School Holiday Play

The school holidays have started and already our house is enjoying a constant stream of pint sized visitors as the neighbourhood kids get bored at their place and come over to ours to see if it's more interesting next door.

Usually, it's not...but it takes them an hour or so to work that out and by then, they've created havoc and left a trail of destruction behind.

Mess, I can cope with - but inactive kids who don't want to DO anything seems to be a relatively new phenomenon.

What is it with kids these days? The ones I know would much rather stay inside and play Play Station than enjoy the lovely autumn sunshine!!

If my son had his way, he'd hang around in his PJs all day watching ABC Kids.

Don't get me wrong, lazy days have their place,  but why am I constantly shuffling my guys out of the house to get some fresh air and exercise?

Like many mums, I have steadfastly refused to give in to the pleas for a DS, Wii and other computer games...but it's an uphill battle!

Last week, the Kids First education and health team presented a great seminar about children's developmental milestones for parents at a local pre-school. Our children's Occupational Therapist, Kristie Kha, recommended that children's 'screen time' be limited to one hour per day.

Almost every parent in the room sat bolt upright! The shock of this revelation was written all over their faces.

One hour?

Was she sure?

She was!

Kristie told us that when children are outside, playing hopscotch, climbing trees and riding scooters, they are developing gross motor skills that are vital for growing minds and bodies.

And yes, while recent research suggests that computer games can assist the development of eye tracking and scanning - it seems that the cons far outweigh the pros when it comes to young children and sedentary activity.

So tomorrow, it's a 'no screens' day at our house...it's going to be tough, but we can do it!

I love the honest, candid and but oh so easy to relate to experiences of other mums with school holiday woes...have you read Miscellaneous Adventures of an Aussie Mum? 

Scroll down past the 'Indestructible McDonald's balloon' until you get to this down to earth lady's description of the start of school holidays at her house. It certainly made me smile!

What is it like at your place?

All good ideas and survival tactics gratefully received!