Unplug for the Weekend

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

03 Sep 2006 12:00 PM

Do you ever feel like banging your head against the wall when your child tells you they are bored? After all, they have a dozen different toys, a television, multiple movies and plenty of things to do that should keep them busy as well as entertained. So how can they be bored?

Children Equate Isolation with Boredom

As a species, we are incredibly social. It's unusual to find us all sitting off in our own corners of the house doing our various activities away from our family and the sounds you hear are more likely to be that of a keyboard, a television, a stereo or the dogs than it is to be of conversation and actual human interaction.

It's important to recognize that our technology while fascinating and entertaining, takes away from that which we have done for thousands of years - interact with each other. So take the time to designate a day or days every month where the family unplugs. We like to unplug on at least one weekend day per week.

What do you do when you Unplug?

Well that's the challenge. I've taught my daughter to play go-fish. We've read books together. We've drawn pictures together. We've gone out for a walk and a talk. We've spent time playing with the dogs in the backyard. The key to enjoying the time unplugged is to recognize that you aren't isolated from each other - you are in it together and you are spending time together.

What would you like to do with your family on a weekend when you unplug?

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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