James wrote...

>I am now attempting (with out any qualifications, talent, ability,
>experience, preparation or even a single clue, thank god for my wife!) =
to
>raise a little boy (now 4) and a little girl (now 6) and instilling
>motivation, persistence and determination is my number one goal.  But =
how
>does one do this?

Whatever you're trying to instill, my opinion is it's a lot easier to
instill it if you severely ration the electronic entertainment.  I did
this with my two boys (now 21 and 25). =20

At first there was a lot of whining, wailing and gnashing of teeth
when we started "No-TV" evenings and weekends, but then they started
doing what I wanted them to do: take the initiative and create their
own entertainment.

I think too many parents succumb to the lure of the "electronic
babysitter" and do their children (and themselves) a huge disservice
by letting the kids sink into a state of passivity in which they come
to expect the world to constantly entertain them.

One thing I almost never heard from my boys, after we started this,
were the words, "I'm bored!"

Just my opinion...

Dave

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