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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Paige
Virgo
Keeping the tv on as background noise while you do other things (esp. exercise, which you do!) is very different than consciously sitting down and not engaging in any other activity BUT watching the screen.
Here are a few of the links. Go find it.
I've included links about food/exercise since I was asked several times to repeat myself.
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.219
This one talks about exercise
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.219
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.231
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.233
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.249
responded to merrella that we do these things "We'd rather use that time to read, play games or go outside" during the first 3 1/2 hrs at home.
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.425
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.469
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.460
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.449
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.414
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.270
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.453
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.467
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.417
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.363
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.464
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.347
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.321
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.297
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pssahwoh&msg=13988.425
Paige
Not good enough?
Paige
Nice try, won't fly!
Paige
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