Today I talked to the kids about lifting their productivity levels. I encouraged them that their free time needed to be spent on focused and purposeful activity. I am always surprised at the things the kids do when movie/dvd time is reduced and the goal of productivity is put in front of them.
Today Nomi spent extra time on her Bamboo mat (drawing with a mouse). It is a whole new art form to draw on the computer and she is improving all the time. Nomi also sat down and got a robotic vacuum cleaner started for me. It has been sitting in my cupboard for ages, thinking it needed programming – it didn’t! So we’ll see how that works in the next day or two. Imagine not having to push a vacuum cleaner – just what I need as we head into the Wet Season and all its bugs!
Daniel also spent some time on the computer but for him it was drawing a treasure map using Microsoft Word and the autoshapes, lines, colour etc. Daniel has also started a stitchery on plastic canvas of his own design.
Jessica spent time working on a project she’s got happening in organising a preschool activity in a bag swap with ladies in the community.
Joshua went to his first ‘farmers meeting’ representing his dad – as Pete couldn’t make it. I think the ‘expert’ was a little disconcerted in seeing a kid there but Josh was soon introduced as a participant. It is great having such a supportive community – none of the farmers who knew us, or Josh were the least surprised to see him there. Though he assures everyone he has no intention of being a farmer (or a Vet!!)
We have been watching too many dvd’s of late (especially over lunch time and things just drag on after that) and since I cut that out today, there were times the younger two struggled to keep their focus on other projects but it was worth it in the end.
Good for you!
We've found that minimizing passive activities (whether TV, computer, or fluff reading) really benefits the children and is also a lot more fun in the long run. This is LIVING instead of standing on the sidelines.
We have no TV, limit DVD's to Sunday evening, and computer games to weekends. With studies, gardening, and other activities, we've even cut down on reading…and for our 8-hour a day readers that is a good thing!
Enjoy the freedom!
Annie Kate
Good for your son, that he can function so well among adults.