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8.13.2011

It's Good To Be Bored - Mitch Albom in Parade Magazine


"I feel sorry for today’s kids. Summer comes, they’re finally free from school—and bang! Band camp. Science seminars. Internships.

Instead of downtime, it’s get-up-and-go time. Chorus travel, archaeological digs, dance tours. My nephew from Michigan flew to Georgetown University for a summer medical program, replete with cadavers. He was 16."
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Why are kids so scheduled and "busy" these summer days? Instead of more structured classes and groups, I'd like to teach my kids how to be bored this summer...there's value in tolerating boredom. I'm not a camp counselor - there's plenty of toys, books, paint, and legos around the house for them to muster up a little creativity. "Use your noggin, go do something" as my grandmother would say during those long hot days of my childhood, summers in Arizona, with no pool and no a/c. The car seat would burn yer bottom and the window sill fried the arm. 
Nothin' wrong with throwing a ball, showing your kids how to catch a frisbee, or bowl. And I'm not suggesting that sports camps aren't fun, but, like anything, in moderation. In other words, evaluate your goals for your children.
Hasboro has changed their games to better fit the modern-day kid...no more games where there's a loser or the ball takes a minute too long to drop. No! Our babies are not allowed to emotionally hurt, suffer, wait, or be unstimulated for two minutes.
While the typical parent is wonderfully loving and attentive, we often enroll our children in too many (albeit enriching) activities because we 

1)  don't want them to fall behind other children
2) want to offer a stimulating environment that leads to safety and success
3) feel pressure since everyone else on the block is doing likewise
4) believe that the parents are responsible for entertaining their child
5) come to view our child's talents and achievements as an extension of ourselves, or, just a sign of our own good parenting.

All I am asking, is, to what end?
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