Questions tagged [activities]

For questions that pertain to activities we do with our children, or that our children do.

The "activities" tag is for things our children do, and things we do with our children, such as: firearms and martial arts training, art classes, cooking, swimming, gardening, and so on. Often, asking on an activity-specific forum doesn't get our question in front of other parents who understand the specific ins and outs of engaging children in a particular activity.

Questions that should be tagged "activities"

  • How old should my daughter be before I teach her to swim?
  • My 4yo son really wants to learn to cook; what should I do to make the kitchen safe for him to work in?
  • When backpacking with young children, how do you prepare them with regard to survival skills and first aid?
  • What can I do to help prepare my child with SID (sensory integration disorder) for horseback riding with the family

Questions that should NOT be tagged "activities"

  • How can I help my son improve his grades?
  • What can I do to help a picky eater get balanced nutrition?
  • Why aren't my triplets getting along?
  • How can I encourage my children and my step-children to play together more?
78 questions
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How can I help my child who is advanced in programming to meet others at the same skill level?

My child just turned 14 years old, and one of his hobbies is programming. He knows JavaScript, HTML, CSS, jQuery, Ruby, Python, some Java, and a bit of C++, Bash, and PHP. He also uses Git, Vim, and LaTeX. Now, I am not able to either talk to him…
Doorknob
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8 answers

Is there an alternative to Boy/Girl Scouts in the US?

My son desperately wants to join the Boy Scouts, but I've had to say no due to the local troop's religious agenda. I've been helping my friend try to come up with ideas for her daughter's new Girl Scout troop, as the activities have been incredibly…
HedgeMage
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10 answers

I want to teach my children the power of compound growth, what are some demonstrations that they can be a part of?

Like all parents, we want our children to lead happy lives. One of the critical components to that is giving them the mental tools and experiences so that they can make good economic decisions in their life. This is challenging because consumer…
32
votes
7 answers

What are some milestones a child should reach before learning programming?

I am going to buy a PC for my kid as a birthday present, so I'm thinking how to use it educationally. Of course, an obvious choice is teaching him how to program. I'm not asking what age should a kid be to start learning programming. I wonder what…
Nikita Barsukov
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9 answers

Is visiting museums worthwhile or beneficial for a toddler?

Would visiting an art museum, history museum, etc. which is not specifically geared toward children (i.e. not a "children's museum") be good for a toddler? I'm assuming that the toddler is under control (not in danger of hurting him/herself or the…
Brusselssprout
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10 answers

How and when should I teach my children how to swim?

I personally want to teach my children (all under 6yo) how to swim. What readiness guidelines should I use to determine if they're ready to start? What things should I teach them first? Are there good resources (online videos or sites) that teach…
J.J.
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5 answers

Some games and playful ideas for a father to do with his 4 year old daughter?

My daughter has an older brother (8yrs old) so when we all play together we tend to do older boy things. Does anybody (especially women) have any memorable games/activities they played with Dad? A few I have tried: Tea Party, Doll House, Puzzle,…
Mr. Tony Jessup
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11 answers

Should I force activities on my child?

I am trying to encourage my 5 1/2 year old son to try different activities but he often simply rejects them out of hand before trying them. Recently I saw a groupon for ten Taekwondo lessons. He did not participate in the first 3 lessons and said…
Tracy Cramer
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17
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4 answers

How do you introduce video games without pushing other activities into the background?

I am a gamer. I enjoy playing video games, and they've been a part of my life since I was a kid. I believe there are a lot of potential benefits from playing video games, and I want to be able to share my interest in games with my son once he is…
user420
17
votes
8 answers

Are ExerSaucers/walkers/jumpers bad for children or is that simply a misconception?

I have heard my whole life that the above mentioned types of toys delay walking and/or independent sitting (depending on the age they're used). I've even heard that they can hurt the infant's legs. I've never seen any research to suggest this is…
William Grobman
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16
votes
6 answers

Preventing anti-STEM bias especially with girls

Both of my children love science, and my wife and I have encouraged this in our children. However, at a recent school activity fair the representative for a science oriented group (robotics if I remember correctly) spoke to and gave an activity to…
COL Wotohice
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6 answers

How do I get my overachiever to accept her mistakes and live up to her abilities?

My seven year old child is a perfectionist and I believe it holds her back. She is so afraid of making a mistake or "failing" that she is afraid to put herself out there. She is similarly afraid to be the center of attention, thereby, never really…
ellenedelman
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15
votes
8 answers

How to better engage myself with my 15 month old

My 15 month old toddler is very active and I often find it challenging to match his pace. He seems to get bored with his toys very quickly. Earlier he used to be very much interested in my laptop and iPhone because I forbid him. Now I let him use…
Chaitanya MSV
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14
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5 answers

How do I dissuade my three-year-old from saying he doesn't like a parent?

My three-year-old is sometimes verbally and physically abusive with one parent, saying he doesn't like, want, or love the parent, and commands the parent to go away. This seems to happen mostly when he is interacting with one parent, and the other…
Steve HHH
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How can I keep a 14 month old busy at some activity for longer than 3 minutes

Our boy loses interest in any activity - playing with toys /playing with us/mock singing/you-name-it very soon The only exception is watching TV (which can go on for 30 minutes uninterrupted) and he now throws all his toys or anything we give him…
shinynewbike
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