Moms Talk: Playing Along

We spent Labor Day weekend with some adult friends of ours, and my son, who is 10, was the only kid in the bunch. Sometimes it’s hard being an only child, especially when it comes to activities. Sometimes the things adults consider fun are not the same things that kids are likely to find fun. Of course, every kid and adult is different and will enjoy different activities. But it’s good to have some tools for dealing with those moments when feet-dragging, complaining and grumpiness threaten to spoil the fun for everyone.

Hike is a four-letter word—at least in my son’s book. I can hike endlessly without tiring as long as food and water are available. But, even the mention of the activity will invoke an attitude in my son that can be described as very bad.

Somehow though, he made it through a 5-miler last weekend with everyone commending him for being such a good sport. Yes, we like positive reinforcement. We also like these strategies for keeping harmony:

• Telling stories. There are so many stories to tell, and it’s fun to practice telling stories with kids because they are such an easy audience. They are forgiving and interested. And, as soon as they get engaged with a story, the fact that they are doing something that they’d rather not do is forgotten. Kids like to tell stories too. So, take turns and ask lots of questions to get their brains churning and their feet moving.
• Making up songs. We like to play a little game where we pick a topic and each of us comes up with a line for a song. We go in rounds and sing and laugh at the funny tunes we come up with. It can get pretty silly.
• Learning. Many of the activities we like doing offer learning opportunities for adults and kids. Checking out the signs along a hike or reading up on the wild life in an area can make outdoor activities more interesting and fun.
• Bring wheels. Some of the hikes we like to do are on pavement or fairly flat surfaces, so bringing along a bike or a skateboard is feasible. A soccer ball is also a good thing to keep in the trunk for unplanned ventures.
• Trade offs. It’s good for kids to learn compromise. Letting them do something which interests them in exchange for them going along with the group plan is another way to get kids to go along.
• Pay attention to them. Who doesn’t love a little attention? A long drive or a hike are excellent times to have conversations with kids about their friends, something they did recently or something coming up in their lives that they are looking forward to or dreading. Engaging them in conversations about them can help make the time more enjoyable for them. Also, it teaches them to be better conversationalists.

In , most of the trails are wide enough to accomodate varying abilities. Another fun place to explore in Watsonville is where you can rent a canoe or kayak and explore the diverse birds of the area.