TOTALLY GEEKED!

Vette · Owl drink to that!

This kid needs to lighten up!

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

How is he socially? Not with adults he knows, peers.

Vette · Owl drink to that!

He has lots of friends!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Some kids today only care about electronics , social media and video games. Does he fit that? If so then time to unplug him a bit.

Vette · Owl drink to that!

I think that's him lgs, he spends a lot of time playing on his phone

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I have found u have to pull them away some. And then they resist but eventually they decompress from electronics and begin enjoying things like that. Are there any screen time limits?

Vette · Owl drink to that!

No not really, they are pretty lax with him. His dad only just recently has started getting on his case about stuff, I think because he's almost in the double digits.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

VetteGirl wrote:
No not really, they are pretty lax with him. His dad only just recently has started getting on his case about stuff, I think because he's almost in the double digits.

He is a normal brat. Make/push him to do what is needed for his safety. Certainly swimming is one of them.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Honestly the best thing I did for my kids was to make them be accountable to the family. Chores are not punishment but part of being a contributing member. And it wasa struggle to get them to unplug. But once they did and were responsible to cook dinner , etc they seemed to start taking some enjoyment and pride. Also if u just have some family days with no phones , at first he will balk. But once it becomes clear that this is the new normal he will start to branch out. I don't mean to take it away all the time but some defined periods

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

We do that. We jokingly call it forced family time. The kids will ask at least every other week if we can do it.

Have a meal, play some cards. When I was more able we went on picnics, to museums zoos.

And I agree about chores or caring for the house.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

My SS is like that Vette. He's deathly afraid to try new things. He always says he won't like it. He has his mind made up before he even tries it. We just got to the point where we have told him he has to try certain things. Then if he doesn't like he doesn't have to continue. For an example, he read all of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. But then he wouldn't read anything else. I KNEW he'd like the Hardy Boys if he just gave it a chance. It came down to I told him to read ONE book and if he didn't like it he didn't have to read anymore. Now he's halfway through the series. Now we're having the same issue about Nancy Drew. EVERYONE has told him he'll like them if he likes Hardy Boys. I told him he has to read ONE and if he doesn't like it he doesn't have to read anymore. He said he would. He's like that with food too. Swore he hated mushrooms. Till he tried one. Some kids are just really not secure enough stepping out of their comfort zone. Sometimes you just have to push them a little. My SS is the same age and we had the same issues with bike riding and swimming.

FNW · Guru

My #1, if he had his way, would prefer to stay home and either watch a sports game on TV or play with daddy's iPad. Or play ball. Things he's familiar with. He's not one to step outside the box, so I make him.

A few weeks ago I told him we were going for a drive. He had a fit. Didn't want to go, etc. (I think the Nationals were playing and he figured if we stayed home he'd get to watch it). So I told him if we stayed home, the TV would remain off. Didn't like that either. So we piled in the car, packed a picnic, and drove. Ended up at a state park in MD, walked to the Grotto, drove a little further and bought the "good" fireworks in PA, stopped at a creamery for ice cream on the way home. He had a great time. I reminded him that he didn't want to go...and that he should never question my plans, because they usually involve fun. He's been better about getting out lately.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Some kids tend to be more cautious be nature than others. DD11 is a very cautious child - has no interest in learning to ride a bike, etc. We are bribing her to learn to ride a bike. She is willing to try new things, though, if it is a family outing or with her friends. She's not into team sports - only likes swimming and tennis.

Sometimes that is just the way they are, and you have to learn to work with it. DD11 wants an IPOD touch really badly - so when she learns to ride a bike, she can have one.

FNW · Guru

My #1 would love to play team sports, but I'm a little reluctant to sign him up. For one, he throw a fit when he loses, says things are unfair, etc. And I don't like how much time it consumes, taking away from family time.

ed11563 · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
DD11 is a very cautious child - has no interest in learning to ride a bike, etc.

Would she be more willing if she had a helmet, leather gloves, knee and elbow pads? Or have you already taken care of that?

She WILL fall down, we just had to make sure the kids wouldn't be injured, and would get right back up on the bike.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

ed11563 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
DD11 is a very cautious child - has no interest in learning to ride a bike, etc.
Would she be more willing if she had a helmet, leather gloves, knee and elbow pads? Or have you already taken care of that?
She WILL fall down, we just had to make sure the kids wouldn't be injured, and would get right back up on the bike.

Yes, ed, she has all the pads and helmet.

ed11563 · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
ed11563 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
DD11 is a very cautious child - has no interest in learning to ride a bike, etc.
Would she be more willing if she had a helmet, leather gloves, knee and elbow pads? Or have you already taken care of that?
She WILL fall down, we just had to make sure the kids wouldn't be injured, and would get right back up on the bike.

Yes, ed, she has all the pads and helmet.

Maybe she should practice deliberately falling down?

Falling down was taught in a Karate class my kids took.

huskerbb · Guru

VetteGirl wrote:
I've never met a kid like SO's son. He's almost ten years old and still refuses to learn to ride a bike. He won't climb trees, he doesn't want to go to the lake or go camping. He won't do anything! He won't eat anything either for that matter.
SO finally is putting his foot down about swimming lessons because we live on a lake and practically everything we do is water related. But this kid (I'll call him A) is so resistant, he has been crying and pouting and throwing a big fit.
Why is he so scared of life?

-- Edited by VetteGirl on Sunday 14th of June 2015 07:15:35 PM

Ah, now I see where kids who don't want to drive at sixteen are like when they are younger.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

FNW wrote:
My #1 would love to play team sports, but I'm a little reluctant to sign him up. For one, he throw a fit when he loses, says things are unfair, etc. And I don't like how much time it consumes, taking away from family time.

Sounds like he would benefit from a team sport.

What does he want to play?

And if he starts now, it could be a very sturdy foundation for a college scholarship.

FNW · Guru

He probably would. Right now, he wants to play baseball. A few months ago it was basketball. So whatever is in season. He burns out, too. He wanted to learn to swim so he could be on the swim team, but got tired of the weekly lessons, and didn't want to continue.