Have children lost the ability to play imaginitively?

The difficulty about just saying no and switching off is that this is what they are used to. Us having the GC is a huge help to our children and I do not want to create a situation where the GC kick up a fuss about coming here as they know they will not get all the TV etc they want.

A legitimate question - I didn't let her even switch it on j08 but the thing was, I knew, regardless of what we were doing, she actually wanted to be stuck in front of a screen. I'm disappointed to say it's obviously what she's used to at home. My eldest DD works from home mostly so I can see that it's tempting just to let it happen. On a positive note DGD does love school and is outgoing and confident so it's not doing her any apparent harm. I just feel sad though.'

DGD, aged 6 is staying next week. We plan to take her swimming, she has inherited the dolphin gene that exists on our side of the family but doesn't have much opportunity to swim at home and is really looking forward to it. We are visiting the NT property where Florence Nightingale lived. She has 'done' her at school and she loves role playing her and reading about her and wants to see where she lived.. We will be cooking together and, hopefully, will visit an open day at a working farm, which, again, she really wants to see.

Everything we plan is something we know she will enjoy or has even asked to do. I doubt whether the television will even be thought of, let alone watched.

I do think as grandparents we can offer an alternative to home habits!

My DGS1 (5) is really hooked on Lego and because it keeps him occupied his parents tend not to offer a different diet! I do have his mum's and aunt's Lego still but use it as a last resort! When here he enjoys playing with his mum's dolls house, potters in the garden with me, draws and writes, sorts out DHs screws and nails and 'fixes' things. Yesterday he helped me make a peach pudding for lunch. Eventually we get to Lego , which is not the kits he prefers (being 30 years old and pre Star Wars!) but we make all kinds of amazing vehicles.. he has even said I am 'quite good making new stuff, nana' Praise indeed!

NO problem with TV in New Zealand - it is so dire that my family hardly ever watch it. They get DVD's from the local rental shop and watch films together.
My 15-year old grandson belongs to a Warhammer club and he and his friend spend hours making and painting the various armies and vehicles.
My older grandsons, now 30 and 29, played equally well with Lego, He-men figures and their train sets. I have never heard any one of the ten complain of being bored, or seen them glued to a screen for hours on end. Most of them are avid readers, especially of Terry Pratchett for the boys and several women writers for the girls. So far, I have not been successful in getting them to read my own favourites - Austen, Trollope, Hardy and Eliot. I live in hope. It worked with one of my daughters, but not the other.

When my two were young they had two friends who had no television at home. The trouble was that if they came to play they just wanted to watch our television. My two just wanted to go out and play.