“It's summer! What are your kids doing playing video games?” plus 1 more

It's summer! What are your kids doing playing video games?

Posted: 16 Jul 2010 12:01 PM PDT

How do you get kids off the couch and away from computers, video games and TV?

Parents' advice:

I plan something for every day in the summer: a museum, the lake, a public pool, a walk through an interesting neighborhood, the skateboard park, a simple visit to the local park. As long as my kids play outside two to three hours a day and read for a bit and do a chore or two, I don't really care if they spend the rest of the day playing video games or watching TV.

— Sharon Brinkman

One of the hardest things for parents to understand is that kids need and actually want some structure. Sit the child down and say that you are setting up the summer rules and you want input. Tell him/her that the video games can be played for "x" amount of time each day and what time frame does he/she want to help set? Discuss options for what might be done at the other times and remind them that summer is a special time to do other free things that they can't do during the school year.

— Verna Schmidt

Use the barter system: For every hour they spend outside, they get 20 minutes of video game time. Yes, I know it doesn't exactly seem fair, but summer comes but once a year, and there will be plenty of time inside during the winter.

— Marie Grass Amenta

ExPert advice

During their childhood, Barbara Tulipane's two sons loved video games, which wouldn't immediately qualify them as poster children for her work as CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association.

Despite her job, Tulipane never banned video games. "As soon as you forbid it, it becomes forbidden fruit with kids," she said.

Nor did she allow them to play without limits, even though, as she pointed out, "I was a single parent; it would have been easy to sit them in front of the TV to keep them occupied."

Instead, they were allowed to choose an hour of video games or TV a day — after chores/studies/outdoor activities were done. "They could break it up — a half-hour of TV and a half-hour of games. It would put the responsibility on them."

She walked the talk: "You can't bark at your kids to get outdoors if you're not outdoors."

Still, they often dragged their feet when she would roust them to walk or hike with her. She took them from their Virginia home to Montana for a hiking trip. "Once we got out there, and I put my foot down, they finally got into it," she said.

As typical kids, they didn't say much about it afterward.

Six years later, one son was planning his college applications. "He said he knew where he wanted to go: Bozeman," she said. "He said he wanted the beauty of Montana and the parks out there. I had no idea."

— Compiled by Wendy Donahue

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Brussels: Kids From Wisconsin troupe returns to Southern Door

Posted: 17 Jul 2010 02:18 AM PDT

The Kids From Wisconsin are returning to the Southern Door Community Auditorium at 7 p.m. July 24. The group is entering its 42nd season and features singer/dancers and band members who are residents of Wisconsin in high school or college.

Ryan Luhrs, a 2000 Southern Door High School graduate, is the current tour director for The Kids From Wisconsin.

Tickets cost $7 for youth/students, $8 for seniors, and $10 for adults and can be purchased online at www.southern doorauditorium.org.

Family Center wish list

The Southern Door Family Center's new location at the old implement dealer building in Brussels is taking shape. In order to provide everything they hope they can to the community, a wish list of needed items is being shared in hopes that community members and businesses might donate new or gently used items to the nonprofit organization.

The kitchen wish list includes pots and pans, silverware, plates, coffee mugs, and drinking glasses, a refrigerator, stove and microwave. Items for a youth area include a television and DVD player, a game station with either a Wii or PlayStation and games, a pool table, computer with Internet capabilities, computer desks, and games/toys for children of all ages.

For the multipurpose gathering space, 10 lightweight plastic 6- or 8-foot tables are needed, as well as 60 to 80 folding chairs, and exercise mats. For the bathroom, a baby changing station is needed.

Contact the Family Centers main office at (920) 495-1062 or (920) 825-1430 for more information.

Belgian Days winners

The 2010 Brussels Lions Belgian Days was another well run, well attended and fun event this year. The raffle always caps off the annual event, and here is a list of the top raffle prizewinners.

First prize of $500 from the Brussels Lions Club was awarded to Jim Perrson of Little Suamico; second prize of $250 from Alberts Plastering Inc was awarded to Beth Relich of Green Bay; third prize of $250 from Baylake Bank was awarded to Anita Virlee of New Franken.

Fourth prize of a two-night stay for four at Newport Resort from PortSide Builders Inc. was awarded to Lori Holtz of Sturgeon Bay; and fifth prize of $200 towards floor installation from Floors by Josh was awarded to Blaine Hull of New Franken; sixth prize of $100 from JJ Excavating was awarded to Debbie Alberts of Sturgeon Bay.

An additional 57 prizes were also awarded from many other generous area business owners. Congratulations to all the winners.

Contact Pamela Parks at (920) 825-1104; pamelap@centurytel.net; or 1126 Brussels Road, Brussels, WI 54204.

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Kids Games

Saturday, July 17, 2010