How to Entertain Childern Without the Use of Television

Toys can play an important role in stimulating the emotional and mental growth of children.�¯�¿�½ Parents however do not need to spend lots of money on high tech gadgets.�¯�¿�½ Some of the most entertaining and stimulating playthings can cost you next to nothing.

Take a simple cardboard box for instance, it can be turned into a playhouse, an airplane, or anything a child’s fertile imagination can envision. A pail and a shovel allow a child to build sand castles. Simple blocks, puzzles,clay and crayons can likewise provide your child with hours of entertainment.

For older children you have art materials,and hobby kits, these can teach your child useful skills and provide a healthy outlet for creativity, infintely more satisfying than zapping computerized blips. TV promotes sex, lying, and selfishÃ?¯Ã?¿Ã?½outcasts.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Why would anyone want to put their child in front of theÃ?¯Ã?¿Ã?½TV and hand them the remote; even if it’s shows like action heros or magic, things like these only give a child dreams, or for that much: nightmares.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
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Children don’t want to dream about what they can’t do, they want to dream about what they can do. ( reality) Yeah things that are real, that they can hold, smell, interact with. Not something that leaves them feeling less than what they are. What about video games?Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½They give the same idea.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½
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Did you know that most of the kids that play games that promote violence, sex, drugs, gangs, cheating, killing, and so on… Kids that play these games are the ones who end up acting in the same way.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½They think it’s ok to run someone over with a car, or beat someone up because they don’t like them, or what about raping or killing some one? Alll these things are on your child’s video games;Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½You may not even know about it.
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Do you think it’s time to monitor what your child is doing?Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Even your child’s association can be a danger. Make sure who they are hanging out with.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Don’t be afraid to stand up and tell your child NO, step up to the plate, they will love you more than you’ll ever know for that.
FOR THE MOST PART BE A PARENT�¯�¿�½NOT A FRIEND

There is the occasional walk in the park, woods, hiking, and so on. These can be exciting adventures for your children, especially when accompanied by a loving parent.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½’Even basic house hold skills can be taught as fun activities’Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Writes Penelope Leach in her book Your Growing Child: “cooking a cake or a meal, digging the garden, cleaning the car, house cleaning, just to name a few may be among the most desirable kinds of play.”

4 Helpful Guidelines
1. Does the toy really stimulate my childs curosity and imagination?
If�¯�¿�½not, he\she will quickly become bored with it.�¯�¿�½A toy may look good on�¯�¿�½TV, but remember those children are payed to look excited about the toy. Your child might not react the same way. Try observing him/her in the toy stores to find out what he/she likes.

2. Is the toy approiate for my childs physical and mental abilities?
Sometimes a child isn’t strong enough, patient enough, or agile enough to use a particular toy. Do you really think a 3year old can operate an electric train? or swing a bat?Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½ Why not wait until your child is better equipped to appreciate such play things?Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½(you must be patient)

3. Is the toy safe?�¯�¿�½
Small toddlers tend to put things in their mouth and can easily choke on thiny pieces, or sharp objects can hurt any child at any age.�¯�¿�½You may also wnat to ask yourself; Can the toy can be thrown, or used in any way as a weapon against a sibling? Parents must be careful when choosing entertainment for their precious gifts.

4. Do I really want my child to have this toy?
Don’t be a hypocrite with your child. Telling them that they can’t have a certain toy, because it could promote danger or violence, and then you go out and buy the same toy for grown ups, that would be worng and selfish on your part as a parent.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Don’t be one of those parents that use the saying “Do as I say not as I do.”Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½As the family motto.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½

Just because you’re the parent doesn’t mean you have to be dogmatic and unreasonable. That would only cause your child to feel angry and resentful, then they won’t come to you for anything or for that matter even listen to you. Be true to yourself by first loving them wholeheartdly. Set bounderies with your children give them rules and guildlines to follow. “If one is pampering one’s servant or in this case (child) from youth on, in his\her later life he\she will even become a thankless one.” One child care expert put it this way: “you need to sit down with your child and explain to them why you don’t want to give them certian toys.’Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½

Also remember that with all the high-tech gadgets out there: cell phones, computers, video games consoles, and so on we are raisingÃ?¯Ã?¿Ã?½the next generation to be ADHD. Don’t be afraid to limit your child’s access to these gadets; doing so could help your child develop better social and moral skills.Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½

So keeping these guildines in mind; our children will grow to become strong, healthy, happy adults.