When did structure become a bad thing?
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| Fri, 07-30-2004 - 8:19am |
We used to live next door to a "no structure" family. The kids ran wild in the neighborhood, the mom never planned dinner so lord only knows if and when the kids ate. Sorry, I don't think that's a good way to live. My kids know we eat dinner at 6:30, so they have to be home.
I can see taht you wouldn't demand that an infant go to bed and wake up at precisely the same time, but is there ever a time to impose structure on a child? So lets say you are the freewheeling type and have always doen things whenever. What happens when you send your child to school where the bell rings at the same time every day?
As far as activities, I realize all kids are different, but when my kids were little, if we just did whatever, whenever, my kids woudl end up grumpy and overtired. My experience is that if say, we were at the beach and I say, oh heck, let's just stay later, the kids woudl be happy at first, but by the days end I would end up with whiny, overtired kids.
Maybe I'm just misinterpreting what I am reading, but I personally think structure is a good thing. When children are small, the structure includes naptimes, mealtimes, etc. As they get older it evolves into boundaries like "be home at 6 for dinner" or "you can't go into soemones house without telling me first". I couldn't imagine living without structure or boundaries for my kids.
Susan

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And maybe if the pediatrician is watching a lot of Blue's Clues and Elmo's World, he may have a great insight into his little patients?
Laura
Absolutely.
However, I don't see several hours of television per day with excessive amounts of junk food as being "in moderation".
What about the quality of the programming? Do you see any harm in your DD watching violence on TV? Sex?
You have implied that hohos are a standard snack, as are nightly sodas. You dont seem to think that a diet high in refined sugar, preservatives and white flour is unacceptable, because you arent overweight (which I still dont get-unhealthy is unhealthy, regardless of weight)
You have said that you watch tv every single night from 7-10p (resulting in only 9 hrs of sleep for your child, right?), and that your pediatrician husband sees nothing wrong with any of this.
Yeah, I am sooooo off base
dj
Dj
"Now when I need help, I look in the mirror" ~Kanye West~
We watch a fair amount of tv, especially in the winter when its blowing snow. I dont have a problem with tv per se, but I think the poster is really sticking her head in the sand when you combine the nightly 3 hrs of tv with all the other things she says she does or doesnt do.
dj
Dj
"Now when I need help, I look in the mirror" ~Kanye West~
Dj
"Now when I need help, I look in the mirror" ~Kanye West~
dj
Dj
"Now when I need help, I look in the mirror" ~Kanye West~
Not sure why you thought he was.
Yes, we go for walks. Yes, we are active. No, we don't do formal exercise like attending classes, going to a gym, or owning equipment. But we are not totally unactive & I think you did get the wrong impression.
We all hate sports. Big deal!
No, we don't hike & kayaking wouldn't be of interest to our family.
DD has a bike & dh & I have been looking at buying ourselves bikes.
Ho hos are a standard snack just like oreos. That does not mean that is the only snack.
After we have 3 1/2 hours together I see nothing wrong with then sitting down for a night of family tv.
I maintain my thoughts in the post you are replying.
Paige
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