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As our nieces and nephews become more independent, and simultaneously disappear into various screens, Savvy Aunties yearn to remain connected with them—and keep the children’s imaginations grounded in the real world while spending “QualAuntie Time” with them – time spent not only having fun, but learning and developing, too.

Wouldn’t it be great if the next time you visited your nieces and nephews, they asked: “Auntie, can we work on this really cool project together?” instead of: “Auntie, can I play a game on your tablet?” And wouldn’t it be great to find activities that siblings could enjoy together instead of taking turns with your smartphone?

I may have found the solution. I recently discovered a lifestyle book that encourages nieces and nephews to use not only their tech skills but their natural curiosity to be creative, try new things, figure out how things and systems work, and just maybe change the world in the process. Yes, this book can actually have a really meaningful, positive influence on the children you love most.





The book is UNBORED: THE Essential field Guide to Serious Fun (Bloomsbury hardcover and eBook) by Joshua Glenn and Elizabeth Foy Larsen, parenting writers for Slate.com, and designed by Tony Leon.  The thick volume is a full-color, illustrated all-in-one guide and activity book packed with fun, doable activities that encourage kids—along with their beloved Aunties —to get engaged with the wider world.





UNBORED is organized into four general chapter categories: You, Home, Society, Adventure—and features contributions from a diverse crowd of experts. The guide truly offers kids ideas and inspiration to learn more. From how-tos on using the library, fixing a bike, or writing a political representative to a graphic history of video games (and how to make one!), the book isn’t shy about teaching. As a result, nieces and nephews will feel like they’re learning independently – with a little guidance from Auntie when they it.

Savvy Aunties and the kids’ parents will appreciate how the information provided can round out the kids’ worldview. The hands-on activities further the instructive mission in a fun way, featuring classic activities, games, and experiments as well as new ones specific to this generation: blogging, board game hacking, code-cracking, geocaching, yarn bombing, stop-action movie-making—plus tons of sidebars and extras, including trivia and best-of lists. Q&As with leading thinkers whose culture-changing ideas are made accessible to children for the first time in UNBORED.
 




UNBORED is exciting to read, easy to use, and appealing to boys and girls, young and old. Aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents will appreciate its wisdom, humor, and civic-minded spirit, while kids will appreciate its original and entertaining ideas.

Whether you’re with them or not, your nieces and nephews (and their parents!) will turn to UNBORED every time they feel, well, bored. Once again, you’re the hero, Auntie. Good job.

For more information on UNBORED, visit Unbored.net, and connect on Facebook at Facebook.com/unboredguide


Published: December 2, 2012
All image courtesy Bloomsbury USA