Why does summer never go as I envision it to?

[AnyonehatefliesasmuchasIdo]

I always look forward to it, I plan so many fun ideas for my Dc and I, mixed with seeing friends and family and days out. We have nice times, but also so many hard days with Dc just wanting to watch Youtube or play on the ipad
I know i’m very fortunate to be off over the summer and feel so guilty but maybe saving and booking clubs for summer would be better next year.
I remember loving my summers as a child

Anyone else have similar?

Just wants to be on screens, even though I set up crafts, games, suggest reading and so many other things

I can’t believe how strong the pull has become, it’s actually quite concerning and really sad, I didn’t have any of this as a child, I loved summer

Screen have set time or have to be earned.

Then take them out the house away from them for part of the day. Feel less bad if morning is out if they then veg in afternoon watching a film or something on TV.

Maybe also have set reading time.

I used to find home crafts a pain to set up limited interest from kids and huge clean up time - but take them out to a craft activty somewhere and they loved it - see what there is locally.

Others have kids that are happy at home al day for weeks - even with limited screen time - I didn't have kids like that was around so had to adapt and find a routine that worked for them.

We see friends and have them over, go out lots etc, but some days it (should) be nice to be at home and relax but it’s just arguments about screens and wanting to watch crap that I don’t want her to

I do this and huge arguments all day, this is what i’m saying

Just let them relax on a screen?

As long as its not days on end, I personally don't see a problem.

Perhaps it’s just me but I just hate seeing her just watching tv all day

Does it all need to be what you want to do though? If it’s just occasional quiet days, why not just let her have that down time how she wants?

but some days it (should) be nice to be at home and relax but it’s just arguments about screens and wanting to watch crap that I don’t want her to

Maybe it's because my kids turned out to be ND but I had to learn to parent the kids I had not one I thought I'd get.

Being home all day never worked for my DC even at weekends- so we rarely did it till teen years when they could entertain themsleves more or sleep till late.

One option if you don't want to go out - is let her moan and tune it out eventually at some point she'll likely find or suggest something that will entertaim her other than screens. Basially stop trying to fix it for her and tell her she home and needs to find something to do and not moan to you all day - refuse to engage - she has stuff in house she needs to find something to do. My parents often took this approach and I ended up reading a lot.

It's also worth consider if you have some rose tinted glasses on - were summer at home really that great for you or are you just remembering the best bits.

just be clear on the boundaries and limits of screen time, then it's easy.

Every time they argue or complain, they lose 1 hour of screen. When they lose all screen time for a week, they'll stop complaining eventually!

If they are bored, offer a list of chores to do instead of playing. Mine never complain too much when the option is some very boring chore 😂

I hear you op.

It’s just me and ds home all Summer. I’ve planned friends over/meet ups once a week. We’ve got a few days out planned plus our main Summer holiday when dh is off. Plus a few days where he’ll be shipped off to grandparents.

We get outside most days to the shops/park.

But the days when we are at home all ds wants to do is go on screens.

I haven’t really got an issue with him using screens but I’m finding it hard to draw the line and set limits. I’d like him to do other things like read a book, draw, play with toys but it becomes a battle. He’s got a horrible cold this weeks and I desperately need to do some cleaning and organising so it’s tough.

Yeah, that wouldn’t bother me for the odd day tbh. 🤷‍♀️

that's why I rarely plan an entire day at home unless I am sick. I would have hated to spend days at home when I was a child too

Maybe we spent less time watching tv then because there was literally nothing to watch. 😂I don't know who watches daytime TV nowadays, it's beyond boring but who hasn't got Netflix and Disney etc to find something more interesting.

Just impose a set amount of hours a day and that's that.

It’s not what I want to do, but doesn’t seem great her just sat on screens

I do this, but she just ends up arguing so much and seems incapable of finding things to do. I used to read also, but she barely wants to

it’s so hard, I don’t remember it being like this until last year and this

It is about what you want to do… who else is telling you it’s not ok for a day?

The whole day though, aside from
a 30 minute dog walk

She will find something eventually, or she can clean or tidy, or remove weeds until she finds better to do.

So what if she has an opinion? She might not like to go to school everyday, she still goes.

Unless she asked specifically to go to summer club for dance, or horse riding, or things girls her age love so much, and you refused.

We are not designed to be sedentary, doing nothing for an entire day is not good or normal. Most normal adults would go crazy ,and kids should end up climbing the wall laying all watching tv all day.

Of course it's terrible parenting to let them do nothing just watching tv

??

I’m saying I don’t like the thought of her just sat playing games or watching tv all day. Is that weird? She has so many games, books, art supplies, music, a garden with mud kitchen, tennis bats, footballs. trampoline, scooter, bike, pool. I don’t get how these kids can get bored?! I offer to play these things with her too

I was similar, except screens allowed before 9am, between 12+2 so that I could have a nap and lunch in peace, and after 5pm.

The morning and afternoon had to be colouring, crafts, garden, park, walk dogs, supermarket, meet up with friends.

This rule held until Covid blew it up.

We have a dance club booked, but it’s not yet. She has swimming, so many friends, days out….it should be ok to be at home for relaxing days too and not have rows over screen time, finding it so stressful

I’m all for down time, but all day just makes me uncomfortable, we’d only really do that if ill or on a very rainy/stormy day

When mine were little, I used to say we had to do one thing every day