 I COMPLETELY agree. There is nothing worse than seeing kids who have NO IDEA how to PLAY. I do not plan a whole pile of stuff for my kids for the summer. It's their time "off" and mine too! Right now, for instance, they are going around the house trying out the new power monitor. They are turning things on and writing down how many kilowatts of power they are using. Tee hee. I COMPLETELY agree. There is nothing worse than seeing kids who have NO IDEA how to PLAY. I do not plan a whole pile of stuff for my kids for the summer. It’s their time “off” and mine too! Right now, for instance, they are going around the house trying out the new power monitor. They are turning things on and writing down how many kilowatts of power they are using. Tee hee.

]]> By: Karen Lange http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/2009/06/22/entertaining-themselves/comment-page-1/#comment-1089 Karen Lange Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:54:11 +0000 http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/?p=531#comment-1089 I read this, Barb, and thought, Amen, Amen, Amen! I remember reading an article years ago that encouraged kids to make their own fun. It was an excellent article (wish I could remember where I saw it!) and it reinforced my belief that kids should be able to occupy themselves, be creative, etc. With a healthy balance of family time, I think this is a fabulous way to raise children. Thanks for the reminder:) I read this, Barb, and thought, Amen, Amen, Amen! I remember reading an article years ago that encouraged kids to make their own fun. It was an excellent article (wish I could remember where I saw it!) and it reinforced my belief that kids should be able to occupy themselves, be creative, etc. With a healthy balance of family time, I think this is a fabulous way to raise children. Thanks for the reminder:)

]]> By: Susan http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/2009/06/22/entertaining-themselves/comment-page-1/#comment-1087 Susan Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:00:02 +0000 http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/?p=531#comment-1087 And here I've been feeling guilty about being "too busy" to spend much time with the kids the last couple of weeks, and you're reminding me that it's good for them to amuse themselves. Bless you! And here I’ve been feeling guilty about being “too busy” to spend much time with the kids the last couple of weeks, and you’re reminding me that it’s good for them to amuse themselves. Bless you!

]]> By: Kika http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/2009/06/22/entertaining-themselves/comment-page-1/#comment-1086 Kika Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:12:15 +0000 http://barbarafrankonline.com/blog.php/?p=531#comment-1086 My nine year old - social - daughter wants to particpate in EVERYTHING. On the other hand, she always is wanting more time for her projects (art, sewing, etc) and realistically she cannot have both. It is challenging to help her see for herself the need to say NO to many good activities so she can say YES to the projects she's always dreaming about (or starting but not completing). My nine year old – social – daughter wants to particpate in EVERYTHING. On the other hand, she always is wanting more time for her projects (art, sewing, etc) and realistically she cannot have both. It is challenging to help her see for herself the need to say NO to many good activities so she can say YES to the projects she’s always dreaming about (or starting but not completing).

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