Loss of Playtime the Next Global Warming?

re: Loss of Playtime the Next Global Warming?

gpgirl — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:45:45 GMT

I love this! I let my 2-year-old play by himself, and I can't help but sometimes feel guilty that I don't have him signed up for tons of classes like some of the other moms/dads I know. I do feel like he learns a lot just playing, drawing, etc. Especially when he plays will simple "toys" - like the wooden spoon he uses like a conductor.

re: Loss of Playtime the Next Global Warming?

Laura — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:18:28 GMT

When my first son was about 6 mos old, I was telling a mom of a 5 y/o how I felt guilty about doing housework or reading while my son would jsut be laying on the ground, or practicing sitting, or rolling on his belly. She saud, "Are you kidding me? Enjoy while you can! If he plays well by himself, that will serve everyone well."

I've loosened up quite a bit. Our over-parenting culture and any number of studies seems to instill this paranoia in us that others will consider us bad parents, or our kids will be "stupid", or there will be an abduction if we're not hovering EVERY SINGLE MOMENT. My own childhood was completely different. And very happy.

re: Loss of Playtime the Next Global Warming?

Knitty — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:56:23 GMT

I couldn't agree more, Alice and mommashay.

It's been interesting watching my little niece grow up. Her parents were constantly in her baby/toddler face with one toy or activity or another, micromanaging her day down to ten-minute increments of "play time" and "learning segments" and so on. Now she's starting kindergarten and is one of the least independent little kids I've ever met. She needs constant adult attention, is anxious and insecure, and has no idea how to entertain herself.

re: Loss of Playtime the Next Global Warming?

mommashay — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:43:14 GMT

Right on Alice! I don't play a lot with my kids and it's nice to have some validation. I parent them. I let them play by themselves, with friends, or with each other and they both have active imaginations. Yes, I do play some things with them, but I don't micromanage playtime. I don't ever remember my mother playing with me or my brother. She was our mom, not our friend. Come to think of it, no one I know had parents that go to the lengths a lot of parents today go to. I'm not slamming today's parents because, let's face it, past generations had their own flaws. Maybe micromanaging playtime is this generation's flaw. One caveat: I am scared to death of my children being abducted or hurt on our property where I could be charged with endangerment or neglect, so I supervise heavily when they are outside. But now I don't feel guilty when I leave to go to the bathroom or answer the phone. I thought I was being a bad mom, but it turns out I am doing my kids some good. Who knew?!

re: Loss of Playtime the Next Global Warming?

Alice — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:11:09 GMT

P.S. Free play means NOT playing with your kids. They play without any supervision. So stop micromanaging your kids play time.

re: Loss of Playtime the Next Global Warming?

Alice — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:10:22 GMT

I have to agree. One of the nice things about home schooling is that children of all ages get lots of free play time. The time spent standing in line, at the cafeteria, waiting for the other students to finish, all wasted time that could be spent in free play. Structured play is not the same. Japan has found this to be a huge problem, too. They have students graduated with exellent math skills and high grades who cant think on their own or come up with creative solutions or ideas. Without creativity you cannot have physician, engineers, scientists, managers. All you get is workers and soliders.