Keeping It FUN

One thing I've noticed, my son doesn't respond too well when he feels I'm asking him to "practice" some skill... just for the sake of practicing.

He doesn't get it.  It's too abstract.  

And while I still insist that he practices playing catch with me, I'm learning to "trick" him into various "occupational therapy"-like activities!

What fun.  

But seriously, here's an example.  I used to ask him to practice playing beach-ball volleyball with me in the pool.  He would grunt... "Okay, but just for a few minutes."  

We would hit back and forth a few times, and then that was it.  He was onto something else.

But now I turn it into a game.  Tonight was a great example.  "NJ, here's the deal.  If we get four hits in a row, we get a point.  If we get less, the other team gets a point."

For some reason, we named our team: The Violent Video Games, and the other team (the imaginary team we were playing against) we called the Holly Hill Gang.  (Please don't ask why.)

So we began playing, and keeping score.  First team to 7 wins, etc.  We must have played non-stop for a half hour.  This was unprecedented for any type of ball game with NJ.  Normally, he just doesn't dig it.

It was a fantastic step.  

He didn't even realize he was sharpening his coordination, and learning how to better control his body.  

I think this is something good to keep in mind with our kids, regardless.  We always know what our motives are, but it doesn't mean the kid has to know.  If he thinks it's a game, so much the better.  

Whatever it takes, man.  

By the way, the good guys won tonight.  Go Violent Video Games!  (The pool volleyball team, that is.)

Peace.