What to do with the kids……….
Yesterday, the results of a report from What to do with the Kids [WTDWTK™] was published and many of the global parents who took part in the research, commented that many of the traditional games they played as children, contributed to their creativity, motor and cognitive skills, and communication skills.
From the research, WTDWTK™ reports that the top ten games that children should be playing are skipping, Lego, building blocks, Monopoly, tinkering toys, jacks, snakes & ladders, Chinese Checkers, Scrabble and jigsaw puzzles.
They’ve gone on to compile a list of suggested games or things to do that aren’t electronic or related to the internet, such as riding a bike, pogo sticks, hula hoops, hop scotch, hide & seek or Tag; blowing bubbles, playing marbles, flying a kite and hangman.
Well, whilst these all sound terrific fun, some people think children have a much greater choice of things to do than two generations ago. Mike Morin wrote an article yesterday about this very thing . He says that kids nowadays have all the above games but also have the electronic games, music, watching live sports, playing xBox or using the Wii.
I do think kids have much more choice nowadays, and that it’s us parents who are sometimes the lazy ones who can’t be bothered to go out on the bikes, or play hide and seek or marbles or board games. It’s all too convenient sometimes to give in to playing Wii or video games or a Walt Disney movie.
Some people have started having family and friends’ games nights. Perhaps this can also be mimicked with a family bike ride day, or summers evening walk night and then include a family Wii night!!!
What will you be doing with your kids this summer?