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I remember a time when growing up and silly putty and a yo-yo were the greatest gifts a kid could get. Now those gifts pale to comparison to the things that kids have to choose from. Talking computers and video games seem to be all the rage. The best they had when I was growing up was pong and the only computer was a Texas Instrument computer which was way out of my parent price range. Gone from kid’s wishlist is the rugged Tonka Truck which is still made, but not like they use to be. Oh the days of playing in the dirt with my crane and dump truck. These toys have been replaced with playstations, and Xbox’s. The imagination from their world is disappearing. Kids don’t have to think anymore it’s done for them. It’s a shame because part of the fun was getting things done on your own. Now a push of a button and the answer appears. Will we ever go back to the simple life? Nope it’s gone but still in my imagination.
Where I live it’s been in the 90’s and as I took a walk I was surprised at the number of kids I seen outside playing. A beautiful sunny day and very few kids around. I wondered to myself are kids just to lazy to get away from the air conditioning to enjoy the outside anymore. I remember growing up and it was hard to keep us indoors. I love the outdoors and always could find something to do. I never told my mother I was bored or she found things for me to do. I guess maybe I need to catch up with the times. Kids I guess are just not as active as we were when he hit that age. It’s a shame though they are missing alot.
As a father I try to always get my kids to read as often as possible. Reading in my opinion is very beneficial to kids. Now usually I take the kids up to the library and they pick out a few books to take home and read. I decided this past week we would do something different and buy them a book of their choice to read. We headed out to Barnes and Noble to purchase a new book that they could call their own. Now after a few minutes in the kids section of books for my 8 year old son I discovered one very important detail besides books are expensive these days is books aren’t like they were when I was a kid. Books today are much tougher to read and I don’t like to say this but boring. Gone our the days of Danny the Dinosaur which they still make by the way. I always thought the right way to foster a kids joy of reading was to give them somethng easy to read and understand so they would keep coming back. I will admit I was disappointed in the choice we were given in toady’s market. I guess that is why kids have such a tough time reading anymore. I think it’s time we go back to K.I.S.S. not the rock group either lol. Keep It Simple Stupid the phrase I think every teacher made me remember. Simple enjoyable books for kids would be nice. We want to foster reading not scare them away.
When the Disney Channel first came out I was a little skeptical that they could actually make it. I remember a time when cartoons was the main thing that was shown. Now things like Zac and Cody, Hannah Montana, rule the roast on the Disney Channel. over the years you have to give The Disney Channel credit for adapting to what kids want to watch. The programming has changed to what kids like and that formula seems to be working well for them. Toss in the High School Musical series of made for TV movies and you have a kids channel that is pushing all the right buttons. It seems they have the ability to feel the pulse of kids and answer to what they want. I have to tip my hat to The Disney Channel for doing things the right way and still very succesful.
Learning from a kid? Yes, I will admit that I’ve had lessons taught to me from my own kids. Sometimes as parents we don’t listen to what are kids are really saying as we are so driven to get are point across. I’ve learned through the years that listening to your children no matter what they have to say is always better than just driving your point home with no feedback at all. I’ve seen parents that have put such a wedge between their kids that it can never be fixed. kids are human to and they make mistakes just like adults do. Listen to your kids before making snap judgements and you will be surprised how really understand they are. I’ve learn kids are alot of times smarter than we give them credit for. Kids are people to and I’m not to proud to say I’ve learned from a kid. How about you?
My son had his open house and as usual it was packed. That is something I really don’t understand is open house almost every parent will show up, but after the school year starts you never see this kind of turnout. Well, I guess they didn’t have anything better to do on a Monday Night. Open house for me is always fun as it’a feeling out process on how well I can judge a teacher and how she plans on working with the kids. The teacher my son got is a tough hard nosed older lady who believes in work first and talk later. This made me smile as my son does have a problem of talking in class. I think that problem will be taken care of real quickly. In the school system that my kids go to they let the kids use calculators which I don’t like. This teacher agrees with me on this one. Finally someone who agrees with me. I think I’m going to like this teacher. The bottom line is my kids haven’t learned all they should in this school system. They have a different idea than I do about what they need to know. It was refreshing to find a teacher who is going to teach my son what he needs to know. I’m sure later in the year my son will tell me how much he hates this teacher, but as long as he learns something than it’s worth it.
Well, everyone thought that you had to be in Florida or the East Coast to feel the affects of tropical storms or Hurricanes. I can attest that you don’t have to be anywhere close to feel those effects. last night in Ohio we got 10 inches of rain. My street is flooded and I walked into the basement to see pretty things flodding in a sea of water. Thank goodness the kids are still alseep so they can’t see what they have lost yet lol! Guess today I will be in cleanup mode for a very long time. I thought Ohio was far enough up, but apparently I was mistaken. I’ve attached a picture of our local postoffice to let you see what I’m talking about. A friend of mine sent them to me since I can’t go anywhere.
In life as a single dad you learn sometimes you need to take a timeout. Over the years as being a dad many times kids will try to get to you and boy I know mine have sure tried. This is when Dad needs to take a timeout. I usually just walk outside for a few minutes and relax before I decide what to do. It always clears my mind and let’s me think straight. At times if you don’t watch it anger can get the best of you and kids can see it and they will try and push your buttons. I use the old timeout theory on myself and it has done wonders for me. I’ve learn not to sweat the little things anymore and enjoy life and the time you have with your kids as it goes by very fast. Give yourself a timeout or two it never hurts to come back refreshed and ready to handle what ever comes your way.
By now I’m sure if you have kids you probably know about the High School Musical series. Especially if you have a daughter. For people who haven’t in a way your lucky. Disney has created a franchise that keeps rolling in the dough for them. High School musical is about a group of kids in a high school and things they do and what happens to them. The first High School Musical was very good as I watched it with my daughter who still sing the songs from the first one. Friday night High School Musical 2 was shown on the Disney Channel and their was me watching it with my daughter who again loved it. I personally thought it wasn’t very good compared to the first one. Of course my daughter thought it was great so I guess I was in the minority since over 17 million watched it. It set a record as the highest watched cable show of all time. I can imagine Disney executives were smiling somewhere. Toss in all the High School Musical 2 products out their and you can see why this franchise continues to roll on. High School Musical 3 is coming in 2008 where they will follow the kids as seniors in High School. Another winner for Disney it looks like. At least I have a year of peace from it. I can’t complain much though it good clean entertainment which is hard to find on television anymore.
Yes, it seems this summer has flew by so fast and only 4 more days of freedom left for my kids. It seems our school system goes back to school earlier than most. Their first day back is Aug 22, 2007. education has sure changed alot over the years compared to when I was going to school. Looking over the kids school list it’s a variety of things we never needed when I was a kid. Growing up if you got a binder and of course that 64 count box of crayola crayons you were tickled pink, of course your box had to have the crayon sharpener in it to make you feel king. Nowadays though these school lists have sure changed Here is some things we never had to bring before:
The list is just crazy anymore. It seems every teacher wants something totally different from the next. I guess this is what they call public education at it’s best. |
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