Kids are hard and it must be a godsend to give them an iPad and a couple of websites. It will make long drives completely silent and allow for the adults to do their thing. You can hand your child this object and ensure their silence for hours.
Ain’t it grand? You can arrange it so you never have to talk to your children at all.
You don’t have to talk to them about the farms you drive by. The ones that grow their fruit, vegetables and meat.
You don’t have to show them the interesting architecture in the area, the round house, the cool house, that gorgeous old church.
You don’t have to show them the places you grew up, the old ice cream parlours, the beach you had your first kiss.
You can give them the iPad and have wonderful silence.
Silence is golden. Teaching your children the ways of the world is priceless.
what? No “I spy” with the kids? how boring.
LikeLiked by 2 people
you the man, I will play that and the license plate game. π
LikeLiked by 2 people
ha ha yes technology! The kids used to count the camels on our little trips through the desert!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Camels? Wow, that is awesome!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
yes ha ha
LikeLiked by 2 people
It continues to amaze me how people want kids but don’t want them to be kids. My daughter couldn’t talk and walk for the longest time. I loved watching kids play, run around and talk up a storm. I’ve talked to her non-stop, hoping to give her vocabulary and opening her horizon. We take her everywhere, still talk to her non-stop (she does talk now) and continue to broaden her horizon. I try really hard to not let the tv and iPad be in charge…
LikeLiked by 5 people
I’m glad to hear everything worked out.
LikeLiked by 2 people
AMEN!!!!!!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
The most beautiful sound a mother or father will ever hear is the sound of their child’s laughter.
LikeLiked by 3 people
That’s right π
LikeLiked by 2 people
Whenever I feel like I’m getting bombarded by “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!” from every direction, I stop and ask myself – what if nobody ever called me “Mommy”?…Works every.single.time…
LikeLiked by 7 people
Aw, love that, thank you π
LikeLiked by 2 people
Love that thought!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Couple of weeks ago brother and children came over and nephews and nieces hyper as usual, those adorable ages of 7-10 and come a certain time sister-in-law gives them their ‘Tesco’ tablets, so there they all are sitting in a silent line on the sofa all engrossed in Minecraft and I says to sis…. “wonderful baby sitters arn’t they”, she looked up from the silence of her magazine and laughed! (True story)
π x
LikeLiked by 3 people
So true! π
LikeLiked by 2 people
My house may be upside down, I never seem to have enough time for myself but then again, my life would be empty without these young ones π
LikeLiked by 2 people
I understand the emptiness.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love this! I do that all the time in the car, ‘put down your phone and enjoy the scenery!’
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL, this reminds me of a time when my son and I were driving through some farm country. He started mooing and I looked to see a bunch of horses, we laughed for hours.
He was about 20 at the time.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I get on my daughter all the time for burying her head in her Ipad when we are traveling and then she misses something interesting. Hard to get on her too much though because she is usually reading so it’s a delicate balancing act.
LikeLiked by 2 people
oo, tough one for sure.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I loved this post, and children can so easily get caught up with the TV and video games. I try to limit their use and ensure we have walking, sports, reading, homework – so all is balanced. I must admit mine don’t take their kindles in the car unless we are going on holiday or something. We always play a game in the car and you have to duck when you go under a bridge (obviously not the person driving) – otherwise you bang ur head – oh and the car colour game. We recently went away and had to drive through some mountains and the children adored the scenery as it was so beautiful. #bigfatlinky
Janet
LikeLiked by 3 people
Aw love this feedback! That’s terrific and sounds fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I myself am guilty of this (this morning, even). I do, however, try to not make a habit of it. A lot of the time, though, we do look at the farms, animals, bridges, architecture, etc. we pass on the way to our destinations.
LikeLiked by 2 people
π Excellent!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No joke… I was JUST thinking about writing a post regarding parenting. I love this!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aw no way!!!! Excellent, if you do write one, come back and put the link in the comments here π
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is complete!! I guess it’s a different take, but I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed yours!!
https://afreshvoiceblog.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/an-open-letter-from-a-childless-father/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sweet! Will read π
LikeLike
I agree with you on this post. People are far too quick to silence their kids with technology. I live for the road trips that we take with our son. We’ve traveled all over the states, seen hundreds of sights, and have had thousands of deep, meaningful conversations about the world, life, and the beautiful surroundings as we pass through them. We’ve got tons of games that we play together in the car, many of which we’ve made up ourselves over the years! I cannot imagine just plugging him in to shut him up. My kid has a beautiful mind, and I love hearing his thoughts on the universe. π
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, I LOVE THAT!!!! “My kid has a beautiful mind” what a great thing to say. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! π He truly does! I cherish the things that he has to say and his perspective on the world. He’s a very observant and astute 11 year old. He’s tested off the charts as “gifted,” but then again, as his mother, I’ve always known what an amazing kiddo I’ve been dealing with from day one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He sounds fun. Smart kids have wonderful senses of humour too. You’re lucky!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohhhh you’ve got no idea! He says the funniest damn things on a daily basis! He’s a hoot! You can read about him in my blog if you like! π
LikeLiked by 1 person
OK! Do you have a preference where I should start? Please drop me a link π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh if you go to my home page and search Sebastian, you’ll find a ton of material lol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
OK!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy! π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfectly summed up. You are absolutely spot on with this post. I try every day to let my kids be kids, to use their imaginations and to teach them something new. Because then just a little tiny bit of their magic rubs off on me π
LikeLiked by 1 person
aw, I’m loving the response to this post. All the cute things people do with their kids make me HAPPY!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So much wisdom in this post.
Yeah, no. We all get screen time, but that’s not what life is about! Now, if I could only tell adult visitors to put their phones away and pay attention to what’s actually happening…
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is coming up in a future post!!!!
Thank you for the kind words π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I almost came in full tilt wind-milling you, but thankfully kept reading and realized where you were coming from (good thing for you… kidding). My daughter and I have the BEST times on our drives and thus her nickname Goose. Since the early days that she could talk, she has been my navigator in the car while we travel near, far, and even abroad. Too bad for those parents losing out on precious time to get to know their children (and then they bitch about how time flies and never had a chance to talk….)
LikeLiked by 1 person
HA, you were supposed to, that was my goal!!!!!
Thank you for including your story!!!! β€
LikeLiked by 1 person
I Spy and The Number Plate Game – when back in the day was so much better π Great post and Thank you or linking with #ShowcaseTuesday
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for coming π
LikeLike
This is so true!! Children’s laughter and interaction is fantastic. Thanks for linking up with us on the #bigfatlinky hope to see you there this week
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would have made a bad kid of today, S&S. If I’m the passenger and I even try to read a text, I get car sick. Oy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lmao, my kid was like that. Could never look down π
LikeLike
So true, such a good analysis. It’s a quick fix…will buy a bit of quiet but longterm is it worth it. We don’t use screens in the car, we do ALOT of singing. And pylons are my friends, my 2 year old loves pylons. #wkendblogshare
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw love that π
LikeLike
This is such a great reminder to parents to seize the moment to spend time with their kids and teach them about the world around them. My kids spend a lot of time on technology, but we also make darn certain they get loads of time OFF of it too. Finding a balance between it all is key.
Thank you for sharing such a short but powerful post with us on the #SmallVictoriesSundayLinkup. I hope you’ll join us again tonight at 8PM EST.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for coming π
LikeLike
As long as it isn’t a Barney sing along!
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha π
LikeLike
The trouble with teaching kids anything is that they don’t want to hear what you have to say. Until they’re all growed up. Then they decide they need to know things. By then, I say “screw ’em.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha, that’s true too!!!
LikeLike
Pingback: Greasy Meat | A Fresh Voice
Digitally disengaged. Smartphones are the ones who come to collect children from school these days. And the headphones. I’ve had more conversations with headphones in ears than I care to remember.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. Love the phrase digitally disengaged, it’s perfect!
LikeLike
We didn’t have iPads when my children were young – Sesame Street saved my life on more than one occasion though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha same!!
LikeLike
I tell the kids that they need to pay attention to where we are at all times, just in case I ever follow through with my threats to pull over and leave them #stayclassy
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha π
LikeLike
This is important to remember. The car is the only time I do give my son my phone, or the train as he gets sick travelling so these seem to help. Though I want him to be aware of the world, and be present in it. We play yellow car over and over in the car. And I spy. I need to get more creative! Thank you for linking to #stayclassymama xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh please play something so he’s aware of motorcycles and bicycles on the road.. something like your yellow car game π
Thanks for coming π
LikeLike
Oh I totally agree with you. In fact we don’t even own an ipad and they are only allowed on the phone very rarely! We definitely need to be talking and doing more with our kids. Silence sure is golden sometimes but we are raising the next generation and surely we don’t want them to be mute. Thank you for sharing with #SatyClasyMama
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for coming π
LikeLike