I need some ideas to get my 6 yr. old StepSon active and off the Video Games... PLEASE!?

Question

My hubby and I just got his son in July, he normally lives with his mother in another state but because she wanted to go back to school we get to keep him until January! We're so excited to have him here but now we can't get him to DO anything. All he wants to do is watch TV or play Video Games. The bummer thing is, we don't exactly have a Kid Friendly yard for him to play in, plus we live in the desert and most of the time it's ridiculously hot outside. We've done the sprinkler thing but other than that he won't go outside. We've done the park but he just sits in the shade and doesn't want to move even though his dad and I continue to play to try to tempt him. He's in good shape but we're afraid he won't be for long if this keeps up. I used to set up obstacle courses in our old house but we just moved and still have boxes and a lot of stuff in the way that could be dangerous. (we currently don't have a garage) I want to be able to have something else for him to do. Any ideas!? Please!

Answer 1

Have him take some of those boxes (if you have big ones) and make himself a fort.  I used to spend hours playing in those things.  Maybe get a slip-n-slide since to kindof upgrade the sprinkler idea.  Those things are tons of fun!  Try to see if he is interested in any sports, such as basketball, soccer, or baseball.  If so, buy him a b-ball hoop, soccer net, or baseball bat and glove so he can practice outside (when it is not too hot).  

Balloon volleyball can be a fun game if someone is willing to play with him.  Just set up some chairs as the net in the middle of the room and hit the balloon back and forth.  If it hits the ground on your side, the other player get a point.  There are a bunch of little games that you can play inside.

Ask your son what he would like to play.  Give him some choices and let him pick.  He'll be more enthusiastic about it if it is his choice.

Answer 2

Get him involved in a martial arts class or gymnastics.  They are inside activities and he will burn a lot of energy.  Take him to the library.  Walk around the mall, look at the puppies and ride the merry-go-round.

You can also take control of him (he's only 6 after all) and turn off the TV.  Some alternative activities at home include:

- Read a book (even comic books are still reading).

- Help clean the house

- Put together a puzzle

- Play a board game

- Color or paint

- Do an activity book

- Do an art project.

Have fun with the little one.

Answer 3

Have a "camping trip" in the house, meaning using nothing that needs electricity. Set up a tent outside since there probably isn't any room in your living room with all the boxes and such. I don't know how well this would work out since you said it's really hot outside, but you could have a scavenger hunt inside, toast marshmallows over the stove or in the fire place if you have one, or make hot dogs and things the same way. Go for a hike around the neighborhood.

Or maybe get to know your neighbors that have children, maybe having neighborhood friends will get him more active.

Or have him help you cook/bake. Kids love to get into cooking when they get to help with the measurements and cracking eggs and the like.

Make a movie. Write a script and have fun acting it out while video taping it.

Kids also follow by example, so maybe cut down on you and your husbands own tv time. Limit the video games. Set limits. You guys are the boss and what you say goes~ no exceptions.

Here are some websites I found interesting:

http://family.go.com/parenting/article-5...

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/FL/000...

Answer 4

the game console Wii can at least get him moving around a little bit while play video games, but if you just want him to quit with games since he's new to the state I would introduce him to  more kids around the area.  As far as being worried about him getting out of shape, my 6 yr old brother has been playing video games since he was like 3 or 4 and he's skinny as a stick still, but its a good thing that your focused on his health.  If there aren't any other kids around his age maybe you can have family nights and play twister or ask him to help you with preparing meals or something or just play basketball withhim outside.

Answer 5

Give him a little brother, that will keep him busy.

Answer 6

well if outside is not an option...buy a Wii LOL. or just limit the game time.

Answer 7

Get dance dance revolution or a wii?

At least they incorporate movement.

Answer 8

-Is there a family miniature golf course near you?

Or in my neighborhood we have a lazer-tag place. (he may like that if he is into video games because its still a game, but keeps him active)

-What about gymnastics? They are air conditioned buildings and have fun stuff for the youngsters.

-City pool?

-water balloon fights =)

-slip-n-slide

-build a fort

*Age 6 is very young for him to already be watching that much tv, get him out and active now, or he never will. So my best advice is to get him interested in another activity and give him a max time with the television, maybe 2hrs a day..

Answer 9

If you have an ice rink near you, sign him up for ice hockey lessons. My nephew started skating at 6 1/2 and absolutely LOVES it. Lessons aren't too expensive, it's cool, great exercise, and it's fun to watch the kids progress.

He also sounds like he needs friends in the area. If you don't have an ice rink near you, sign him up for any kind of physical activity where he can meet and run around with other boys his age. Then you can have his new friends over for play dates and teach them the fine art of tag, hide and seek, mother may i, running bases, building forts and tree houses, etc.

Good luck!

Answer 10

My kids would love to play video games 24/7 but we won't have any of that.  They are only allowed to play on the weekend.  So they know that during the week, they need to find other things to do.  My son's are really into baseball card collecting, so they are constantly going through their collection looking up the worth of their cards.  If you set some boundaries on the tv and the video games (& you have to stick to it), he might begin to realize he needs to try other things.

Answer 11

Razor scooters don't take up that much room and are FUN!  He could ride the scooter throught the sprinkler?  What if you put up one of those E-Z Up canopies (It's like 8X8) and let him play Swingball?  My 6 year old LOVES swingball and will play it for hours!

Answer 12

throw out the video games and encourage him to play a sport.  He's 6 you're the parent and he's the child.  You are in charge of him, not the other way round

Answer 13

Is there any YMCA near you ? Kids camp nearby ? Swim club ? Sounds like he is in a rut & might be missing his mom & friends. He needs to be with kids his own age in order to learn how to socialize.

Answer 14

You could set up a treasure hunt for him out in the desert/yard, have different items buried before you send him or the family and annoymus letter to meet at a certain spot, set it up at dusk when it cools down, you could have him meet you somewhere in the yard...leave notes for him to lead him to the different items you have buried in the sand. You and dad could go hunting with him and you could make his hunt a theme leading and hinting to the final treasure ( a fave toy he wants or something new you find online and order). Make the last thing he finds something that will make him feel special or something you can all do together. He may be a lil uncomfortable or need some time to adjust to the new living situation. I have 2 step kids also along with two of our own so i know how it is as a step mama....

Another thing u could do is if he has his own room you can let him pick stuff out to paint or decorate it and you can all set it up the he wants to together!

Good luck, I hope this helps!

Answer 15

well you could always get a wii.... there are active games on there... or you could buy dance dance revolution.. so he's getting what he wants (video game) and you're getting what you want (some activity)... it's a compromise

Answer 16

You can buy him drawing pads and / or books. You can teach him how to draw dinosaurs, cars, etc. Do some arts & crafts. He is 6yrs old so he has to like some of that stuff. I also have a 6yr old step-son & he enjoys creating things.

You can also maybe purchase a trampoline. That will keep him active. Maybe put it under a shade... or anything that will keep the sun somewhat away from it.

Answer 17

get him a bike to ride.  It is fun.  Also try to get him up earlier before it gets so hot.  Try to get him into a swimming lesson.  Soccer will start in the fall and if he plays he will be OK.

Answer 18

Boys and girls club? helped me get a lot of friends, and plus they have special games everyday, i enjoyed it

Answer 19

your husband should be the one to TURN OFF THE MACHINE. Just pull the plug on the video games. He's his son and should be the one to discipline, etc...

try rewards (AKA bribery)

Answer 20

In addition to what you're already doing (which you should continue), give him chores.  Let him help you get those boxes emptied.  There's always arts & crafts.  Additionally, only allow TV or game playing at certain times.  As long as you stand your ground, he'll have to come around.

Answer 21

He may be having a little trouble adjusting to the new environment... is there a municipal pool nearby or a Y where you guys could go swim?

make a routine, go to the library on Mondays, movies on Tuesdays, swim on Wednesdays... etc... it is too hard for him to just acclimate on his own... good luck

Answer 22

Continue to take him to the park.  Eventually he'll get up and move about.  The reason he just sits is because he knows that after awhile you'll take him back home where he can vegetate in front of his video games. Also get him BOOKS take him to the library.  Frankly if I were you I would dismantle the game system for now and tell him that until he learns how to do something other than vegetate in front of the games he won't be able to play them.  If he doesn't want to go outside tell him to pick up a book.  Then after he has learned to do other things give him back the system but LIMIT the amount of time he is on it daily and MONITOR what games he plays.

Answer 23

hav him play basketball, club or YMCA. its indoors, and you dont have to wear a lot of clothes.