Enjoying outdoors with the fam

[Sunderlander]

Hey Northeasterners.

The marketing company I work for recently picked up a campaign from the U.S. Ad Council. They recently did a study which found that kids spend 50% less time outdoors today than they did 20 years ago. This is an amazingly startling statistic.

The Forest Service has started a campaign entitled " Where the Other You Lives" which is trying to change this number for the better. They have initiated a series of PSA's as well as a website in order to get kids and their parents outdoors and experiencing wildlife, and the outdoors in general.

The "Where the Other You Lives" website can be found Here

What are you guys doing to get your kids outdoors? I live in Sunderland, MA and personally I have been going with my kids into the wooded areas around our development and looking for animal tracks. For the most part it's been cats(we have a lot of strays in the area) but we may have come across some coyote tracks.

 

[Marc]

I go out and hide their dinner in the back 40. If they can't find it, they don't eat.



It's what you might call "tough love."




But between you and me, every now and again when I'm tired, I don't even leave any food out. They wouldn't know the difference anyhow.

 

[Greg]

Hey Northeasterners.

The marketing company I work for recently picked up a campaign from the U.S. Ad Council. They recently did a study which found that kids spend 50% less time outdoors today than they did 20 years ago. This is an amazingly startling statistic.

The Forest Service has started a campaign entitled " Where the Other You Lives" which is trying to change this number for the better. They have initiated a series of PSA's as well as a website in order to get kids and their parents outdoors and experiencing wildlife, and the outdoors in general.

The "Where the Other You Lives" website can be found Here

What are you guys doing to get your kids outdoors? I live in Sunderland, MA and personally I have been going with my kids into the wooded areas around our development and looking for animal tracks. For the most part it's been cats(we have a lot of strays in the area) but we may have come across some coyote tracks.

No link. And welcome Sunderlander!

My kids are outside all the time, even if it's just drawing with chalk on the driveway. Usually they're out most months of the year unless it's really cold, or raining. Both my girls ski now too.

 

[4aprice]

Kids will be kids. Give them the opportunity to sit in front of the TV all day and they will. I agree that the new generation does not go outside as much as we did. We played so much baseball, football, basketball and pond hockey as kids. It's rare to see those type of pick up games these days (Still see hoop games at the park once in a while). Some of it has to do with these town rec leagues(the schools don't have teams till HS) which I find to be a pain in the ______. They also are not allowed to do many of the things we were, for example I believe even the simple game of tag is not allowed at the schools (might hurt someones feelings)

As far as family activities our two big ones are Skiing and boating (water skiing goes with that). Those activities have provided countless hours of family fun over the years as they grew up. Family time is getting less and less these days. My daughter works at Camelback as an instructor and my son races for the team so while we are all at the same place we are not together. The kids are also just as likely to pass on boat time as they are to go along now.


Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

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[Sunderlander]

I read a statistic a few weeks ago that said that less kids today than when I was a kid know how to ride a bike. Crazy. It was a rite of passage for me to be able to ride a bike, times are changin.

 

[ChileMass]

I read a statistic a few weeks ago that said that less kids today than when I was a kid know how to ride a bike. Crazy. It was a rite of passage for me to be able to ride a bike, times are changin.

The campground we were at in NH a few years ago had a great baseball diamond, so I tried to organize a game with our groups' kids and 2/3 of the boys didn't even know the rules. Sad.

We take the kids hiking at least twice during our annual camping trip to NH and they always bitch about it ahead of time (as do the Moms), but then they always come away saying how much they loved it afterwards. And as they've gotten older, amazingly enough, they bitch about it less and seem to enjoy it more each year. I am relatively convinced that after doing this with them for over 10 years now, they will camp and hike with their kids some day. So that's a good thing....

 

[marcski]

I agree about how part of this is unfortunately the different world we live in. When I was growing up...even at a very young age, after school, I'd hop on my bike, ride across town to either a friends or more likely one of the school yards, where we'd play football, stickball or softball. (And this doesn't include the organized little league I'd play in the spring). We'd play almost till dark. These days, I don't think I'm alone when I say I wouldn't let my kid out like that alone..at least not until they're about 13 or so, I guess...(I'll let you all know when I get there!).

My wife and I both have a love for the outdoors....so we keep our kids active. We hike, ski, bike (still need a few hours to get those damn training wheels off my oldest's bike). Especially in the fall, we'll organize a hike usually most every weekend either just ourselves or with another family with kids. My youngest won't watch TV for anything...my oldest loves it...but also loves to be outside. I think a lot is the example the parents make for the kids. My wife and I work out almost daily...and the kids know that when they wake up in the morning...usually one of us wont' be around as we're working out.

 

[dropKickMurphy]

Video games, internet, cell phones.

 

[ctenidae]

I go out and hide their dinner in the back 40. If they can't find it, they don't eat.



It's what you might call "tough love."




But between you and me, every now and again when I'm tired, I don't even leave any food out. They wouldn't know the difference anyhow.

"Hide the house keys in the Back 40" is always fun, too.

 

[snoseek]

They mostly hang out back and tend to my marijuana crop. For this they get a twenty dollar allowance and all the weed they can smoke!