Something to do with my 12 year old daughter?

Grrrr said :

I think you meant MMORPG, or perhaps just MMOG .. or even “MMO” for short.

I’ll accept that correction. MMOG in future. Need to set a good example as far as acronyms go if I’m going to raise kids in Canberra.

And forgive me for assuming people’s Google fingers weren’t broken. That was unfair of me.

Hard to say without knowing your child’s interests. My 12 year old daughter loves any opportunity to have one parent to herself so doesn’t really mind the activity, just likes the one-on-one time. She loves going out to different cafes and having morning or afternoon tea. She’s not big on shopping so thats not a goer but her current hobby is beading so can spend an hour easy in a bead shop.

She is always up for a picnic, doesn’t matter where, even the reserve around the back of the house will do and loves bike-riding. We have invested in a bike rack so can put the bikes on the car and try our some new places. She can spend hours in most museums and loves to read just about every plaque beside each display and is alwyas keen on the organised tours they have -War Memorial has some awesome sound and light displays and their WW1 flying machines film is one I recommend to every visitor to Canberra (directed by Peter Jackson).

Keep your eye on the movies at Arc Cinema at the Film and Sound Archive, sometimes they have some interesting classic movies worth going to (sometimes even free).

Another thing worth looking at is the school holiday guide that most kids bring home at the end of everyterm. While they advertise activites for the holidays, a lot of the places have activites that run all year around.

johnboy said :

Geocaching!

+1. We took little Miss 12yo geocaching and it was a big hit. At first the idea seemed ‘stupid’, but then the realisation crept in that it was just a giant treasure hunt. Extra bonus because we all get some exercise geocaching.

johnboy said :

Geocaching!

I unfairly assumed this would be some slightly geeky global dungeons and dragons type thing (perhaps involving nightmares) but, having looked it up, it sounds like it might be fun for those who like it outside, a bit like GPS informed op shopping. Or orienteering trying to see a way past compasses.

Mysteryman said :

Postalgeek said :

If she hates the outdoors, get her into MMPOGs. At least it’s somewhat social and she might appreciate it when she’s older as her feet will never touch the ground for walking on prostrate gibbering men and boys.

Nothing says “social” like sitting alone in front of a computer for hours/days at a time.

Maybe. I’m not a great fan of my kids playing MMPOGs because they can be addictive.

But you have two options: you can get involved with your kids’ online interests and gaming and teach them how to moderate their use; or you can remain ignorant about it and they’ll do it anyway. I know MMPOGs involve team play, school peer groups, live audio chat, social rules, and learning to work with a bunch of strangers. Better than passively sitting in front of a TV IMHO.

Postalgeek said :

Evil_Kitten said :

Is “MMPOGs” something that we’re all supposed to know what it means? Cos I have no idea.

You’ll spend the time to type a couple of sentences to publicly declare that you have no idea what something means, instead of typing a single word into a search engine?

😉

Not you again – you were equally obnoxious about some obscure parenting outfit a few months ago. You know full well to save people the hassle of googling. You are trolling!

And what I meant to suggest – before I got distracted – was Orienteering / Rogaining. They vary in length/duration from short and fun to overnight and serious.

There’s even “Metro” ones around the ‘burbs. You wouldn’t be the only parent-daughter couple there.

http://act.orienteering.asn.au/
http://www.act.rogaine.asn.au/

Postalgeek said :

Evil_Kitten said :

Is “MMPOGs” something that we’re all supposed to know what it means? Cos I have no idea.

You’ll spend the time to type a couple of sentences to publicly declare that you have no idea what something means, instead of typing a single word into a search engine?

😉

I did that too lol. I just wanted you to be aware that you shouldn’t use nerdy terms like it’s a “given” we all know what they mean 😉

I think you meant MMORPG, or perhaps just MMOG .. or even “MMO” for short.

johnboy said :

WOW

I know that’s World of Warcraft! I’m not completely out of touch with you nerds!

The 12 year old in me is sooooo not into the whole outdoor walking/hiking suggestions. totes. Mind you, I didnt say totes back when I was 12.

I do remember enjoying bike riding, especially to weston park and places like that. But that was years ago before the fun police came in and made weston park, kambah adventure playground and all the other cool parks lame as.

Evil_Kitten said :

Is “MMPOGs” something that we’re all supposed to know what it means? Cos I have no idea.

You’ll spend the time to type a couple of sentences to publicly declare that you have no idea what something means, instead of typing a single word into a search engine?

😉

Postalgeek said :

If she hates the outdoors, get her into MMPOGs. At least it’s somewhat social and she might appreciate it when she’s older as her feet will never touch the ground for walking on prostrate gibbering men and boys.

Nothing says “social” like sitting alone in front of a computer for hours/days at a time.

Volunteering together is a possibility – you could spend time together with animals at the RSPCA.

Take her horseriding … and make it regular weekly so she learns to ride well. Riding is a great skill and builds great social networks, she will meet great kids, can go on to do jumps or even polocrosse or dressage (sounds snobby but horsey folk actually are anything but), she’ll drag you to rodeos & things so you’ll get out and about throughout the region and get to know it. If she gets really serious about horse-riding you can decide whether to make sacrifices and afford it for her (unless of course you are HenryBG) and if she gets hooked and you don’t have the money, she will get a part-time job and fund herself a horse. There’s also volunteering at Pegasus, riding for disabled kids.

Evil_Kitten said :

Is “MMPOGs” something that we’re all supposed to know what it means? Cos I have no idea.

Glorified chat rooms.

Is “MMPOGs” something that we’re all supposed to know what it means? Cos I have no idea.

If she hates the outdoors, get her into MMPOGs. At least it’s somewhat social and she might appreciate it when she’s older as her feet will never touch the ground for walking on prostrate gibbering men and boys.

the Sanctuary at Tidbindilla is really fun, nice easy walks and lots of animals to see. also +1 for segways, i went on one a couple of months ago and it was hilarious. bit pricey for a regular activity but worth it for a one-off.

also depending on what she’s into you could try the dinosaur museum out near hall, take her to one of the afternoon Brumbies matches (i think theres one in July)… or go for a drive out to Bungendore to look at antiques/book shops etc.

I thought 12 year olds nowadays were all in to dressing up like prostitutes and hanging out at shopping centres. So maybe give her some money to go shopping and drive her to the Hyperdome?

Actually don’t do that. Maybe she’d enjoy a trip to the National Zoo and Aquarium?

I guess it depends on your daughter – my 12 year old niece loves antiquing and hunting round in op-shops, markets and second hand book shops with me but I know not every 12 year old would! I pick her up early and we trip around for a few hours before we stop for an early lunch somewhere and then I drop her home.

Not only is it nice getting away from her 3 brothers and spending some one on one ‘girl time’ with her auntie she’s developed an appreciation of reusing things which I think is important in today’s throw away society. She’s a cool kid 🙂

make her mow the lawn, clean the house, cook and wash the car. then after lunch she could…

why don’t you ask her what she’d like to do then try one of her comfort zone activities then another that challenges you both. some good outdoorsy ones already here – always theatre/exhibitions on, or suburbs to explore. or she could do her homework..?

How about going to the visitors’ centre at Namadji and checking out some of the walks?
Get a map of Namadji and tick off the peaks as you visit each one.

Find out what she’s doing at school and figure out an associated activity that you can tie in with it, for example the National Gallery if she’s doing art, or the Tidbinbilla space centre and CSIRO Discovery Centre for something science-related. Check out the publications room in the foyer at SEWPAC if you’re nearby during office hours, some interesting stuff in there.
Go for a drive down the right-hand turn at HQJOC for a good bonding experience involving getting hassled by our region’s second most serious Security Theatre setup.

If you wake up one weekend morning and there’s a good amount of snow on the near peaks, take off very early before the park rangers get up to close the road and drive up Boboyan Road to the border and sizzle some snags in the snow.

Stromlo is great. You do not require a bike either. There is af antastic running track with varied distance loops. The bridge to bridge loop on LBG is also a nice walk or ride, followed by a milkshake at the Pork Barrell near OPH. If it’s raining I can recommend rock-climbing at either Hume or Mitchell.

If your daughter is not the active type then the War Memorial, National Library, Portrait Gallery, Questacon, National Archives are all easily accesible and affordable. Good luck and don’t let her sit around watching DVDs all weekend.

Cheers, John

If the Amish will let you, hire a Segway…

It’s a pity you didn’t ask 12 years ago.

My (almost 12yo) daughter loves indoor rock climbing.

There are so many options! Every weekend, we have to pick between events. This upcoming weekend, there’s a primary school fete near my house on Saturday and on Sunday, I’m doing the Mother’s Day 5k Classic to support breast cancer research. That’s something you could do together – you can either walk or run the 5k (I’m walking!). Each week on the riot act, there’s a posting called DIY Weekend, to give you ideas. This past weekend, we went to the Pegasus Open Day and Mini-Fete on Saturday and wanted to go to the Hall Markets on Sunday, but we had a birthday party.

Or kayaking. Hire or buy a steady tandem and explore the islands and the Molonglo. If she gets tired, she can just sit back and still enjoy it.

Go around all the op shops in town and find bargains. (Probably only open Saturday though.)

Roller blading around the central lake? You can hire skates and there are lots of wide, smooth areas ideal for learning. When you get good enough, you can include the family dog. The dog will love it.

Or a bicycle for that matter…

Bushwalk Namadgi

Fishing in the local lakes can be good.

Get a basic spin rod and reel, some 8lb braid and leader material, a handful of shiny lures and some soft plastics, and go get them.