I feel your pain. My son is 11 and would prefer to sit in front of the TV. Luckily I got him to join the swim team. It is absolutely a ton more work for me but he has a routine. Swim team in the morning and a scheduled list of chores to do before he can watch tv/play x-box. The time is limited and he has to have 30 minutes of outside time. Trampoline, bike, walk, whatever. He totally comes in every 5 minutes to tell me he is done, even with a timer that he changes... He had fits of rage at first but it was his choice if he earned the tv or not.

@asccn8-My daughter is in her second week taking care of the twins with no relief in sight unless I come straight home from work everyday or my sister checks in on them while she is on rounds from the hospital which is a few blocks from the house. Both will be 13 years old so I feel your suffering. I personally have gotten one twin interested in playing the keyboard and creating her own music, but that gets done when i am there. The other twin is a movie expert, but it does not keep her moving only occupied. When there are too many adults that are suppose to be on the same page, but not....keeping the kids on a schedule or routine had become increasingly difficult.

Do you have a local YMCA in your area? I just joined and their facilities are AMAZING! Top notch state of the art equipment, and an huge indoor pool. AND THEY ARE CLEAN!!!! I only pay $24.00 per month for myself and my 4 kids. At first they tried charging me the normal fee which came out to be a little over $160.00 per month, but then I flat out asked to be put on their "sliding scale" I was just laid off and now my only source of income is Unemployment benefits. They happily put me on the sliding scale hence only $24.00 per month. They offer great programs for kids too!

I could only wish my son would go outside - he says he's "allergic" to sunshine and wearing long pants and a hoodie all day really makes him stinky. He also doesn't shower because he "doesn't like water". I fear all day he will just play video games. He has shut himself off so much from life that he will find himself 50 one day and wonder where the time went to.

i feel your pain to my son likes to go outside all the time but its so hot and i have little funds myself so idont know what else to do for him my hands are tied