Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Boredom
[email protected]
I think that it was Joseph Chilton Pearce who said that boredom means
something wonderful is about to happen. Your brain is preparing to do
something creative! I only remember hearing the word "bored" come from my son
a couple times. Each time, I responded with the above. Sometimes, boredom is
a good thing, and can give a child some time to think.
Wendy
something wonderful is about to happen. Your brain is preparing to do
something creative! I only remember hearing the word "bored" come from my son
a couple times. Each time, I responded with the above. Sometimes, boredom is
a good thing, and can give a child some time to think.
Wendy
Mac and Carol Brown
A few years ago a teenager in our support group, who had not long been
taken out of school, complained of boredom. After thinking about it, and
about the times I, or my children, were bored, I wrote this:
Boredom
is the moment between the striking of the match
and the flare as the spark catches.
Boredom
is the pause between two breaths;
the darkness just before the flick of the switch.
Boredom
Is the stillness just before the dawn chorus
And the grey dusk before the moon rises.
Boredom
Is the dark, dank, musty tunnel
Urging the spirit on towards the light.
Do not berate or despise the hours of
boredom:
Embrace them as welcome rest
Before the next dance of life.
Carol
taken out of school, complained of boredom. After thinking about it, and
about the times I, or my children, were bored, I wrote this:
Boredom
is the moment between the striking of the match
and the flare as the spark catches.
Boredom
is the pause between two breaths;
the darkness just before the flick of the switch.
Boredom
Is the stillness just before the dawn chorus
And the grey dusk before the moon rises.
Boredom
Is the dark, dank, musty tunnel
Urging the spirit on towards the light.
Do not berate or despise the hours of
boredom:
Embrace them as welcome rest
Before the next dance of life.
Carol
Bonni Sollars
Pam, great boredom comment. Thanks for inspiring me!
Bonni
Bonni
elaine greenwood-hyde
>>The text is below, but it's regular home isI'd like to say thanks for this too, not just for my children but for me
>>http://sandradodd.com/BoredNoMore.html
>>
>>And it's called Bored No More
>Well, if this is all I read for the next week, it's >enough to change how I
>think about home life. Wow. I had never realized >that we (I) shame our
>kids for being bored.
>Thank you Sandra for posting this.
also. I've suffered from terribly painful boredom all my life, I think this
article went a little way to my understanding it. I still don't fully
understand why I get so bored with everything maybe I'll never know. But it
is painful, it's not a minor irritation for everyone, for me and maybe some
of our children, it's a life detractor.
BWs Elaine
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bobalinga
Wotcha all, finally back on the internet after two weeks of computer
repairs, DSL problems etc etc. I'm now using dial up and hve no
personal email though :-(
I was wondering about boredom. My kids, usually the youngest, often
say they are bored. This is despite books, play station, PC etc etc.
It is true that we don't see many people - actually we only know 1
unschooler in this area - so I know my kids are lonely and miss their
English friends but when I was there age we lived on a farm with no-
one for miles so we made our own amusement. They don't want to play
outside cos its too hot and humid and there are ticks.
I'm beginning to feel a bit depressed at the thought of the long
summer stretching ahead, stcuk inside with three unmotivated kids :-(
I've asked them if they want to sign up for any of those *camp*
things but unless I go with them they don't want too. (and to be
honest I find them very schooly and artificial and full of kids
dumped there by their parents who don't want them around everyday)
The eldest is bored cos she only has 1 friend. 11 year old
homeschooling girls who aren't Christian are a bit thin on the
ground. The youngest doesn't have any friends his age now in this
area. He had one but the mother disapproved of his long hair and
unschooling - I think her son started to ask why he had to do
workbooks and have his hair short ;-)
Do other people go through this too? What do you do? Take Xanax and
drink?
Roll on Autumn!!
Shyrley
repairs, DSL problems etc etc. I'm now using dial up and hve no
personal email though :-(
I was wondering about boredom. My kids, usually the youngest, often
say they are bored. This is despite books, play station, PC etc etc.
It is true that we don't see many people - actually we only know 1
unschooler in this area - so I know my kids are lonely and miss their
English friends but when I was there age we lived on a farm with no-
one for miles so we made our own amusement. They don't want to play
outside cos its too hot and humid and there are ticks.
I'm beginning to feel a bit depressed at the thought of the long
summer stretching ahead, stcuk inside with three unmotivated kids :-(
I've asked them if they want to sign up for any of those *camp*
things but unless I go with them they don't want too. (and to be
honest I find them very schooly and artificial and full of kids
dumped there by their parents who don't want them around everyday)
The eldest is bored cos she only has 1 friend. 11 year old
homeschooling girls who aren't Christian are a bit thin on the
ground. The youngest doesn't have any friends his age now in this
area. He had one but the mother disapproved of his long hair and
unschooling - I think her son started to ask why he had to do
workbooks and have his hair short ;-)
Do other people go through this too? What do you do? Take Xanax and
drink?
Roll on Autumn!!
Shyrley
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/11/2003 1:23:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
shyrley.williams@... writes:
I'd recommend an unschooling conference, but I see only one child signed up! <
g>
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
shyrley.williams@... writes:
> Do other people go through this too? What do you do? Take Xanax andXANAX! My drug of choice. I could easily become dependent if I didn't care!
> drink?
I'd recommend an unschooling conference, but I see only one child signed up! <
g>
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Deborah Lewis
***I was wondering about boredom. My kids, usually the youngest, often
say they are bored***
Maybe you've tried all this.
A trampoline in the back yard with the water sprinkler under it. Even if
your kids don't like it after you have that drink and a Xanax YOU will
have a great time out there. <g> Just remember to pee first and wear a
bra. ( Wal-mart has trampolines for $129.00) (bra's for less)
One of those twelve foot back yard pools. Their thirty inches deep or
so, and big enough to frolic in or float on with a floatie mat.
Maybe you live near one, some or all of these things and can get out a
couple times a week.
A climbing wall at a sporting goods shop. (air conditioning)
Bumper cars.
A pool or water park.
A big mall with a skating rink. (air conditioning AND a food court)
Video Arcade.
Paint Ball!
Make Ice cream the old fashioned way with ice and rock salt.
Get in the car and see how many ice cream places you can find and how
many different flavors you can try.
Go to a lake and rent a boat.
Go to the beach.
Tour a cave. (nice and cool)
Buy a tent and some tick spray, check the weather map for the coolest
place in your state, go camp there.
Go see a movie.
Other things we do, but it might be too hot where you live:
Go hiking
Visit a ghost town.
Gold panning.
Rock climbing.
Go on a picnic.
Fishing. (I don't fish but my husband does)
Sorry Shyrley. Nobody should have a boring summer.
Come to Montana for a visit. It's usually cool and you can try out our
trampoline before getting your own.
(bring your own Xanax)
Deb L
say they are bored***
Maybe you've tried all this.
A trampoline in the back yard with the water sprinkler under it. Even if
your kids don't like it after you have that drink and a Xanax YOU will
have a great time out there. <g> Just remember to pee first and wear a
bra. ( Wal-mart has trampolines for $129.00) (bra's for less)
One of those twelve foot back yard pools. Their thirty inches deep or
so, and big enough to frolic in or float on with a floatie mat.
Maybe you live near one, some or all of these things and can get out a
couple times a week.
A climbing wall at a sporting goods shop. (air conditioning)
Bumper cars.
A pool or water park.
A big mall with a skating rink. (air conditioning AND a food court)
Video Arcade.
Paint Ball!
Make Ice cream the old fashioned way with ice and rock salt.
Get in the car and see how many ice cream places you can find and how
many different flavors you can try.
Go to a lake and rent a boat.
Go to the beach.
Tour a cave. (nice and cool)
Buy a tent and some tick spray, check the weather map for the coolest
place in your state, go camp there.
Go see a movie.
Other things we do, but it might be too hot where you live:
Go hiking
Visit a ghost town.
Gold panning.
Rock climbing.
Go on a picnic.
Fishing. (I don't fish but my husband does)
Sorry Shyrley. Nobody should have a boring summer.
Come to Montana for a visit. It's usually cool and you can try out our
trampoline before getting your own.
(bring your own Xanax)
Deb L
[email protected]
Deborah wrote: A trampoline in the back yard with the water sprinkler under it. Even if
your kids don't like it after you have that drink and a Xanax YOU will
have a great time out there. <g> Just remember to pee first and wear a
bra. ( Wal-mart has trampolines for $129.00) (bra's for less)
Raine replies: ROFL! I 'bout shot water out of my nose when I read this!! Haha! Too funny!
Shalom,
Raine
"He truly lives dangerously who trusts his health to a doctor;
his rights to a lawyer, his money to a banker or his soul to a preacher"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
your kids don't like it after you have that drink and a Xanax YOU will
have a great time out there. <g> Just remember to pee first and wear a
bra. ( Wal-mart has trampolines for $129.00) (bra's for less)
Raine replies: ROFL! I 'bout shot water out of my nose when I read this!! Haha! Too funny!
Shalom,
Raine
"He truly lives dangerously who trusts his health to a doctor;
his rights to a lawyer, his money to a banker or his soul to a preacher"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nellebelle
trampolines appear frequently in our newspaper classified ads, often for
$50.
Mary Ellen
$50.
Mary Ellen
----- Original Message ----- ( Wal-mart has trampolines for $129.00) (bra's
for less)
Kelli Traaseth
Sorry I can't add anything to what Deb said, Shyrley, that weather would
drive me berserk too!
**Come to Montana for a visit. It's usually cool and you can try out our
trampoline before getting your own.**
If you do come up north, you know you can come stay here too! We'll go
sit by the lake!
Tell the boys they can do all sorts of game playing with Alec.
(Playstation, gameboy, all that)
It would be a blast!
Kelli~
drive me berserk too!
**Come to Montana for a visit. It's usually cool and you can try out our
trampoline before getting your own.**
If you do come up north, you know you can come stay here too! We'll go
sit by the lake!
Tell the boys they can do all sorts of game playing with Alec.
(Playstation, gameboy, all that)
It would be a blast!
Kelli~
----- Original Message -----
From: "Deborah Lewis" <ddzimlew@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2003 8:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Boredom
>
> ***I was wondering about boredom. My kids, usually the youngest, often
> say they are bored***
>
> Maybe you've tried all this.
>
> A trampoline in the back yard with the water sprinkler under it. Even if
> your kids don't like it after you have that drink and a Xanax YOU will
> have a great time out there. <g> Just remember to pee first and wear a
> bra. ( Wal-mart has trampolines for $129.00) (bra's for less)
>
> One of those twelve foot back yard pools. Their thirty inches deep or
> so, and big enough to frolic in or float on with a floatie mat.
>
> Maybe you live near one, some or all of these things and can get out a
> couple times a week.
>
> A climbing wall at a sporting goods shop. (air conditioning)
> Bumper cars.
> A pool or water park.
> A big mall with a skating rink. (air conditioning AND a food court)
> Video Arcade.
> Paint Ball!
>
> Make Ice cream the old fashioned way with ice and rock salt.
> Get in the car and see how many ice cream places you can find and how
> many different flavors you can try.
> Go to a lake and rent a boat.
> Go to the beach.
> Tour a cave. (nice and cool)
> Buy a tent and some tick spray, check the weather map for the coolest
> place in your state, go camp there.
> Go see a movie.
>
> Other things we do, but it might be too hot where you live:
> Go hiking
> Visit a ghost town.
> Gold panning.
> Rock climbing.
> Go on a picnic.
> Fishing. (I don't fish but my husband does)
>
> Sorry Shyrley. Nobody should have a boring summer.
> Come to Montana for a visit. It's usually cool and you can try out our
> trampoline before getting your own.
> (bring your own Xanax)
>
> Deb L
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
>
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>
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>
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/11/03 11:23:25 AM, shyrley.williams@... writes:
<< I'm beginning to feel a bit depressed at the thought of the long
summer stretching ahead, stcuk inside with three unmotivated kids :-( >>
Museums, malls, festivals, art galleries, going out at night to play on
playgrounds nobody else is on?
You're just going to have to drive some. It's the way it is in 2003 in most
of the U.S. I know it goes against your principles, but if the kids are being
harmed by being stuck inside, they must be loosed and outathere!
Sandra
<< I'm beginning to feel a bit depressed at the thought of the long
summer stretching ahead, stcuk inside with three unmotivated kids :-( >>
Museums, malls, festivals, art galleries, going out at night to play on
playgrounds nobody else is on?
You're just going to have to drive some. It's the way it is in 2003 in most
of the U.S. I know it goes against your principles, but if the kids are being
harmed by being stuck inside, they must be loosed and outathere!
Sandra
Dave and Shannon
-----Original Message-----
From: raineluvsj
Shalom,
Raine
"He truly lives dangerously who trusts his health to a doctor;
his rights to a lawyer, his money to a banker or his soul to a
preacher"
Raine,
I love this quote! It is truly how I see the world. Lol
Shan
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
From: raineluvsj
Shalom,
Raine
"He truly lives dangerously who trusts his health to a doctor;
his rights to a lawyer, his money to a banker or his soul to a
preacher"
Raine,
I love this quote! It is truly how I see the world. Lol
Shan
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
Shan wrote: I love this quote! It is truly how I see the world. Lol
Raine replies: Oh, me too! When I found it, I just HAD to add it to my collection of signatures. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find out who said that bit of wisdom.
Shalom,
Raine
**As we live, so we learn.
-Yiddish Proverb **
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Raine replies: Oh, me too! When I found it, I just HAD to add it to my collection of signatures. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find out who said that bit of wisdom.
Shalom,
Raine
**As we live, so we learn.
-Yiddish Proverb **
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
bobalinga
--- In [email protected], "Kelli Traaseth"
<tktraas@p...> wrote:
I'm certainly considering it, especially as its so muggy here at the
moment. The air is like soup.
Gawd knows what its like for you bods further south. Do you ever go
outside in the summer?
I cycled to the supermarket today and was a grumpy sweaty heap when I
got there. Stuck my arms in one of their freezers pretending to look
for vegetables!
Then it was 5 sweaty miles home again.
Yuck.
But thank goodness the a/c is now fixed. It broke!!!
Shyrley
<tktraas@p...> wrote:
> Sorry I can't add anything to what Deb said, Shyrley, that weatherwould
> drive me berserk too!out our
>
> **Come to Montana for a visit. It's usually cool and you can try
> trampoline before getting your own.**We'll go
>
> If you do come up north, you know you can come stay here too!
> sit by the lake!You evil temptress you....
>
> Tell the boys they can do all sorts of game playing with Alec.
> (Playstation, gameboy, all that)
>
> It would be a blast!
>
>
> Kelli~
>
I'm certainly considering it, especially as its so muggy here at the
moment. The air is like soup.
Gawd knows what its like for you bods further south. Do you ever go
outside in the summer?
I cycled to the supermarket today and was a grumpy sweaty heap when I
got there. Stuck my arms in one of their freezers pretending to look
for vegetables!
Then it was 5 sweaty miles home again.
Yuck.
But thank goodness the a/c is now fixed. It broke!!!
Shyrley
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/13/2003 7:24:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
shyrley.williams@... writes:
And I garden EARLY-----WAAAAY before you're even out of bed! <g>
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
shyrley.williams@... writes:
> Gawd knows what its like for you bods further south. Do you ever goYeah, but we have a pool!
> outside in the summer?
And I garden EARLY-----WAAAAY before you're even out of bed! <g>
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tina
I like the idea of the list on the refrigerator. I plan to give it
some thought and make my own version.
Anyone have suggestions for those of us that live in a completely
urban area with "no" yard, no trees, no cool parks and completely
surrounded by very busy roads?
Tina
some thought and make my own version.
Anyone have suggestions for those of us that live in a completely
urban area with "no" yard, no trees, no cool parks and completely
surrounded by very busy roads?
Tina
Julie Bogart
--- In [email protected], "Tina" <zoocrew@w...>
wrote:
exhaustive nor is it full proof. However, so many of these work that I
thought I'd throw them out here. (We began years ago by making a list
that we posted to the refrigerator that could be referenced when
someone got bored. Just having this list posted saved a lot of
cloudy-eyed wandering through the house...) This list applies to all
the ages of our kids ranging between 7-17. We have five children.
1. Find a sibling and play a board game (list of games we own)
2. Jump on the trampoline
3. Kick the soccer ball
4. Make a tent out of sheets in the living room and eat snacks under it
5. Call a friend on the phone to chat or to come play
6. Dress up and pretend
7. Play drama games (we have a book of these and we are theater hounds)
8. Make tea and muffins, invite others to join you. Set table and light
candles.
9. Cut flowers, make a bouquet
10. Bake clay creations using sculpey clay (I try to buy a fresh set of
colors every few months)
11. Use mom's binoculars to watch birds.
12. Cut paper and glue it.
13. Use the Prismacolors to draw (refer to "how to draw" books on book
shelves)
14. Draw with sidewalk chalk
15. Play in the creek
16. Play the piano or saxophone or guitar
17. Go online and play a game on the Internet, or X Box Live
18. Pop popcorn; watch a movie
19. Start a fire (winter, in the fireplace. Summer; in the outdoor
fireplace) roast hotdogs or marshmellows.
20. Make popsicles.
21. Read a book
22. Memorize a poem
23. Write a poem
24. Choreograph a dance in the living room
25. Write on your bedroom walls things you want to remember - song
lyrics, friend's names, funny jokes
26. Keep a scrapbook
27. Take some pictures
28. Make origami
29. Make and hang Chinese lanterns from a string across the kitchen
30. Play croquet or badminton
31. Bake cookies
32. Write a letter or email
33. Have a water fight
34. Rearrange your bedroom furniture
35. Plant seeds or flowers
36. Write your own myth or legend after reading the Greek myths
37. Clean out your wardrobe to make space for new clothes
38. Sit in a tree and whistle
39. Take a walk with a bottle of water
40. Create a cozy hiding place (blankets, pillow) and bring your
headphones/CD player to it. Sit quietly reading or listening or
snoozing.
That should be enough to get anyone started. :)
Julie
wrote:
> I'm interested in this from the perspectives of new unschoolers andThe following is a list of things we do when we get bored. It is not
> veterans. How do you respond or not respond to boredom in your home?
>
> Tina
exhaustive nor is it full proof. However, so many of these work that I
thought I'd throw them out here. (We began years ago by making a list
that we posted to the refrigerator that could be referenced when
someone got bored. Just having this list posted saved a lot of
cloudy-eyed wandering through the house...) This list applies to all
the ages of our kids ranging between 7-17. We have five children.
1. Find a sibling and play a board game (list of games we own)
2. Jump on the trampoline
3. Kick the soccer ball
4. Make a tent out of sheets in the living room and eat snacks under it
5. Call a friend on the phone to chat or to come play
6. Dress up and pretend
7. Play drama games (we have a book of these and we are theater hounds)
8. Make tea and muffins, invite others to join you. Set table and light
candles.
9. Cut flowers, make a bouquet
10. Bake clay creations using sculpey clay (I try to buy a fresh set of
colors every few months)
11. Use mom's binoculars to watch birds.
12. Cut paper and glue it.
13. Use the Prismacolors to draw (refer to "how to draw" books on book
shelves)
14. Draw with sidewalk chalk
15. Play in the creek
16. Play the piano or saxophone or guitar
17. Go online and play a game on the Internet, or X Box Live
18. Pop popcorn; watch a movie
19. Start a fire (winter, in the fireplace. Summer; in the outdoor
fireplace) roast hotdogs or marshmellows.
20. Make popsicles.
21. Read a book
22. Memorize a poem
23. Write a poem
24. Choreograph a dance in the living room
25. Write on your bedroom walls things you want to remember - song
lyrics, friend's names, funny jokes
26. Keep a scrapbook
27. Take some pictures
28. Make origami
29. Make and hang Chinese lanterns from a string across the kitchen
30. Play croquet or badminton
31. Bake cookies
32. Write a letter or email
33. Have a water fight
34. Rearrange your bedroom furniture
35. Plant seeds or flowers
36. Write your own myth or legend after reading the Greek myths
37. Clean out your wardrobe to make space for new clothes
38. Sit in a tree and whistle
39. Take a walk with a bottle of water
40. Create a cozy hiding place (blankets, pillow) and bring your
headphones/CD player to it. Sit quietly reading or listening or
snoozing.
That should be enough to get anyone started. :)
Julie
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/11/04 9:44:19 AM, zoocrew@... writes:
<< Anyone have suggestions for those of us that live in a completely
urban area with "no" yard, no trees, no cool parks and completely
surrounded by very busy roads? >>
I suggest you spend time reading some of the books that were recommended
earlier. Some of them have lots of suggestions.
Sandra
<< Anyone have suggestions for those of us that live in a completely
urban area with "no" yard, no trees, no cool parks and completely
surrounded by very busy roads? >>
I suggest you spend time reading some of the books that were recommended
earlier. Some of them have lots of suggestions.
Sandra
Deb Lewis
***Anyone have suggestions for those of us that live in a completely
urban area with "no" yard, no trees, no cool parks and completely
surrounded by very busy roads?***
Drive.
Take the bus.
Rent a car, catch a taxi.
Walk.
Hop on one foot.
Visit new places, try new things.
Visit a botanical garden
Visit the Historical Societies
Go to a car dealership, test drive something
Visit museums
Visit the Chinese Groceries
Visit the Hippie Shops
Go to Bookstores
Got to Restaurants
Stop at Art galleries
Visit the Pottery studios
Go to Machinist shops
tour a recycling plant
Go to the bakery
Visit a Taxidermists
Visit a tree nurseries
Go to the sporting goods store (climb on the climbing wall)
Go play miniature golf
Go bowling
Go swimming
Rent a canoe at a lake
Go fishing
Visit the archery range
Go to the batting cage
Go ride Go Carts
Visit a pet store, hold the snakes
Visit a stable
Go get ice cream
Go to the music store
Visit a church
Visit a cemetery
Go to the hardware store and stick all the plungers to the floor
Go to a candy store, try one of everything
Go get an old time picture taken
Rent some drums
Visit the home improvement store (pick up a bird house kit)
Stay home and play with squirt guns
Paint a mural on a wall
Decorate bed sheets with fabric paint
Make hats (and pants! and shoes!) from aluminum foil
Make stilts from empty coffee cans
Make candles
Juggle eggs
Take a bath in blue food coloring
Make paper
Paint pictographs on your basement walls
Sing opera
Make a kite
Build a volcano
Build a baking soda rocket
Make people out of marshmallows, raisins and toothpicks, then squash
them.
See how many things you can stack on a cracker and still get it into your
mouth
Paint a "stained glass" window
Make a voodoo necklace out of chicken bones
Carve polar bears out of Ivory soap
Make a wind sock
Build a book shelf
Make a Zen garden
Rent a Tae Kwon Do video and try some kicks
Record different sounds around the house and see if the other person can
guess what they are when played back
Shoot spit wads at the ceiling and see if they stick
Draw chalk outlines of yourselves on the sidewalk.
Build an igloo out of sugar cubes.
Make ceiling art - hang an outfit from the ceiling with thumb tacks as if
a body is floating up there.
Tie streamers on the ceiling fan
Cut out shoe prints (or paw prints, or ants, or spiders ) and stick them
to walls and across the ceiling.
Paint faces on fruits and vegetables.
Plan (in drawings) a silly menu for dinner.
Deb L
urban area with "no" yard, no trees, no cool parks and completely
surrounded by very busy roads?***
Drive.
Take the bus.
Rent a car, catch a taxi.
Walk.
Hop on one foot.
Visit new places, try new things.
Visit a botanical garden
Visit the Historical Societies
Go to a car dealership, test drive something
Visit museums
Visit the Chinese Groceries
Visit the Hippie Shops
Go to Bookstores
Got to Restaurants
Stop at Art galleries
Visit the Pottery studios
Go to Machinist shops
tour a recycling plant
Go to the bakery
Visit a Taxidermists
Visit a tree nurseries
Go to the sporting goods store (climb on the climbing wall)
Go play miniature golf
Go bowling
Go swimming
Rent a canoe at a lake
Go fishing
Visit the archery range
Go to the batting cage
Go ride Go Carts
Visit a pet store, hold the snakes
Visit a stable
Go get ice cream
Go to the music store
Visit a church
Visit a cemetery
Go to the hardware store and stick all the plungers to the floor
Go to a candy store, try one of everything
Go get an old time picture taken
Rent some drums
Visit the home improvement store (pick up a bird house kit)
Stay home and play with squirt guns
Paint a mural on a wall
Decorate bed sheets with fabric paint
Make hats (and pants! and shoes!) from aluminum foil
Make stilts from empty coffee cans
Make candles
Juggle eggs
Take a bath in blue food coloring
Make paper
Paint pictographs on your basement walls
Sing opera
Make a kite
Build a volcano
Build a baking soda rocket
Make people out of marshmallows, raisins and toothpicks, then squash
them.
See how many things you can stack on a cracker and still get it into your
mouth
Paint a "stained glass" window
Make a voodoo necklace out of chicken bones
Carve polar bears out of Ivory soap
Make a wind sock
Build a book shelf
Make a Zen garden
Rent a Tae Kwon Do video and try some kicks
Record different sounds around the house and see if the other person can
guess what they are when played back
Shoot spit wads at the ceiling and see if they stick
Draw chalk outlines of yourselves on the sidewalk.
Build an igloo out of sugar cubes.
Make ceiling art - hang an outfit from the ceiling with thumb tacks as if
a body is floating up there.
Tie streamers on the ceiling fan
Cut out shoe prints (or paw prints, or ants, or spiders ) and stick them
to walls and across the ceiling.
Paint faces on fruits and vegetables.
Plan (in drawings) a silly menu for dinner.
Deb L
Alyce
Road trip?
Surely, there are interesting shops, businesses, "things" to see?
This reminds me of my sister - years ago she lived in an apartment
and had no yard, but did have a small patio area. She bought pots,
dirt, seedlings, etc. and basically had a miniature farm on her
patio. I called it the back 40 (more like the back 4). She sure
managed to produce some great vegetables and beautiful flowers. We
now have an even smaller portion of dirt we call our own. It's in
the corner of our concrete patio... It's about 3 by 2 feet. So far
it's been used for digging and driving hot wheels cars in. I'm
thinking about actually trying to plant something in there... I have
a black thumb though.
I remember when I was a kid in Chicago... quite urban that, I found
it pretty magical when I saw those plants coming up in the cracks in
the sidewalk. And our thing was walking a couple of blocks to the
ice cream shop. Playing on the stoop of the apartment building...
Going to the big department stores. I found the city pretty
entertaining when I was a kid. Riding the buses and trains. Oh!
and going for walks... every block or two you were in a
different "country" with the way the communities were set up.
Great museums there too. I found myself more bored (as a child) when
we left the city... I rather miss it now that you bring it up.
What city are you in?
Alyce
--- In [email protected], "Tina" <zoocrew@w...>
wrote:
Surely, there are interesting shops, businesses, "things" to see?
This reminds me of my sister - years ago she lived in an apartment
and had no yard, but did have a small patio area. She bought pots,
dirt, seedlings, etc. and basically had a miniature farm on her
patio. I called it the back 40 (more like the back 4). She sure
managed to produce some great vegetables and beautiful flowers. We
now have an even smaller portion of dirt we call our own. It's in
the corner of our concrete patio... It's about 3 by 2 feet. So far
it's been used for digging and driving hot wheels cars in. I'm
thinking about actually trying to plant something in there... I have
a black thumb though.
I remember when I was a kid in Chicago... quite urban that, I found
it pretty magical when I saw those plants coming up in the cracks in
the sidewalk. And our thing was walking a couple of blocks to the
ice cream shop. Playing on the stoop of the apartment building...
Going to the big department stores. I found the city pretty
entertaining when I was a kid. Riding the buses and trains. Oh!
and going for walks... every block or two you were in a
different "country" with the way the communities were set up.
Great museums there too. I found myself more bored (as a child) when
we left the city... I rather miss it now that you bring it up.
What city are you in?
Alyce
--- In [email protected], "Tina" <zoocrew@w...>
wrote:
> I like the idea of the list on the refrigerator. I plan to giveit
> some thought and make my own version.
>
> Anyone have suggestions for those of us that live in a completely
> urban area with "no" yard, no trees, no cool parks and completely
> surrounded by very busy roads?
>
> Tina
[email protected]
Tina, You live in MI right?
We just moved to MI a few months ago and these are a few of the things that we do when we need to get out of the house...
Go to Cranbrook and explore, look at all the cool stuff
Go to Papa Joes and taste all the samples, talk to the fish monger, the butcher, the chefs, ask questions...almost everyone there is happy to talk to you. (Your son may really enjoy this)
Spend hours in Borders looking at all the books and magazines. Listen to the music, stike up a conversation with someone looking at the same books/section as you.
Go to Eastern Market, we did this this weekend and had sooooo much fun! If the sight of a butcher shop doesn't bother you, and if they aren't to busy, many of the butchers are more than happy to talk to your kids
Summerset Mall and Great Lakes Crossing are both favorites for my kids, during the day, when they aren't busy, they can run around and check out stuff without all the crowds getting in the way.
Downtown Royal Oak and Downtown Bhirmingham are fun to wonder around in and window shop.
We love to go to Whole Foods and chat with the bakers.
A trip to Ann Arbor is in the works, now that it's starting to warm up.
There are a ton of museams downtown. And the zoo if always fun.
I hope these ideas help, I understand being board...it's been strange for us living in a new state with seasons(we moved here form San Diego.) We've always been used to being outside and knowing our area and having to find stuff to do and deal with the weather has been a challange, but a fun one.
~Rebecca
We just moved to MI a few months ago and these are a few of the things that we do when we need to get out of the house...
Go to Cranbrook and explore, look at all the cool stuff
Go to Papa Joes and taste all the samples, talk to the fish monger, the butcher, the chefs, ask questions...almost everyone there is happy to talk to you. (Your son may really enjoy this)
Spend hours in Borders looking at all the books and magazines. Listen to the music, stike up a conversation with someone looking at the same books/section as you.
Go to Eastern Market, we did this this weekend and had sooooo much fun! If the sight of a butcher shop doesn't bother you, and if they aren't to busy, many of the butchers are more than happy to talk to your kids
Summerset Mall and Great Lakes Crossing are both favorites for my kids, during the day, when they aren't busy, they can run around and check out stuff without all the crowds getting in the way.
Downtown Royal Oak and Downtown Bhirmingham are fun to wonder around in and window shop.
We love to go to Whole Foods and chat with the bakers.
A trip to Ann Arbor is in the works, now that it's starting to warm up.
There are a ton of museams downtown. And the zoo if always fun.
I hope these ideas help, I understand being board...it's been strange for us living in a new state with seasons(we moved here form San Diego.) We've always been used to being outside and knowing our area and having to find stuff to do and deal with the weather has been a challange, but a fun one.
~Rebecca
> ***Anyone have suggestions for those of us that live in a completely
> urban area with "no" yard, no trees, no cool parks and completely
> surrounded by very busy roads?***
>
Penn Acres
Hey Deb...Just printed out the neat list and put it on the table-the girls will get a kick out of it when they see it.
I'll bet it generates some action...and we're not even bored!! (today) ;-)
grace
in the chilly BC Rockies where the wind is Straight off the glaciers today..I feel like I should warm up the nectar in the hummingbird feeders...poor little blighters look like little gold neon golfballs all fluffed up against the chill when they perch on the crabapple tree outside the window.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I'll bet it generates some action...and we're not even bored!! (today) ;-)
grace
in the chilly BC Rockies where the wind is Straight off the glaciers today..I feel like I should warm up the nectar in the hummingbird feeders...poor little blighters look like little gold neon golfballs all fluffed up against the chill when they perch on the crabapple tree outside the window.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tina
You know, I never thought of visiting local businesses. I guess it's
just out of my comfort zone, not visiting businesses but the busy-
ness of the city. What wonderful opportunities we must be missing.
I never would have thought of it just because I truly detest walking
in my neighborhood. There are SO many cars!
We live in Roseville, MI right where I-94 and I-696 meet. We are
surrounded by two expressways, one two lane busy road and one six
lane divided highway. Our lives are so fast paced that I spend my
time trying to get away from the traffic.
Maybe it's time for Mom to step out of her comfort zone and venture
into the neighborhood. Who knows? Maybe we'll find something that
we didn't know was there. I'm not too confident as there is no down
town persay. It's just a through way, but you never know unless you
try, right?
Tina, who won't miss the city when she leaves :):)
--- In [email protected], "Alyce" <Groups@V...>
wrote:
just out of my comfort zone, not visiting businesses but the busy-
ness of the city. What wonderful opportunities we must be missing.
I never would have thought of it just because I truly detest walking
in my neighborhood. There are SO many cars!
We live in Roseville, MI right where I-94 and I-696 meet. We are
surrounded by two expressways, one two lane busy road and one six
lane divided highway. Our lives are so fast paced that I spend my
time trying to get away from the traffic.
Maybe it's time for Mom to step out of her comfort zone and venture
into the neighborhood. Who knows? Maybe we'll find something that
we didn't know was there. I'm not too confident as there is no down
town persay. It's just a through way, but you never know unless you
try, right?
Tina, who won't miss the city when she leaves :):)
--- In [email protected], "Alyce" <Groups@V...>
wrote:
> Road trip?have
>
> Surely, there are interesting shops, businesses, "things" to see?
> This reminds me of my sister - years ago she lived in an apartment
> and had no yard, but did have a small patio area. She bought pots,
> dirt, seedlings, etc. and basically had a miniature farm on her
> patio. I called it the back 40 (more like the back 4). She sure
> managed to produce some great vegetables and beautiful flowers. We
> now have an even smaller portion of dirt we call our own. It's in
> the corner of our concrete patio... It's about 3 by 2 feet. So far
> it's been used for digging and driving hot wheels cars in. I'm
> thinking about actually trying to plant something in there... I
> a black thumb though.in
>
> I remember when I was a kid in Chicago... quite urban that, I found
> it pretty magical when I saw those plants coming up in the cracks
> the sidewalk. And our thing was walking a couple of blocks to thewhen
> ice cream shop. Playing on the stoop of the apartment building...
> Going to the big department stores. I found the city pretty
> entertaining when I was a kid. Riding the buses and trains. Oh!
> and going for walks... every block or two you were in a
> different "country" with the way the communities were set up.
>
> Great museums there too. I found myself more bored (as a child)
> we left the city... I rather miss it now that you bring it up.
>
> What city are you in?
>
> Alyce
>
> --- In [email protected], "Tina" <zoocrew@w...>
> wrote:
> > I like the idea of the list on the refrigerator. I plan to give
> it
> > some thought and make my own version.
> >
> > Anyone have suggestions for those of us that live in a completely
> > urban area with "no" yard, no trees, no cool parks and completely
> > surrounded by very busy roads?
> >
> > Tina
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/11/2004 6:24:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
zoocrew@... writes:
Maybe it's time for Mom to step out of her comfort zone <<<<<
I think this is a requirement for unschooling! <G>
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
zoocrew@... writes:
Maybe it's time for Mom to step out of her comfort zone <<<<<
I think this is a requirement for unschooling! <G>
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]