10.17.2013

Outside Play & A Giveaway Winner!

I've mentioned several times on this blog that I'm not a fan of technology for children. Drew didn't watch TV until he was 2, and to this day still doesn't have a lot of interest in it. He probably gets about 20 minutes of ipad time each week with 100% of that being educational apps. Occasionally we let him watch a movie on there or on the TV, but we even limit that. (Except when we're on 13 hour drives to Kansas City and just can't sing one.more.song.) Both Derek and I were raised much like the rest of our generation; outside. Sure we had atari's and gameboys growing up, but the majority of our time was spent participating in activities or playing with our friends.

Have you ever gone to a restaurant and seen a family walk in, sit down and plop an ipad in front of each child? That's just not for us. To each his own, but to me, meals are a great time to socialize as a family unit. We sat down for dinner every.single.night growing up as did Derek and we plan to continue that tradition with our own children. Cell phones won't be allowed at the dinner table, nor will electronics. I'm sure we'll have to battle with teenagers on this, but as for now, that's the plan.

Lately we've been having some great evening weather and have been trying to enjoy our new backyard after dinner before the winter chill sets in. Watching Drew and Derek jump right into their baseball shenanigans makes me warm and fuzzy and so proud to be in their family. Derek enjoys every second of setting him up to bat and Drew patiently watches his example and listens to every little tweak of his stance. Although my battery died one evening, I was able to capture this adorable short video of Derek setting Drew up to hit. Future little league coach right there.





Drew hits for a long time, but sometimes it then becomes more fun to have daddy hit the ball and him to chase after it. See that smile? Pure joy right there.


Can't wait to get this little guy into toddler baseball. Just check out these skillz...


And the boys aren't the only ones having fun playing with balls out there. Us girls have our own side-game of fetch. Mine just involves more slobber than theirs.



And congrats to Jenny for winning the $25 credit towards decals from Twistmo Home Decor!


14 comments:

  1. today I saw a kid at target while her mom shopped, she was playing on an ipad. firstly I'd be scared my kid would drop it and it would shatter - but wow. she can't even deal with a target run without being distracted with an ipad?

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  2. Love this, love the philosophy. I'm glad to know that SOME kids aren't being raised by Apple. ;) Hopefully mine will be counted amongst them as well. Love the backyard baseball- Drew has way better technique already than I ever did!!

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  3. That is too cute! And I couldn't agree with you more- I'm always so interested to see others plop iPads right in front of their kids to babysit them :)

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  4. I love the "unplugged" childhood/parenting approach. My husband and I don't have kids (yet!) but I refuse to let them learn how to read on a tablet or spend their days in front of a screen. Go you!

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  5. He looks so happy!!! :) Love the pictures.

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  6. This is exactly why we don't let our middle school kids have their phones or their MacBooks at lunch. They need to have face-to-face conversations!

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  7. We are right there with you on this one!
    I love how Drew looks to Derek for approval/instruction right at the end of the video clip. Too cute!

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  8. We are huge tech geeks in my house. my kiddo can navigate the computer really well for his age. We didn't get to do a lot of play outside this summer because he couldn't do the physical activity but I've put a limit on screen time. He only gets to take his DS with him to long doctor's visits but heck most of the time he doesn't play it so lol that's always a good thing.

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  9. By the time I came around I got the, "Here's your ten books from the library you can read by yourself in the bleachers during Derek's baseball games". I guess that explains why I've never been much of an outdoorsy person but I can't blame them because I still love to read.

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  10. These pictures are so adorable! My 2.5 year old loves playing t-ball with Daddy too! :)

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  11. SO adorable! I love the pictures. What great memories! I see a baseball star in your future! ;)

    Jill @ youmeandcapri.com

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  12. My husband and I feel similar, our child loves to play outside so we try to let him go out as much as possible. He's going to hate it when winter hits. We usually have the t.v. on for background noise but he's actually not very interested in it. I do admit that he gets the iPad most mornings because it's the only way to keep him occupied and out of trouble while I get dressed for work but he's usually watching educational cartoons.

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  13. We have that same baseball tee...and we love to get outside with our little slugger!

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