Children do need opportunities to grow and experience new adventures. Sports has always been an area that allows children to learn sportsmanship and cooperation. The research indicates that the advantages of music lessons on academics are positive. Scouting encourages outside activities and volunteering. All these activities provide many positives to our children. No one would want these to be taken away. However, what are the negatives that come from being so busy, so scheduled?
If we look back in our recent past, children did play outside. They had pick up basketball or baseball games. They climbed trees, rode bikes (with pedals not motorized ones) or played chase, or even played house with dolls. They used their imaginations and creativity to make up games and rules. They still learned sportsmanship, cooperation and appreciation of nature. They learned to work things out between themselves without the an adult perspective.
Organized play is good for our children. However, there needs to balance. We also need to ensure that our children have ample opportunities for free play; for time to play imaginary games and to be creative.
The run, run, run life will probably never end until the children are grown; if then.However, we can still provide down time for them. We need to give time to children, running freely and experience life at their level.
We in turn can learn much from these opportunities. By staying on the sidelines and watching how the children interact with each other and their environment, we can learn a lot about cooperation and respect.
