I learned at a young age to never ever tell my parents I was bored. My children have learned the same lesson.
We also limit our kids to one hour of video games a week, only to be used on Saturday or Sunday. After homework and chores are finished.
They all love to read and the local librarian knows them all by name.
Re:How to Raise Boys Who Read
by sliverstorm on Friday September 24, 2010 @08:40PM
(#1725952)
I have always liked my parent's approach to "I'm bored". I wasn't afraid to say I was bored; I just knew that they'd tell me "Being bored is a choice. Find something to do." and refuse to help me.
As a result, I have never been bored for more than about 5 minutes at a time for nearly a decade. (well, besides classes. But even then I don't think of myself as bored)
My son's been playing the same PS2 for years. If he's bored, I tell him to read a book or go run around outside or he can help me with something. If he doesn't want that, well I can find him some chores to keep him busy. If he whines, I tell him I don't want to hear it: go do it somewhere else. Attempting to be manipulative e.g., playing one parent against the other generally gets whatever he wanted taken away for a while.
He (almost 10 years old) absolutely loves to read and we happily feed that habit. Video games/cartoons are a privilege rationed out carefully and taken away when behavior problems arise.
I worry a lot more that I don't have time to take my son fishing than whether or not he's got the same toys his friends do.