A UK couple lures their children away from watching a lot of tv for a year. Instead they will, as a family, take on a bunch of challenges [ht MA].
A couple determined not to let their two daughters become couch potatoes set them 100 outdoor challenges to complete - in just one year. ...
So the parents from Arnold, Nottinghamshire, challenged their children and themselves to complete the gruelling activities in just 365 days.
Walking on high ropes, foraging for food, snorkeling and cliff jumping were among some of the daring challenges which the family completed on Saturday after spending the night in a suspended tent tied between two trees.
The youngsters so enjoyed themselves they are now helping to draw up a fresh list of challenges for the next 12 months. Interestingly, they now only watch about three hours of television a week.
I have some questions and thoughts about the programme:
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- Yes! Doing those things as a family would be great! I have fond memories of doing things like this with my family as I was growing up and with our family as our children and grandchildren were growing up. If I had it to do again, I might try to do more.
- Can I take my smartphone with me on the outings? I know I'm addicted to the internet. My grandchildren seem to be, too.
- Getting rid of tvs and cable bills would just about pay for all those activities.
- I would miss some tv -- mostly sports. I doubt if I could cut down to just three hours/week for a whole year, though I have been quite successful at not watching much, if any, tv when I've been in Molokai or in Regina.
- Will the kids be social outcasts if they don't know what other kids are talking about? Does it matter?
- How often do the kids watch tv somewhere else, for example at the home of a friend or neighbour? [cf a scene in Equus]
- I love adventures. I love trying new things and going new places. This sounds like a great way to share that joy with children.
- My parents sacrificed a great deal to take us on lots of "educational" trips. I'm grateful for what they did, but unfortunately I don't remember much of those trips --- maybe there was too much seeing, not enough doing.
- At one point we had hopes of doing a family production of "Death of a Salesman". We're too scattered now; it won't work. But I have enjoyed doing different things with different children and grandchildren. Maybe a family reading of the play would work the next time we're together?
- Maybe next summer some ambling/hiking.... on the Bruce Trail?
- Yes! Doing those things as a family would be great! I have fond memories of doing things like this with my family as I was growing up and with our family as our children and grandchildren were growing up. If I had it to do again, I might try to do more.