To go along with my last post about TV-Free August, I thought I'd make a list of things that we can do in the evenings or weekends instead of watch TV.
1. READ
*How about setting aside 30 minutes to an hour each evening for a family read-aloud. All ages enjoy this, not just small children! You can find lists of good books on many homeschooling sites. Here is one -
1000 Good Books List
*Of course, this would also be an ideal opportunity to spend time in God's Word, either individually or as a family. Work through a prepared Bible Study guide together. Read a bit of a devotional each night. Nourish your spirit.
*Visit the public library and have each person pick out a few books they are interested in - each can pursue their own interests and perhaps try something new, like poetry or a classic novel. At times, I have instructed each of my children to choose books from specific categories, such as 1 biography, 1 history book, 1 craft/how-to book, 1 book of poetry, 1 book about nature, etc.
2. ART
*Fill a box with art supplies such as drawing pencils & erasers, colored pencils, markers, paints & brushes, pastels, etc ( depending on the ages of your children ). Get a few art instruction books and pads of paper. Either hold an art "class" or just let everyone explore on their own. But endeavor to improve and develop skills.
For younger children, you might enjoy the DRAW WRITE NOW series. Notesketch books or Picture Story Books are wonderful for this. They are spiral bound sketch books with the top half of the page blank for drawing and the bottom half lined for writing.
Miller Pads & Paper is my favorite art supply source - everything you could want and great prices too!
*Calligraphy is also a wonderful skill for the older children and adults to learn. It takes a lot of practice ~ but is beautiful and satisfying when mastered.
3. SCRAPBOOKING
I have a table full of scrapbooking supplies that I haven't touched in ages. In addition to the years worth of photographs in boxes are the hundreds of digital photos now stored on my computer! Who gets to enjoy them? My kids enjoy working on photo scrapbooks as much as I do ~ yet we never set aside the time to do it! And time is passing, memories are fading... if I don't get these pictures in albums and the memories written down soon, I'll forget who and where and which year and all the wonderful details of our family life that I'd like to preserve and celebrate for my children's children!
4. PLAY GAMES
My children, especially the younger two, LOVE to play board games and card games. We have a stack of them in the closet. Some are even educational!
It's a shame they don't get used more often...
5. GO FOR A WALK
Take the whole family and go for a walk through a pretty neighborhood or along a nature trail or in the mall or around a track! It doesn't cost a thing and it is good exercise. If you are really adventurous, hop on your bikes or don rollerblades ( with helmets!)
6. GO LETTERBOXING
Combine walking with treasure hunting and try letterboxing. Go to http://www.letterboxing.org/ to find out how to get started and find clues to boxes hidden in your area.
7. CLEAN OUT THE GARAGE
self explanatory
8. ORGANIZE
hmmm.... time to organize closets, go through old files and toss unneeded papers, empty and organize the "junk drawer", get rid of old Tupperware bowls or videos or toys that nobody uses anymore
9. LEARN OR PRACTICE A SKILL
Learn to play the piano, learn to sew, learn a foreign language, learn HTML, learn to dance.... or practice a skill that is rusty and hasn't been used much lately
10. SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS
Invite friends over for coffee and conversation, have a cook-out, host a night of playing cards or board games or backyard volleyball, just hang out with people you enjoy and nurture these friendships
More to come...
1 comment:
Well, we are going to try it but not until mid-August to mid-September to coincide with school starting back and J leaving for college and several other things. At least it seems like everyone has agreed to do it so I'm OK with a little delay in starting it. I like the idea of having it turned off when the new shows start, too, so maybe it will weaken their appeal! Thanks for the ideas for alternatives - I think I will add a few as we try them out, too.
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