Are you part of the generation that remembers when a few old blankets were the makings of a perfect hideout, and the most drama you had to deal with was whether to play army or cowboys? If you are, then it can be quite a challenge to see your perfectly healthy son curled up on his bed with his iPod in hand in the middle of a beautiful summer afternoon. Believe me, I feel your pain!
A 2010 Kaiser Foundation Study found that children and teens on average spend almost 8 hours each day on entertainment media. The naked truth is that technology is here for the long haul, and your child’s love of it isn’t going to go away anytime soon. Fortunately, there are some simple things that you can do to break your boy’s addiction to electronics and rekindle their adventurous spirit.
First, encourage them to explore those things that interest them, and to do so in a hands-on manner. If your child loves science, then get him an simple science experiment kit, and let him learn first hand. If he loves bugs, get him a bug magnifying glass and let him get down and dirty in the mud. If it’s a fascination with the outdoors, then a basic survival book and a Pocket Tool will be the beginning of a life-long love of the outdoors. It’s been proven that on the whole boys thrive when they can learn by “doing”, and there’s no better time to start than when they are young and full of curiousity.
The second thing you can do to inspire your child’s love of learning and adventure through stories. Inspiring true stories such as Eyewitness: The American Revolution or The Civil War Graphic Novel 2-Book Set can inspire your children to do and achieve more than they ever thought possible. Fictional stories about heroes and warriors can broaden teach them to dream big and reach for their goals.
Third, be a good example. Be active yourself so the next time you encourage your couch potato to get outside and explore the world they live it they can’t say, “But you never do!” Better yet, be active and learn together as a family. Take the time for a family hike or an afternoon together at your local historical society. Whatever your chosen activity, use it as an opportunity to learn and grow together as a family. A love of adventure may start when you are young, but a true adventurous spirit never withers.
To find thousands of ways to inspire a passion for learning and to ignite an adventurous spirit within your boys, visit www.jmcremps.com. Request their FREE Adventure Guide Catalog today, and you’ll discover why over 100,000 families rely on JM Cremp’s as their go-to resource for hands-on activites for busy boys, ideas & toys to enhance active imaginations, fun gear for outdoor adventures, parenting resources, and educational tools for creative learning.
JM Cremp's Adventure Blog 