20 Things Besides TV

Once baseball is over, we've survived summer school, and vacation is a fond memory--then what?

One kid in particular seems to believe that his lot in life is to sit in front of the TV watching Frasier DVDs, movies, and non-cable re-runs.

"C. Peevie," we said to him. "Get up and do something besides watching TV!"

"But there's nothing to deeewwwww!" he whined. Aha! I said to myself. A teachable moment.

"Turn off the TV, C. Peevie," I said. "I have an assignment for you." He looked at me from under glowering eyebrows. "Off," I reiterated. He complied, grumpily.

"Here's the deal," I told him. "I want you to write me a list of 20 things you can do instead of watching TV and playing video games."

"Awwwww, Mom!" he arghed, "That's completely lame."

"It's going to be 25 things instead of 20 if you argue with me," I said cheerfully.

It was 24 hours and no TV later that the boy handed me my list. Here's what he came up with, in its complete and unedited beauty:

1. reading
2. bike
3. scooter
4. drawing
5. park
6. hang out with pals
7. stroll
8. write a book
9. knit woollen scarves for the homeless
10. found a charity
11. clean windows
12. making Stouffer's family size mac & cheez
13. making money
14. cleaning
15. shopping
16. goin 2 the bathroom
17. checkin email
18. talk w/ friends
19. cook
20. pray

I like this list. Next time he tells me he's bored, I will whip out this little list and remind him that there are at least 20 different ways he can spend his time that does not involve sitting in front of a screen.

M. Peevie found the list on the couch, and read it. She was intrigued, and decided to write her own list of "20 things you can do other than watch TV:"

1. read
2. play outside
3. climb a tree
4. go shopping
5. try on everything in my wardrobe
6. plant a flower
7. cook dinner
8. hang with pals
9. make a new club
10. re-decorate my room
11. have a garage sale
12. save money for something I really want
13. go to collage [where, presumably, she'll learn how to spell "college." She is, after all, only 8.]
    
14. get my own house
15. make a tree house
16. visit all the places I want to see
17. go to swim class (I really want to!)
18. learn how to golf
19. go to the park
20. get old stuff from the dump
    

Get old stuff from the dump? Seriously. Because our house does not have enough crap in it that belongs in the dump, so we need to bring more stuff home. I think I saw a square millimeter of uncluttered space in the dining room earlier today, so we can definitely fit some dump treasures there.

I have more items to add to their list of things they can do instead of watching TV:

1. Start a blog
2. Visit an elderly neighbor
3. Swim
4. Toss the baseball with your little brother
5. Write thank you notes to anyone who has ever done something kind for you
6. Make a gratitude list
7. Listen to music
8. Learn to play an instrument
9. Learn a language
10. Learn to juggle
11. Clean something. Anything.
12. Make a list of birthdays you want to remember
13. Make cards for people on the list
14. Write in a journal
15. Burn a CD for a friend
16. Go for a jog
17. Offer to take a neighbor's dog for a walk
18. Wash the car
19. Bake cookies
20. Make a scrapbook

There. Sixty things (more or less) that you can do when you're bored and your mom or your conscience tells you to turn off the TV.

What's on your list?