Not sure how we got on this subject, but it went something like this:
"Boredom is good for children. It's the prelude to curiosity, and curiosity brings on creativity."
Then someone else added:
"I've read a study about how children are not learning 'problem solving skills' because with watching movies, video games, texting, Facebook.....They have little down time to get bored and figure things out for themselves."
I'm not quoting the two above perfectly, but that was the gist of it.
What do you think?
15 comments:
Yes!!! Cute pictures... are you one of those little people? I'm thinking the second picture just so you know I don't think you are old.
I agree with the part about children having little time to get bored with all of the technology they have today. I think that there are a lot of children that haven't learned 'problem solving skills'. I don't know for sure if these two thoughts are connected in any way. I do know that some children and teenagers act like they are bored without the technology so besides not knowing problem solving skills, some don't know how to 'entertain' themselves. Now, please tell us what you think.
I completely agree! I also love your photos on this post...too cute!
I think boredom is good for kids. No doubt about it. There needs to be some space in their lives for creativity, and they are all way too over-scheduled.
JMHO, of course.
=)
Annette~~ Nope I'm not in any of those pictures :) I have no idea who those people are.
grandmaPeg~ I had always thought boredom was a bad thing...sort of like laziness. It makes sense though...a person is not going to be curious about much if they are actively engaged in electronics...or if all their time is scheduled for them. I think this is very much related to problem solving...one needs thinking time in order to problem solve.
I think our kids are way too "plugged" in today. You can't sociaize and be creative when you are always doing something electronic. You can't say hello to people walking down the street when everyone has headphones in. Yes, I think some "boredom" would be nice! Love the pics too! Could you send me your book club list? I would like to check it out.
Scrapally~ Sure just go to the link below and it will take you to our Book Club list for 2011.
http://adventuresofgrandmahoney.blogspot.com/2010/12/book-club-books-for-2011.htm
Yep. I believe bordom is good for kids. I used to say, when my kids announced they were bored, "Something interesting is right around the corner." And it was. Pretty soon they'd make up some game or something, and they'd forget they were bored. It makes kids come up with creative solutions to filling their time with good stuff.
My response to kid's announcement they were bored: "Read a book!" You'll never be bored once you know how to read. Either that or a list of chores they could do.
I do feel a response of: "What are you going to do about that?" would put the problem solving onto them and for you not to take responsibility to solve their dilemma. I like Darlene's ...something interesting... comment above.
Love, Susan
I recall a study when I was in school that found that the biggest predictor of a happy and productive adult was if they were a child who could entertain/keep themselves busy.
Currently at my house we are having a non-electronic entertainment time each day where the boys must find something that does not plug in to keep themselves busy. One is moping another is plunking on the piano and another is trying to build a helicopter out of Popsicle sticks.
The moping one has 5 minutes to make a plan or I'm going to "help" him find something that I need done to do.
I agree 100 percent. If there were one thing I could tell parents today it would be to TURN OFF the video games and TV! Do something creative and fun! Kids are like zombies these days!
I think it is sad that kids are bored. They seem like they don't know how to think anymore. They are used to all this instant stuff coming at them. They have no imaginations any more. This is just my opinion from what I am seeing at school.
While I didn't read the stream of comments the thought that kept coming to me when reading this post was the old quote, "Idleness is the devil's playground"
Being bored & being idle are two different things but the idea of having nothing to do could be problematic if the person isn't engaged in wholesome living.
I agree that being "bored" is a sign of a mind that is used to being entertained without thought or effort by outside forces. My 13-year-old is always "bored" unless he is doing something he considers fun, which almost always involves friends, electronics, or "toys" (bikes, rip-sticks, etc.). School is boring, reading is boring, chores are boring, being grounded from electronics is boring, and so on.
I like Darlene's response that "something interesting is right around the corner." I'm going to start using that one. It's uplifting, hopeful, and non-critical. I find that after Dylan has been grounded from friends and electronics for a day or two, his natural creativity reasserts itself and he begins to find healthy ways to entertain himself.
I agree, I think a child's time today is so occupied, between school, and TV, and video games, and the computer, it's all too much. I love when I see my grandson pick up his little figures and use his imagination.
I can remember my Mom saying when we were little, "You kids don't know how to have fun, you have too much", and she went on to tell us, "when your Aunts and I were little we used to make dolls out of sticks we found on the street, and we glued the sticks together with tar, and we had so much fun playing with our stick dolls. We were poor and we had nothing, but that didn't stop us from having fun."
Happily playing with dolls made from sticks and tar, now that's using your imagination!
Love and Prayers,
Eileen
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