The Patersons

I'm wondering if anyone can give me with ideas for helping my 8 yo daughter
overcome her "I'm bored" feelings. We've just quit school and while she's
pretty happy about it, she does have some miserable 'bored' patches. Nothing
I suggest doing seems to make a difference. Sometimes I can suggest
something and it will spark an idea in her head and off she'll go, but other
times I just wish I had more variety of stuff to put out and take part in.



Any helps?

Thanks,



Cecily Paterson



cecilypaterson@...

www.loveasunnyday.blogspot.com

www.rainybutclearing.blogspot.com





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Stephen

Other's here will have the best advice about boredom and the deschooling
process, but we've done a few things that have been fun and interesting
that seem to fit well with the unschooling life.

Are there volunteer opportunities in your area that you can do together
that would be fun and interesting for her? We began volunteering at a
local no-kill animal shelter when my daughters were 11 and 8, and they both
loved it so much that they frequently asked to go to the shelter when we
were not scheduled to help. I specify the no-kill aspect because I know it
would have been very hard for the girls to care for animals that were then
put down.

We also volunteered at a local Heifer International farm, feeding the
animals when the girls were very young, 5 and 2, and now working local
fairs for them. Both places have significant participation by homeschool
and unschool families and have been wonderful experiences for us all.

Both these activities were suggested by one or both of the girls after
visiting the shelter and the farm.

My 15 yo daughter left in January and it's been a challenge to watch her
going through the deschooling process. This list has helped.

Steve





>I'm wondering if anyone can give me with ideas for helping my 8 yo daughter
>overcome her "I'm bored" feelings. We've just quit school and while she's
>pretty happy about it, she does have some miserable 'bored' patches. Nothing
>I suggest doing seems to make a difference. Sometimes I can suggest
>something and it will spark an idea in her head and off she'll go, but other
>times I just wish I had more variety of stuff to put out and take part in.
>
>Any helps?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Cecily Paterson

Joyce Fetteroll

On May 31, 2008, at 6:05 AM, The Patersons wrote:

> Nothing
> I suggest doing seems to make a difference.

Quite often suggestions don't sound as interesting as actually doing.
Same with food. You can list off a dozen suggestions that all get
shot down but put something in front of someone and it looks so much
more appealing. (Not always but that's why we get to know our kids so
we know when and if that will work.)

So instead of suggesting, do more doing. Take her places,even if it's
just a new grocery store. Do projects that interest you and let her
wander in or ask if she'd like to do some once you've got it going.

Joyce

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

thehomeopathicway

--- In [email protected], Joyce Fetteroll
<jfetteroll@...> wrote:
>
>
> On May 31, 2008, at 6:05 AM, The Patersons wrote:
>
> > Nothing
> > I suggest doing seems to make a difference.
>
> Quite often suggestions don't sound as interesting as actually
doing.
> Same with food. You can list off a dozen suggestions that all get
> shot down but put something in front of someone and it looks so
much
> more appealing. (Not always but that's why we get to know our kids
so
> we know when and if that will work.)
>
> So instead of suggesting, do more doing. Take her places,even if
it's
> just a new grocery store. Do projects that interest you and let
her
> wander in or ask if she'd like to do some once you've got it going.
>
> Joyce
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Pamela Sorooshian

Sandra Dodd's page on "boredom" is great:
<http://sandradodd.com/BoredNoMore>

-pam

On May 31, 2008, at 3:05 AM, The Patersons wrote:

>
>
> I'm wondering if anyone can give me with ideas for helping my 8 yo
> daughter
> overcome her "I'm bored" feelings. We've just quit school and while
> she's
> pretty happy about it, she does have some miserable 'bored' patches.
> Nothing
> I suggest doing seems to make a difference. Sometimes I can suggest
> something and it will spark an idea in her head and off she'll go,
> but other
> times I just wish I had more variety of stuff to put out and take
> part in.
>
> Any helps?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Cecily Paterson
>
> cecilypaterson@...
>
> www.loveasunnyday.blogspot.com
>
> www.rainybutclearing.blogspot.com
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

thehomeopathicway

One thing I did was go to the library and get lots of books on
different subjects. Everything from bio's to how to's to stories
about everything. I would just leave them around the house and they
loved discovering them and looking through them.

Also, try going to Michael's and just walking around. It's hard to
leave without a project.

One last thing is making a collage. You can use stuff from the yard
or old magazines or old toys or dried pasta or ??? The best way is
to just get a basket and start collecting things, but don't ask her
to do it with you. Just start and watch how quickly she will want to
join in.

good luck!

Dianna
thehomeopathicway.blogspot.com





> I'm wondering if anyone can give me with ideas for helping my 8 yo
daughter
> overcome her "I'm bored" feelings. We've just quit school and while
she's
> pretty happy about it, she does have some miserable 'bored'
patches. Nothing
> I suggest doing seems to make a difference. Sometimes I can suggest
> something and it will spark an idea in her head and off she'll go,
but other
> times I just wish I had more variety of stuff to put out and take
part in.
>
>
>
> Any helps?
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Cecily Paterson
>
>
>
> cecilypaterson@...
>
> www.loveasunnyday.blogspot.com
>
> www.rainybutclearing.blogspot.com
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Pamela Sorooshian

On May 31, 2008, at 12:08 PM, thehomeopathicway wrote:

> Also, try going to Michael's and just walking around. It's hard to
> leave without a project.

Oh yeah - this was the source of a LOT of inspiration for us, over the
years. Michaels, art stores, and places like Home Depot have workshops
for kids, too.

Sometimes I asked my kids to just give something a try, if i thought
they might like it, even though they were not thinking they were
interested.

One of those things I asked Rosie to "just try" did turn out to be a
life's passion - she now has a black belt in karate and is an
instructor.

So - use your own good sense about when to nudge a little - kids can
need a little push to get out of a rut and try more things, sometimes.
But, other times, it is really that they are just FINE playing with
their dolls and watching tv and having a sweet and pleasant home life
and it is mom who needs to settle down and be satisfied.

-pam

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