Distractions for 5 year old with a technology perseveration.

[preWarp]

My 5 year old, during a particular duration, will configure a specific electronic device over and over again for hours. He can be dissuaded from his "passions" but I need new ideas. I want to succeed in cohabitating with this youngster who is fascinated with the basics of electronic gadgets. I need him to be lured away from his interests long enough to pursue something else. It could be something going on at home like meal time. Or it could be we want him to do something besides screen time with a 24" TV. Like maybe paint with finger paint. Play with playdough. Help with taking out bathroom waste basket. Doing assignments from school like drawing shapes. I have a few educational games on an iPad that I would like him to do. But it's like "hey let's go do this" and he seems so engrossed in changing the backgrounds on a smart phone. Anything tech he likes. I have plans to introduce him to NFC eink displays. They are electronic displays that you can draw an image upon using the NFC function of a smart phone. But if I do that I am thinking of using it as a tool to draw him away from what ever remote control he is repeatedly tearing the batteries from. Do you understand what kind of ideas I need from you to help me work with his habits? I want him to paint, to help cook, to eat, to do homework from school, to learn new vocabulary words, to work on a simple jigsaw puzzle.

 

[Outdated]

Do you understand what kind of ideas I need from you to help me work with his habits? I want him to paint, to help cook, to eat, to do homework from school, to learn new vocabulary words, to work on a simple jigsaw puzzle.

Perhaps it's the wording, but sadly I think I do understand. Have you ever tried figuring out what he wants instead of what you want?

Every single toy I ever had as a kid got pulled apart to see how it works, and through that I also learned how to put them back together again. Mechanical aptitude. Later in life that became cars, complex industrial machinery and computers.

I hated drawing and painting, my sister loved it but I hated it. I still hate it 60 years later.

Meals at the table were fine only if my father wasn't home.

I never did my own homework. I did my older sister's homework for her because she struggled with it but for myself school was a complete waste of time and I couldn't be bothered with it.

I did enjoy reading and ended up with a far better vocabulary than most, the English language became a special interest for quite a few years when I was in my teens.

I also found jigsaw puzzles boring. Trying to put Mum's sewing machine back together again was much more fun.

If you also want him to play with other kids all the time and to enjoy ball sports then you're likely to be disappointed there as well.