The Baltimore area is under a Snow Warning. Area schools have been closed since Monday. Most county schools will be closed the rest of the week. Families around the Baltimore area are scrambling to keep their tweens occupied.
Unlike babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary schoolers, tweens have the resources to entertain themselves. Tweens may sometimes choose not to use these resources. Here are some suggestions for keeping your tweens occupied while snowbound.:
- Screen time...otherwise known as TV, wii, DS, PS3, XBOX, laptop, computer...will keep your tween occupied, but too much of a good thing is never a good idea.
- Set a limit for how long each tween should be allowed to play a game. Be firm.
- Movies...unearth classic movies for a movie night. Pick a movie that the family has not watched in a while, for instance, Flicka, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, or Spy Kids 22.
- Movies...screen a new release movie, like Aliens in the Attic, Up, or Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
- Chores. While being snowbound may mean that tweens hang out in pajamas all day, chores should not be neglected. If your tween sets the table, have him continue to set the table.
- School work. With school out, many tweens may be loving not having to crack open a book. Give your tween a journal to write down her thoughts, stories, or recipes.
- Books. Tweens may be too cool for being read to, but may enjoy family reading time. How about reading Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone or A Wrinkle in Time to a younger child. You might be surprised when your teen joins in to listen to you reading or to read to a sibling.
- Online networks. Tweens may want to get a Facebook page, but Facebook requires users to be at least 13 years of age. Tweens may be intrigued by the games on Facebook or the acquisition of friends, but may not have the maturity to handle a site designed by adults for adults. Tweens may want to follow anyone who requests their friendship on Facebook. There are safe networks for tweens to play on, such as, Yoursphere, Club Penguin, Sparktop, Beacon Street Girls, and Webkinz.
- Outdoors. Weather permitting, tweens should go outside to play or help shovel. Tweens may feel that they are too old for playing in the snow, but tweens need to the time to let off steam.
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