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My 5 yr old loves his games I let him play for 1 1/2 hours a night what do you do with your kids?

9 replies

Scruffyhound · 18/03/2011 20:24

Hello I have a 5 yr old DS whom I love very much. Im 37 weeks pregnant and very tired and having problems with my thyroid. We live with DP and have for over a year now. Im worried that im so tired I just cant be bothered to tell DS when to turn off his games. In the week after school he comes back we watch a few things together on kids TV I make him a snack apple chopped up or yoghurt look in his bag from school see if there is anything to do reading etc.. then cook the tea. Whilst I cook the tea normally 5.30ish he plays his games. I call him down for his tea we chat have tea and he then sometimes watches TV for 1/2 hour then wants to play games again. I say yes. He plays them for an hour or hour and half. Shower some nights then bed and story also dvd of his choice. My point it after waffling on is am I doing the right thing? Money is tight and the nights are not light for long enough to go to the park not to mention my pubic bones are painful and im so tired all the time. I left/divorced my ex husband as he was addicted to world of warcraft and put it bofore me and my DS all the time often leaving DS to cry to the point where I did not want a shower in case DS cried I knew ex husband would not see to him. I dont want my DS turning out like that (as when he sees his dad every ohter weekend I hear about DS playing World of warcraft with his dad Angry but im so tired. Is there are suggestions or do other people do this with their kids im at a loss? Weekends I try to do something craft like baking maybe a walk take him somewhere if money allows. Am I the only one who feels like im not doing enough? Confused when I was my DS age I had toys to play with and later on in life had an amstrad! Im so old! And I enjoyed my games too but never got addicted.

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BluddyMoFo · 18/03/2011 20:28

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Scruffyhound · 18/03/2011 20:36

Thanks just wanted to see what other people are doing with their kids. I dont remember having half the amount of toys or things my DS has and i entertained my self in my room for hours. Do remember making a house for my barbies out of a big cardboard box. And making stuff my self! Your right kids being bored is good. I never thought of it like that before. Thanks!! Just worried about him turinig into his dad. Think I will feel better when pregnancy is over and then will be tired with baby but I hope to have my body back for walks and stuff and the lighter nights will be here?!

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prettywhiteguitar · 18/03/2011 20:39

I'd say that was a little late for games and the dvd too.

I have to say I am 32 weeks and know exactly what you mean about being too tired, with my ds (3) who is really addicted to tv I just let him moan for a bit and eventually he starts to get his toys out and occupy himself.

Just make sure his toys are accessible. I have a total telly ban on at the moment as I am so sick of the tantrums from when I turn it off.

Much better just not turned on in the first place, it wont harm him to wander around looking for something to do, we have lots of big carboard boxes about at the moment which has sticky tape and pens which to draw on

Sympathies anyway ! I just lie on the sofa saying mummies too tired !

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thisisyesterday · 18/03/2011 20:41

actually i think that's way too much screen time for a small child
pretty much constantly from getting in to going to bed, with only a break for dinner in the middle?

there are other things you can do that don't involve going out or even getting up! sit and read to him, do some drawing, get him helping you make the dinner.
does he enjoy things like lego? i love doing lego with ds1 (as does dp! might be a good one for some boy time together)

i don't think you necessarily need to do stuff... i find that my lot generally find stuff to entertain themselves even if there is a bit of moaning about being bored to start with :)

thisisyesterday · 18/03/2011 20:42

mmmm boxes is a good idea. spend the week saving any packaging that you would otherwise throw away. then you can use it for model making.
(if you can bear the tidying up afterwards lol)

or see if they have any big boxes at the supermarket next time you go. my eldest 2 boys love decorating boxes with their pens and making stuff out of them (bigger is better!)

BluddyMoFo · 18/03/2011 20:43

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thisisyesterday · 18/03/2011 20:49

bluddy Grin

i have a picture of myself when i was lying on the floor once and ds1 had pulled my top right up and him and dp (!!) then drew ALL over my back

girliefriend · 18/03/2011 20:51

I have a 5yo dd and wouldn't feel happy with her being on the computer that much but I do know what you mean. Sometimes when we get in from school it is a bit like 'what now?!!'

Is there any after school things he would like to do? Cubs, judo, swimming? I'm a single mum so money also tight but dd does a dance class after school which works out about £2 a class (at local community centre) I think well its better than her just coming home and watching the telly. She does that on a thus, I work p/t so 3 other evenings she is at the childminders til 5pm. I tend allow up to an hr of telly a day (depending on how tired I am!!!)

Scruffyhound · 19/03/2011 13:25

Sorry if I have typed it wrong we get in from school and he watches TV for about 3/4 of an hour to 1 hour not even that sometimes. We look in his school bag for homework and his book to read and do that I turn the tv off then. We chat about his day in the car and throughout the night. I then let him play his games at around 5.30 whilst I prepare dinner as a rule but not always he has boxes with cars in the livingroom which he plays with also I have two boxes in his room with transformers more cars and toys for him to play with. He can get theses when he likes. I try and do arts and crafts at weekends when I have time to sit with him for a few hours and make something. Today were lucky got enough money to take him to a soft play place with DP friends. I also think DP needs to do more with him its always me and DS. I have lived on my own for 2 years with my son and I dont mind then as Im the only one there! But if were going to be a family and baby on the way I feel sometimes DP can make more of an effort he feels he has made an effort if he get my son to clean his teeth and dressed he feels that is a big help. It is but then thats it really I have to entertain DS all the while. When I was a single mum with DS I was better off money wise than I am now?! Its weird but the strain of being a single mum is hard I know that but its rewarding. I admire single mums (as been there my self) also worked full time its bloody hard! I think after baby comes it will get better again. Im just emotinal and sad that im totally away from family and my friends as thats something I used to do was visit people a lot with DS when I was on my own. I have family with similar aged children. There are not really any here. Miss that too think DS might as well.......

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