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Boredom is a common problem complaint among children, especially during holiday times. But is boredom good for kids or not?
A common response from parents is to find sporting and artistic activities to fill children’s time and ensure their child is busy all the time.
While this may prevent kids from getting bored, child psychologists assure us that boredom is actually good for kids and overscheduling them with activities is unnecessary and even harmful.
Activities definitely benefit a child’s physical, cognitive, cultural and social development, but they also need downtime to process life. By being left to their own, with no activities, they can have a chance to daydream, pursue their own thoughts and occupations, and discover personal interests and gifts.
So is boredom good for kids? Here are some resounding reasons why:
Most parents and teachers today may believe they are teaching children how important concern for others is, but they are actually sending a message that achievement and happiness are more valued than empathy. That, at least, is what a recent study from Harvard University is suggesting.
We parents want our kids to be happy not only during their childhood, but all throughout their lives. We want them to grow up to be well-adjusted and happy adults more than anything else. More often than not, many among us equate having a great career or business with happiness in adulthood. To that end we encourage our children to do well in school and achieve academically so they can get a leg up on everyone else as they grow up.
Kids today are often perceived by parents and educators alike as lacking in gratitude. Considering how essential gratitude is in any person’s success and overall well-being, this should be cause for alarm. If you’re one of those parents who think their child is showing signs of being ungrateful, take comfort in the fact that it can actually be reversed. An article written by Jeffrey Froh and Giacomo Bono for Greater Good cites recent research that suggests ways for developing gratitude in children.
As parents, it’s but natural for us to want to teach our kids a lesson when they misbehave. In most cases, teaching them a lesson is often associated with punishment, like a scolding, grounding and even spanking. However, teaching kids a lesson without punishing them is always possible, and an article written by Dr. Laura Markham for Aha! Parenting shows how it can be done.
Children will always be children, and misbehaving is part of being a kid. More often than not, most parents assume that misbehaving kids need to be punished to teach them a lesson. That, however, may not be the most ideal way of dealing with them.
We all have our fears, whether we admit it or not. It is one of the most basic of human emotions, which is to say that if you’re a human being who doesn’t feel fear in any way, shape or form, then you’re probably not human.
Instilling Eternal Values in 21st Century Kids
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Tags: positive attitude for kids
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