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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Edited to change "that" to "what."
Edited 8/17/2004 10:35 pm ET ET by luvthebabes
And you're the one "shocked" that drs. don't discuss videogames and sex with their completely healthy patients.
Virgo
Actually, I think t.v. should definately be limited. I have 3 small kids and they spend 90% of the day outside.... climbing, building, swinging, looking for worms and snakes and turtles.
Everyone is different of course I have some neighbors and family that could care less how much tv their kids watch. But then again the parents are a slugs themselves.
That is not what you originally stated. . .I can only respond to what is provided.
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