Son doesn't want to participate in food drive.

[Beancounter]

My son is 7. His boyscout troop is planning on distributing bags around the town for the food drive.

He would rather watch his Saturday morning cartoons. He has stated as such in no uncertain terms.

Should I make him go, or should I hope he eventually understands the importance of helping others?

If I make him go, he's going to be screaming, crying and whining the whole way there, and I just don't know if I have the patience.

Your thoughts?

[MrFalafel]

Does enjoy doing other activities with his Boy Scout troop? Perhaps he doesn't like being in Boy Scouts and wants to quit?

[Beancounter]

Does enjoy doing other activities with his Boy Scout troop? Perhaps he doesn't like being in Boy Scouts and wants to quit?

What boy wouldn't want to be part of a para-military organization?

Seriously though, he likes the boy scout and looks forward to the "regular" bi-weekly meetings.

But boy, nothing better get in-between him and his Saturday morning cartoons...

[Poppy]

I think your son needs to realize that scouts is going to mess with his Saturday morning TV time frequently. Don't they camp on weekends and go to jamborees and stuff? It might help to tell him that has he gets older and more responsible, lots of really fun things are going to take the place of cartoons - scouts, sports, chores And yet, if he wants to participate in the fun stuff, he has to participate in the activities that are not quite so fun, but are expected of members of the troop. Life is about making choices.

[MrFalafel]

What boy wouldn't want to be part of a para-military organization?

Seriously though, he likes the boy scout and looks forward to the "regular" bi-weekly meetings.

But boy, nothing better get in-between him and his Saturday morning cartoons...

I see. My nephew initially liked going to cadet meetings and we all thought he'd love it but after a few weeks he suddenly didn't want to go so he dropped out, which was fine.

But being selective about what part of the Scouts he participates in isn't really cool, IMHO. First, I'd give the scout master or den leader or whatever a call and have a quick chat with him about it. I'm sure there is a community participation badge or other incentive that maybe your son needs to be reminded of. Perhaps a little chat about community participation and why its important to do the no fun projects as well as the fun boy scout projects as they are all part of the scouting experience. Again your scout master should be able to offer some advice.

I'm a bit of a hard a** about things like this so what I would do is offer choices:

a) Son goes to Saturday morning boy scout community project
b) Son quits boy scouts
c) Son stays home but cannot watch saturday morning TV on the morning of the aforementioned community project.

Son can then pick which one he wants to do.

[sallyb]

Could you record his cartoons for him to watch when he gets back from scouts? Then, he can have his cake and eat it so to speak, lol.

[Earthling]

Could you record his cartoons for him to watch when he gets back from scouts? Then, he can have his cake and eat it so to speak, lol.

I like this idea. If he can do both that seems a perfect option.

[MikeFromSM]

Saturday morning cartoons are no joke at that age .

Just tell him to go to the food drive or Xmas is canceled ! Or bribe him with pokeman cards .

[MrFalafel]

You cartoon recorders are gonna raise a momma's boy...

[pajamajes]

i would try explaining to him why the food drive is important, if you haven't already. ex. some people don't have any food to eat, they're hungry, etc.

i think volunteering and helping those in need is a very important thing to teach our children about. and at a young age.