NY -- Strange as it may sound, bordom promotes happier, creative kids who are better problem solvers. When children use their own creativity with unstructured play, they find ways to amuse themselves -- even if it means simply daydreaming.
That's the advice of child development expert, Alan M. Hess who wants to see American children spend more time in unstructured play, less time in structured activities and much less time in front of mindless TV programs. Hess states, "Plain and simple, it's called creative child development. I recognize that in our society, it's a hard concept for peopke to grasp at first.
"Many American parents who work 60 to 70 hours a week impose a very structured lifestyle on their children. They're concerned about boredom, so they overschedule to keep kids busy. Believe it or not, there is a direct relationship between boredom and creative thought."
Alan Hess, president of Safari Ltd., with its line of museum quality creative toys, is a noted authority and respected expert in developing creative play for children. Hess states, "Think back to when you were a kid and you will recall valuable lessons. Left to our own devices we discovered resources we didn't know we had. I'm concerned that our busy, well-entertained children may not ever have the chance to learn them."
Hess, states, "Although most of the products that I've been involved with are designed for children four and up, especially our current Safari line of products, I constantly study toddler trends. Several pediatric physicions, who are part of our research team, have shared some disturbing trends with me regarding middle and upper class parents who push their children to the extremes in the hopes that this will provide a better foundation for the child's future.
"They've told me about situations where parents are determined to find the "perfect three year old" pre-school so that their daughter will be prepared for law school later in life. Other parents make their children compete in soccer matches and karate competiton when the child is recovering from the flu. Their misguided reasoning is that the child needs to learn what competition means, regardless of illness, or circumstances. This thinking is insane."
Hess firmly believes that children need time to be children. Creativity, social skills and fun are vital to a well-rounded child. He suggests that parents help children get the most out of unstructured play by limiting TV. Parents might also provide materials, creative toys and even gentle suggestions, if necessary. Parental guidance and parental participation is also important. Hess said, "Bored kids eventually take out the paints, build a dinosaur den, read a book ... and create things, or they come home sweaty from a game of neighborhood soccer. Our educational, nature and science toys with a special focus on scale-model animal and dinosaur replicas are big favorites with children. They love the fantasy play and the fun of creating their own world."
This concept of boredom is new territory at the beginning because children may be upset that they can't watch TV. They may also bicker with their siblings. Hess states, "Working or single parent households may have even more of a challenge, but he strongly encourages parents not to give in and flip on the TV, or let kids watch a video."
The lifelong benefits of unstructured play are so great that Hess urges parents to try to find an hour a week for it. And he offers these tips to make things easier:
Set Limits to TV and Video Play. There is something very wrong with the fact that many children watch an average of 38 hours per week. Cutting back can provide unstructured play time. Most parents and care takers passively allow the media to routinely expose kids to violence and sex when they would never let an individual, or educational institution expose their children to this type of content.
Far too many children spend hours each day at computers, playing with hand-held game devices, or watching videos. Hess suggests that parents set a firm daily limit to these activities. Hess says, "The value of a toy is simple to calculate...to what degree does the toy invite imagination and creativity? After a week, if you find that your child is more interested in playing with the toy box instead of the toy, you've wasted money and time."
Unstructured play time doesn't require a huge investment in new toys. Hess cites one focus group study where two boys were playing with toys. One girl had an electronically enhanced dinosaur and she boasted: "My dinosaur can say 500 words!" The other boy, who was holding a Safari dinosaur countered with: "My dino can say anything I want it to say and it looks like a real dino."
Hess states, "We hear so much about hyperactive children who are medicated as a result of this behavior. Is the child really hyperactive, or does the child simply need more unstructured play time? Children are free spirits and when that's denied, we see physical and mental manifstations that have a negative impact on a healthy childhood.
"Spend time watching your child play. This can show children that adults value their play," Hess says. It's not necessary to join in, although that's great fun too, as long as parents don't try to take over. In fact, one highly successful parenting strategy involves spending time each day with your child doing whatever he or she chooses to do."
During this "special time," the child makes the decisions, controls the flow of the play and assigns all roles. It's unstructured play time for your child, yet you get to participate. It's important for us to share time with children and it shows them that you value their play.
Hess encourages parents to give this bordom concept a serious try. He states, "Giving your children a break from organized activities and electronic baby-sitters could very well mean sentencing them to boredom, at least at first, but it will open up a whole new world of creativity, fun and adventure as it helps them expand their minds."
About The Author
Alan Hess, president of Safari Ltd., has an extensive marketing background with a wide array of highly successful toy and hobby products. One of the key factors in his success is his understanding of child development research and his ability to apply that knowledge to product development.
non-toxic cleaning company Winnetka ..Keith is now in the fourth grade and he dislikes... Read More
Researching career education uncovered the following shocking statistic: The average... Read More
Economist John Kenneth Galbraith has said that more people die... Read More
The following spelling games can be used by parents to... Read More
IntroductionChildren are the gifts of God to parents. That young... Read More
WHEN AN INJURY HAPPENS AT CAMP, HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED... Read More
The main thing we noticed since having a baby is... Read More
Winifred or Willow? Thomas or Troy? The name you choose... Read More
"Hugging is healthy: it helps the body's immunity system, it... Read More
Whether we realize it or not we teach our children... Read More
Does the homework battle so typical with your hyperactive or... Read More
Most people have more training before they receive their driver's... Read More
It's a familiar scene: Kids screaming at each other, complaining... Read More
Here's the scene of communication with your child: your three-year-old... Read More
Many children enjoy TV, and they can learn from it.... Read More
Do your children have a McChildhood? Do they experience the... Read More
There are only two ways to get more money:1) Increase... Read More
According to researchers, most children enter school with a good... Read More
The First Reason: For one thing, child development experts are... Read More
When my son was 18 (and had finished school), he... Read More
I recently heard a story that has literally changed the... Read More
I'm sure many of you have heard that old Hallmark... Read More
This is one of the most common questions asked of... Read More
Have you made your usual New Year resolutions? You know... Read More
Q. What's the right age to start giving a Bible... Read More
experienced cleaning professionals Glencoe .."If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think... Read More
You're trying to catch up on some sleep on a... Read More
Anyone can become a parent; there are no tests or... Read More
Sometime the most effective training tool in rapidly accelerating the... Read More
Teens can freely access the Internet from computers at school,... Read More
Very often, new parents rely on a parenting tip or... Read More
You may remember The Red Couch Project, a book by... Read More
For any parent, learning that a convicted sex offender lives... Read More
``Mom, can I go to the mall with my friend... Read More
The biggest trick some child predators' are using these days... Read More
For parents, keeping our kids safe is a constant top... Read More
Q. We are getting to the stage with our kids... Read More
We begin forming healthy habits at a young age. With... Read More
It may seem obvious to many people why literacy is... Read More
There are a few points about shyness in children which... Read More
Often, the struggle at dinnertime with your picky eater is... Read More
What is a parenting problem?Parenting is a tough job, we... Read More
There is no doubt that mothers play an all-important leading... Read More
Here is a list of ways to convey the message... Read More
Past experience with federal education programs predicts that the No... Read More
Vacations and trips are great family events, but how do... Read More
Let's face it: raising children can be quite the adventure.... Read More
Parents, when you help your children learn to read, you... Read More
Minus all meningitis thoughts. The flu symptons were strong. Headache,... Read More
Yesterday my husband Wade took the day off (that's one... Read More
Parenting |