I would love to hear parents, educators, public officials, and anyone else weigh in on the following issues. Which do you think are the most important factors today affecting the development of our children? You can also choose to discuss why you think it isn’t an issue as well.
Please take time to consider each:
The educational system and it’s conflict with the way brains develop.
The taking away of children’s play spaces
The presence of danger to children
The perception of the presence of danger to children
Pressure on parents to provide
Pressure on parents to perform as parents
Our focus / obsession as a society with the future
Not understanding the process of development
Over scheduling of children
Valuing the performance of children instead of their interests
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February 23, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Move Theory Needs Your Help « L.I.F.T.
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February 23, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Josh
Kwame, I think every item you list is equally important, and equally interrelated.
Here’s my take, though I don’t fit any of your categories…
The educational system and it’s conflict with the way brains develop.
This is a critical factor in child-development, since a huge portion of a child’s day is spent in school. How do we affect change in this? Well, people need to begin demanding change in public education. Obama says he’s interested in enacting change, but nothing has happened yet. The Voice of the People needs to come together. Also, parents need to be in closer contact with their teachers. A combined voice of the teacher (many of whom recognize what you’re talking about here), and the parents can have an even greater overall effect. I think, too, that clarity needs to be developed around what constitutes a good educational model. That needs to be built, so that it isn’t just “This needs to change!” but, “This needs to change INTO THIS BETTER THING.”
The taking away of children’s play spaces
This is insane, and ridiculous. Again, there needs to be a certain amount of focused “activism” around defeating this trend. There needs to be a coherent description of why children need play space (the PlayEngland work would probably suffice), and what that space should look like. Until then, if people believe their children need to play, they should take to the streets! Take the “parkour” approach to children playing…playgroups meeting in libraries…etc. Make some noise.
The presence of danger to children
I’ve read varying reports of the reality of this “problem.” Modern media tend only to show us negative stories, about kidnappings, etc., and strike fear into the people who watch/listen. I’ve actually seen a couple of reports that say that the modern world is safer for children than the world of 30 years ago (when I was running around neighborhoods by myself at all hours of the day…).
This needs to be sussed out – is it real, or not? If not, why is “danger” being promoted? And what can we do about it (if it is real, or if it is not)? Activism, concerned parent-groups, etc., can share the load. But I think a strong message must also be sent to “the powers that be” about both the veracity of the statements they are making (and the effects of making untrue statements, and their motives behind those statements), and about the unwillingness to be subject to that type of tyranny.
The perception of the presence of danger to children
See above.
Pressure on parents to provide, and Pressure on parents to perform as parents
I don’t know enough about these two to make a good statement.
Our focus / obsession as a society with the future
Critical. Beneath that is the willingness of our society to put education, power, and action, into the hands of the people. I hate to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I will – when education (I mean full, complete, unadulterated education) is withheld from the people, it is easier to control them. Power is taken away by those means, but also, subtly, in the modes of “entertainment” that are produced and encouraged. A lot of this has to do with the formation of normative values in a culture, and the resultant “self-policing” that occurs once those normative values have been established.
Not understanding the process of development
This goes to the point about “full, complete, unadulterated education.”
Over scheduling of children
This is another cultural normative value that has been thrust upon us and embraced. If people choose that value, it’s done. If they do not, they have to take the action (or inaction) necessary to show that they no longer support that value.
Valuing the performance of children instead of their interests
Again…This is a cultural choice, supported by every aspect of the culture – self-reinforcing.
and here’s my attempt to spread the word: http://leegertrained.com/move-theory-needs-your-help
February 23, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Josh
check out this article for ideas about the influence family can have on children’s activity levels:
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a918514014&db=all
there’s a lot of literature around this…also, though, around cultural underpinnings of physical activity…further still, see this article, re. the influence of peer groups on health markers:
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/323/5913/454
February 24, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Rannoch
The educational system and it’s conflict with the way brains develop.
No doubt here that our system in the UK is a production line. School are judged on academic results but at what cost. The cookie cutter mentality has all but curtailed original thinking. In addition the physical activity has been systematically removed from the curiculum. My daughter recieves 1 hour PE every 2 weeks. John Medina makes some excellent arguments in his book “Brain Rules” for a more integrated teaching system geared towards the way we as humans learn.
The taking away of children’s play spaces –
See above. We have never been safer yet we live in a completely risk averse culture. The empahsis on self esteem with little regards for self reliance is misguided, unrealistic and flawed.
The presence of danger to children – The perception of the presence of danger to children
We have never been safer. Sadly our constant exposure to “news” as entertainment has created a culture of fear and learned helplessness. Rather than encouraging confident children to express themselves we are creating reactive kids who percieve everything as a threat.
Pressure on parents to provide
Just stop. Say no. Anything else is telling your kids that experience is a commodity. Kids need to earn the rewards.
Pressure on parents to perform as parents
All you ever have to do is your best. Honest parenting is hard enough without being held up tothe standards of others. All kids really need to know is they are safe and loved.
Our focus / obsession as a society with the future
I could go off on this one for hours. But I wont. All we have is now. Our obsession with the future denies us the opportunity to really enjoy and treasue the present. Everything will be ok. Just get on with it.
Not understanding the process of development
Nothing remains the same. Leanr to live with that.
Over scheduling of children
It is ok to sit and do nothing, to think , to play. We all think our children are talented, bright, achievers. that is out job. But realise, that violin will gather dust, they may never represent their country at the olympics and that picture really doesn’t look like you at all. Enjoy the doing. Stop focussing on the result.
Valuing the performance of children instead of their interests
Let them choose what they want when it comes to preformance. The more pressure the more resistance. And if they wind up doing it just to please you, well done, you created another child who hates an activity. It is also a great way to stop kids trying by making them do things they don’t want. Eventually they will stop doing even thingthey do like simply becuase they don’t want your judgement.
In the race, some win some lose. Not everybody get a medal. Kids know when the praise is real. Don’t patronise them with all that “we are all winnerS” line. They know you are lying.