My partner and I always share our gratefulness for growing up in the 60's and 70's. We rode bikes, made forts out of leaves, played at the park. There was no such thing as play dates. The kids would just run around to each other's homes asking them to come out and play. It was truly a better childhood than many have today. The kids all seem like they have adult schedules with all their time filled in. Ugh!
I like the squirrel story - don't remember that from the movie but then, I'm not sure I remember anything from that movie lol!
What you're largely addressing here is something that has indeed been studied and your observations are correct. Children who are always observed and not allowed to play alone become unable to make decisions on their own as they grow older. What we now call "risky play" but was simply play for us as kids (meaning, playing unattended in parking lots, playgrounds, fields, alleys, and such) builds critical thinking skills and fosters decision making and what we might consider wisdom that comes with age and experience. In other words, the intention of parents to keep their children from experiencing pain or harm (physcially and emotionally) actually backfires. Touching the hot stove (metaphorically) is actually required for us to grow up as capable, independent adults.
I still suffer from head traumas incurred as a kid (falling from monkey bars and off a chair placed on my desk in grade school - lol) but I'm grateful as heck that I was able to play and explore free of parent supervision. That independence has helped me my entire life.
when we have an entire generation that is not learning critical thinking and decision making skills as children through play, what will that mean for when they are the folks in charge - in business, in politcs, and even as heads of their own families? Not good, that's for sure.
My partner and I always share our gratefulness for growing up in the 60's and 70's. We rode bikes, made forts out of leaves, played at the park. There was no such thing as play dates. The kids would just run around to each other's homes asking them to come out and play. It was truly a better childhood than many have today. The kids all seem like they have adult schedules with all their time filled in. Ugh!
I like the squirrel story - don't remember that from the movie but then, I'm not sure I remember anything from that movie lol!
What you're largely addressing here is something that has indeed been studied and your observations are correct. Children who are always observed and not allowed to play alone become unable to make decisions on their own as they grow older. What we now call "risky play" but was simply play for us as kids (meaning, playing unattended in parking lots, playgrounds, fields, alleys, and such) builds critical thinking skills and fosters decision making and what we might consider wisdom that comes with age and experience. In other words, the intention of parents to keep their children from experiencing pain or harm (physcially and emotionally) actually backfires. Touching the hot stove (metaphorically) is actually required for us to grow up as capable, independent adults.
I still suffer from head traumas incurred as a kid (falling from monkey bars and off a chair placed on my desk in grade school - lol) but I'm grateful as heck that I was able to play and explore free of parent supervision. That independence has helped me my entire life.
when we have an entire generation that is not learning critical thinking and decision making skills as children through play, what will that mean for when they are the folks in charge - in business, in politcs, and even as heads of their own families? Not good, that's for sure.