Am I shooting myself in the foot when I think that the dc need to learn how to manage boredom?

[follygirl]

I have a dd who is 5.5 and a ds who is 3.5. I have always believed that they need to learn how to deal with boredom.

For example when we are on long car journeys of a couple of hours or so (happens 6 times a year) we put the music on and play a few games of 'eye spy' and 'what cloud shapes can you see'. When we are in a restaurant I bring paper and colouring pencils but I expect them to learn to wait nicely. Am I being a bit unrealistic bearing in mind their age?

A good friend of mine has similar aged dc and has given them both a DS plus they watch films on their portable DVD player and/or ipod. As a result, they are a lot quieter in restaurants and their parents have a more enjoyable time. Am I just shooting myself in the foot and should I just give up and buy them a handheld game so that they can amuse themselves, or should I carry on, as I'm worried that they will believe that everything brings instant gratification.

I am not saying that I am against buying consoles for kids, I am considering getting one for dd at Xmas when she will be 6.5. I am just curious as to whether I should wait that long!

I am just interested whether any other parents out there are doing the same thing as us, or are we being silly?

Well, I'm with you on this one anyway. We actually got a portable DVD player free with the car and it's in a box somewhere.. and kids on their gameboys in restaurants is one of my all time pet hates.

I agree with you - DS and DD are 6.4 and 4.6 and if they are in the car there is nothing special provided (and we fairly often go to visit my parents, about 4 hours away).

I do have an Ipod Touch which I let DS use sometimes (when waiting outside DD's ballet lesson) but I wouldn't take it to a restaurant. I take paper and pencils and a few toys for them and they are fine. Well, not always fine but YKWIM .

Of course you are not shooint gyourself in the foot, and I suspect you know this and just want affirmation that you are being the 'better' parent.

Kids have survived for centruries without entertainment consoles.

Not sure you are teaching your kids how to deal with boredom by entertaining them though? My idea of teaching kids how to deal with boredom would be to not interact and play games with them in the car, just leave them to it, and not take colours and paper to the restaurant, but suggest they take somethgin if they don't want to be ored.

I expect DS to be able to take something or a few thgins to keep him busy on a car journey. I don't want him assuming I will be oing the entertaining.

It's good for kids to be bored doing noting sometimes.

folly girl I don't think you are being unrealistic for their age, children of that age can sit nicely doing something quiet like colouring or reading while waiting for food.

I doa gree that it is good for kids to be bored soemtimes, which is why we have moved a load of toys into our spare room where there is no tv or laptop.

However, I have to drive long distances to visit my family and I hate driving and dealing with teh children, I am not a safe driver if I am dealing with thema s well, so I do have a DVD player in teh car.
It stays in teh car though and they have crayon totes for when we are at cafes etc.

I think you are right

However my DD2 (nearly 5) has a really short attention span and I do tend to let her fiddle with my iphone occasionally (looking through photos) - however, up to an hour of boredom I expect her to cope with TBH

The 7 year old will have her nose in a book at all hours and I occasionally let her while waiting for food etc