I was blessed with four beautiful teens, all boys, and all very rambunctious. My entire family used to be television addicts until we decided enough was enough. It was time for all of us to turn off the television and spend more time outside. Our only problem was finding activities to stay occupied. The idea of being outside is nice, but what is there to do? We started playing a few board games; chess and checkers, but then we started looking online for other outdoor lawn games. That is when we came across the great backyard game, Kubb. From the description online, the game looked like some sort of a mixture between checkers and horseshoes, and for the price I didn’t think we could go wrong. Plus, from reading the games reviews, it sounded like everyone who bought it really loved playing it.

Let me take a minute to explain how the game is played. There are wooden pieces that are set up similar to chess and checkers, where two opposing sides are lined up facing each other. There are ten Kubb (rectangular wooden figures) on each opposing side. The Kubb guard their King (another wooden rectangular figure, with a crown) by being lined up in front of him. The goal of the game is to use a small baton (a small wooden cylinder shaped stick) to knock down the opponent’s Kubb and finally knocking down his/her king, before he/she knocks down your king.

Honestly, it was hard to get the four teens to make it a habit to enjoy the beautiful Virginia outdoors; in fact, I had to unplug the television for a week before they got use to life without the television. However, I have no regrets and neither do my four munchkins. Today, we, as a family, rarely watch any television at all. We just don’t have time for it anymore.

My teens love playing Kubb. They play the Kubb game in teams of two, which lets them compete with each other in a fun way. I love it because it keeps them outside and off the couch! On some weekends, the six of us will take a bike ride to the local park with a picnic lunch and, since the game is small enough to bring along, we’ll set it up right there on the park lawn. We’ll split into three teams and have a little Kubb Game tournament. We try to do this at least once or twice a month, except in the really cold months.

The best part about this game is that it is appropriate for all ages, which means that my teens, ages 14, 16, 17 and 19, and husband of 45, can all play together. The youngest of my four teens, Jon, keeps a score chart on his bedroom door. Every time we play, he has his blue pad of paper out, jotting down everyone’s score. Despite their obvious age difference, they all enjoy playing this sport. Of course, they are all competing with each other, particularly when their father plays with them, trying to get their name on Jon’s bedroom door as being the winner of the day, especially if that winner beat their daddy.

It’s been two years since we decided the outdoors will replace the television and we’re never going back. Sometimes I’ll see Jon playing by himself outside after he gets home from school, practicing for when his older siblings get home. The fact that he can’t wait for his three older brothers to get home thrills my heart. There use to be a little bit of tension between them, but that has decreased since they started spending their free time with each other outside. There are fewer conflicts between them, primarily between my oldest and youngest.

I believe that Kubb has helped all six of us stay away from the television. We enjoy it so much that each of us has our own baton (the piece we throw at the Kubb), which we each painted however we wished. Actually, we made it a makeshift family bonding experience to paint the batons as well as each of the Kubbs. Some of them are even painted with faces and bodies. And, we named all ten of them too. I can hear the teens playing in the backyard, saying though mounds of laughter, "Gordon, you just hit Frankie in the face!"

Over all, I believe this game has brought the four of the teens closer together. I no longer have to worry about them watching too much television; they would rather play outside when they get home from school than sit on the couch. I know these backyard family gathers may not last too much longer as my oldest will start driving in a few years and after that, possibly dating. But right now, it has brought the four of them closer together then any television ever could.

It’s easier to get them off the television then I initially thought. It’s simple. Just turn it off! Unplug it! Find some good activities for the teens to do outside. The outdoors so much better then any television show. But, of course, you must lead by example!! Just think of how much time you would have if the television got the boot. There are so many things you can do with that time. Don’t waste it! Now is the time to make the first step. I can assure you, you will not be disappointed.

Now, if only I could find a way to get the teens to start reading more…