What is it with these kids??

I may be only fifteen but I so agree with you! I remember when I was five and I would be at my friend's who was two or three doors over, I would start to cry when it was time for me to go inside for dinner.

I agree with you so much on this. I remember being younger and my friends and I we would do stuff like pretend we are sisters who work (I hated playing "house'') and usually I would be a singer and author so I would make up stories and sing songs outside and stuff.

Also I was obsessed with Zelda back then (still sort of am) so my guy friends and my other girl friends and I would pretend to have adventures with Zelda. And my friend's backyard was so huge and it was almost like the woods in my mind so there were ton of adventures. I would be Princess Zelda my friend would be Link. It was so fun!

I also riding around on my bikes, having fake fashion shows outside and performing them for my mom or friends parents.

I also loved to play by myself in my room. I never had Barbie because I absolutely hated her with all my heart but when the Bratz came into this world I would collect them. I would play with them with my Barbie house my gradmother gave me (the Barbie furniture and the Barbie house was the only Barbie thing I owned) I would play for hours with my Bratz dolls making up stories and such for them. As if it were some dramatic soap opera.

Or I loved to color in my coloring books and such while listening to music and such. My mom had to pry me out from my room or to leave my friends to eat and such. Oh my god, I loved being a kid, I would love to go back just to re - experience those adventures because they were surely fun. I had the wildest imagination who never stopped imagining at all so it was pretty fun.

Like someone said before TV and computer is taking over the kids lives. I am a teenager who admits to liking electronics I like my cell phone, and I like to watch TV, and come on the computer to continue typing up my book, update on FanFiction, make a new graphic, or come on here. But I make sure I do other stuff, because being on here 24/7 is just not healthy. I go to the gym with my mother, I'm obsessed with swimming at the pool, I go golfing, I'm starting to play tennis, I play the flute, hang out with my friends, I still do like to "color" sometimes.

It seems as kids these days can't make up any games because the TV or computer or video games provide them with those games.

I would have begged my mother to let me put on my bathing suit and to fill up maybe perhaps like a large bucket or something we put our laundry in so I can use that as my "pool". I even would stay in the bathtub for an hour just so I could play.

I say maybe have all the electronics in the house turned off, if you can hide all the smaller electronics such as the Nintendo DS or PSP or any of that (if you happen to have it). Even make it a day where you don't use any of that stuff to provide you entertainment.

Maybe they can go outside and actually play their favorite television shows or movies. Say they like....I don't know...The Hulk they could go outside one kid can be the Hulk and you know there you go you got your own little adventure.

Maybe do the whole garden hose or something. Or if you have a sprinkler let them run around in that.

Sorry my advice isn't that good, I wanted to answer this becuase I agree with you on this.

I'm only fifteen and I remember the times when being outside on my swing set and just running around outside provided me hours of entertainment.

I was just complaining to my mother about the same thing the other day! My kids are glued to the house. She suggested doing what her mother did when they were young. Anyone (she had 5!) who was in the house was put to work. It may have been a hall closet that needed to be cleaned and organized. She didn't just threaten it either, she said her mom would stick to it and make them clean! Then the next time they complained about being bored she would start saying about something else that needed cleaning and ~ presto ~ she didn't see them the rest of the day :)

How about we try this together. Couldn't hurt. The worst thing that could happen is that they would like cleaning? But at least it is one less thing for us to do, right? lol

My parents were divorced, and we spent summers with my mom. Rule No. 1 was Thou Shalt Not View Television. Rule No. 2 was Thou Shalt Play Outdoors. Rule No. 3 involved egg salad, but that's a long story.

The first two weeks were inevitably very difficult ... But, after that, we were on our own, outside, in the mud most of the day. We had more fun, and found more creative things to do in those two brief months than we did the entire rest of the year.

Some things we always had on hand:

* A large roll of newsprint for making big, giant art outside (ask your local newspaper if they sell their end rolls)

* Poster paints

* Glitter (ugh, really, but ... oh, so fun -- and it's outside, right?)

* A hose and sprinkler

* Blankets, chairs, etc., for fort-building

* Balls for the usual sports -- but, better, for making up our own sports

* Bicycles and helmets

* Dirt -- lots and lots of dirt

I don't know why things have changed so - my boys used to love being outdoors too.Being in the cubs helped them to be more resourseful but I have noticed that my grandsons need entertaining more than their Father and uncles did.

Good for you with yours - tell them to stay outside and *find* something to do or you will find them some gardening to do.So long as they are getting fresh air and exercise that will be fine - and if they complain turn the hose on them!

Times have changed!!! Get out there and squirt them w/ the hosepipe unexpected, maybe after a while you can even drench yourself!

One day or 2 turn the a/c OFF unplug something if you have to keep the kids hot.

Just don't get angry when they come in wet! Have towels waiting by the door.

Go out and pull up / dig up some grass, making dirt, then wet it to make mud.

Take your kids outdoors in the rain for a walk in the park one day.

Become a kid again, yourself.

Maybe kids are like this because we all grew up too darned fast?!

But, I do understand your feelings. I chose not to have kids (for health reaons) and it was like murder to get my hubby to play in the rain w/ me!!! He was raised in a city; not me! He thought I was nuts for wanting to walk along the Mississippi River level in the rain (w/o an umbrella). Try telling your like I told him, it's just water; don't you take a shower/bath every day anyway?!

We give ours bikes, water guns, hoses, 5 gallon buckets, play sprinklers, shovels for the dirt back yard and they still won't go outside.

And they come to us and complain that they're bored. Like you, we make them go outside to play and they complain about it and one of them comes in crying within 10 minutes because they're so pissy about being made to go outside that they fight.

I chalk it up to the television and computer doing all of their thinking for them. If the TV is on and the computer is working they sit there like zombies for hours on end. Our router died recently so we're down to one internet capable computer and it's been Hell. It's like they've had their stimulation and entertainment FED to them by the computer and television for so long without real need for their own interaction that they've lost the ability to entertain themselves.

I even have an 8 year old who will still knows how to use his imagination and our 6 year old gets MAD at him for doing it even if it's not affecting her. And you turn off electronics and you can watch the tensions rise even though their room is full of books and toys. They simply seem incapable of accessing their imagination because the TV has been doing their imagining for them for so long...sad really.

I know I remember those days of being a kid and I never wanted to come inside!! haha and I'm only 21, so that wasn't too long ago!

water guns are fun, or you can set up a water slide in the yard for them. turn on the sprinkler and let them get drenched. have them invite their friends over to join in. how old are your kids?? older kids, like 11-14 get bored really easily, so my ideas might not help. however, young children, like under 10, might like the ideas! good luck!!

When you were growing up, families didn't have cable TV with a hundred channels. Take heart, though. All it takes is to turn off the TV and the computer for an hour, and suddenly kids rediscover the art of play. Were you, by any chance, watching TV yourself when they refused to go out and play? You might try turning it off for a while, waiting until they get bored and go outside, and then turning it back on.

hey joining in the fun is a great idea if you can get a sitter for the baby. It will make your life and theres so much more fun....they need a mom, and that is why the house work can wait...you could even set up a playpen for the youngest just make sure the sun is not a problem...sounds like you get the idea already! good mom!

Reverse psychology. If my kids complain, I take away the electronics and tv. They have a short time to do those each day and the rest I expect them to figure out. They'll go play petshop, or pokemon cards, color, puzzles, board games, etc. Right now mine are outside with Daddy playing on their bikes and scooters. If you start taking stuff away when they whine, kids learn real quick to figure out their own amusements!

Good for you. Stick with it. Give 'em some water guns and a sprinkler and maybe a few balloons, and tell them not to come in til dinner. Don't even let the complaining get to you- they'll get over it.