hi wondering if you have any tips on how to get your teenage son outside and breathing fresh air?
my son likes all thing that require sitting!
computer
tv
xbox
mp3
my other kids enjoy sports and other outdoor activities but my teen isnt into any of it....hes turning into a old man before he becomes an adult.
Any suggestions? ↓
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| Name: Texas_Mom | Date: Oct 25th, 2006 3:27 PM |
Marija,
You're joking, right? Take everything away. He WILL NOT die without the computer, tv, xbox or mp3 player, trust me. Invite him on a walk. You're the parent. Take control. Pack a picnic, with irresistable goodies, get him in the car and go to the park and play. Let him know you're missing him and worried about his health. Take him to putt putt or an outside go cart track, if you can afford it. As a matter of fact, take all the kids on a picnic or go walk the mall. I like to go to the mall and walk around. I hardly ever have any money, however, there is a lot to see and do at the mall besides spending money. Good luck. ↑ |
| Name: marija | Date: Oct 25th, 2006 4:38 PM |
hi texas mom
thanks for replying
just want to say that we do all that you have suggested, and he does come out with us when he is asked, but he walks as if he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. i am worried that he may have other issues related to school. i have asked him about school and if he has any probs but he is adamant that there is nothing wrong. i probably need to elaborate further on what i posted. i really want him to enjoy life a bit more get him excited about anything other than something that is centred around an individual activity ↑ |
| Name: Lizzi | Date: Oct 25th, 2006 5:00 PM |
| Make him go out and rake leaves! I bought my son a skate board he likes to play on out in the street. Some days he goes and visits his friends and will walk to their houses. Now that weather is changing though,he will probably be inside alot more too though! ↑ |
| Name: Texas_Mom | Date: Oct 27th, 2006 5:12 AM |
Marija,
Does he have any interests such as cars, motorcycles, music, etc? You didn't mention how old he is so I'm grasping at straws here. Do you let him listen to "his" music in the car? I know, I know. It will rattle your teeth right out of your head, however, if you can find a common ground, you could find interest in something he's interested in and become interested yourself. I found that simply letting the kids pick "their" radio station does wonders for opening doors and sometimes windows. As a matter of fact, some of their music sticks and I find myself humming the tune later!!! Teenage boys are sometimes very stand offish, however, I discovered asking their one-on-one help with cooking dinner or grocery shopping is a great way to break the ice. You might be surprised at what common things you can talk about. I have learned to ride a 4-wheeler and play the playstation so I could stay in touch with my boys. We had loads of fun because I am no good at playing on the playstation and we laughed and laughed when I tried to drive a race car!!!!! LOL!!! Anyway, I hope you can entice him to get outside and enjoy the beautiful fall weather. Not sure where you live, however, we're still in the upper 70s to 80s here in Texas. It's absolutely lovely outside. I wish you well and let me know how it goes. ↑ |
| Name: marija | Date: Oct 27th, 2006 5:56 AM |
hi texas mom
my son is 15 1/2 we do have one thing that we enjoy together...House and NCIS ...we watch that and laugh those nights are fun and i let the teens choose the radio station if im the one driving if my hubby is driving then they all have to suffer the golden oldies (my pick) i think we have to all take a breather together outside then maybe the interest will be more if he isnt just out there with the younger ones...problem is that is why i send them out so i can get things done inside without all the small feet in the way. His grandfather took him fishing the other day and he really enjoyed that so we went with the family and he didnt like it as much, so ive spoken to my husband to take him one day when its just them. i am starting to think maybe he is tired of being part of a large family and just wants time out. ↑ |
| Name: luckey_in_life | Date: Oct 27th, 2006 2:49 PM |
| Marija, I have a teenager too. It is hard when it feels like they don't want to be part of the family anymore. I think all teenagers go through this. But as parents, we feel like we are losing our child. We're not, they are just growing up. If I try to force conversation with my daughter it doesn't work. I just wait until she wants to talk. Sometimes its seems like forever. And,then when I least expect it she will open up and let me in her life for a brief second. We watch "House" together too. It is the little things that let us spend time together. ↑ |
| Name: marija | Date: Oct 27th, 2006 10:25 PM |
luckey
hit the nail on the head...i am feeling as though he's slipping away, i watch him and think something is going on and am trying to figure it out, my intuition has always been spot on and im worried that it could be something more. Depression can be a killer in teenagers...more so in boys. i am keeping close to him at the moment and hopefully ride out the next couple of years, which is why its so important to me at the moment to find something that will excite him. ↑ |
| Name: I_love_pitbulls | Date: Oct 27th, 2006 10:43 PM |
| i wouldn't just take it away, but tellhim if he doesn't do anything other than just that then you will remove them from his room... ↑ |
| Name: atomic snowflake | Date: Oct 29th, 2006 3:46 PM |
Tell him that electricity is rationed and he'll have to find alternatives!
Send him to the local swimming pool. ↑ |
| Name: tweetybird4 | Date: Oct 30th, 2006 4:45 AM |
| I'm just joking with this.....but you could set up his TV and Xbox up outside on a table and see what he says? If he looks at you puzzled, you could explain to him that at least he's breathing the outside fresh air while he's playing. No, I don't suggest you do this, he'd probably get really mad at you and think you fell out of a tree hitting every branch on the way down. Or, you could print copies of the game covers and glue them to a basketball rim and basketball. Then, ask him to come outside for a minute, you need his help. If he looks puzzled with all the pictures glued on the stuff, tell him you thought if you made some of the items lookm like his games that maybe he would take some interest in it???? Maybe with your suggestions, he will get the hint that you are trying to get him to do other things than just the Xbox??? I'm sorry, I couldn't offer much help. ↑ |
| Name: marija | Date: Oct 30th, 2006 5:51 AM |
| advice maybe not , but laugh ...yes...lol ↑ |
| Name: tweetybird4 | Date: Oct 30th, 2006 8:11 PM |
| Thanks marija---I'm sorry, I was only trying to make you smile but I know this is a very serious matter. This is something hard to do when his main interest is electronics. Perhaps, he'll be the next Bill Gates or a software programmer? ↑ |
| Name: cyndi | Date: Nov 12th, 2006 5:24 PM |
Marija, my son is 15 and the same way. However I finally found out that he and his friends are into the BMX bike thing. We bought him one for his birthday. Yea, not saying top of the line but definately watch out if this is something he is into. It is expensive but it does get him out of the house, until he gets onto the computer. One he is on he is glued. So I feel your pain, if you find any other solutions let me know. He has finally said he would goto the gym with me. Well I guess I am going to need to sacrifice, like we all don't on a daily basis. But I am going to go work out with him at the gym. The other thing we did is we live in colorado and the colorado youth outdoors started this year. He was extremely interested so his step dad and him goto that every Wed. night. It helps get him off the computer, games and television. But again the other days he is glued. Good luck, if anything permanently works let me know.
I also understand the shoulder thing, my son does the same thing. ↑ |
| Name: mommyboo | Date: Nov 15th, 2006 7:20 AM |
| Hi marija. I just recently became the guardian of a 16 year old boy.All he wanted to do is lay around and play video games to.So to get him out we took a trip to a state park and took our kids hikeing.He actually had fun.Plus we got him a bmx bike to ride around. ↑ |
| Name: granny2be | Date: Nov 17th, 2006 11:16 AM |
marija-
Dunno what to tell you, my 18 yo son is that way. Thing is he has a rare medical condition and it causes him to have a very low energy level. He can't stand being in the heat or doing anything physically exhaustive.
Good luck! ↑ |
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