Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy free time, creativity and imagination

I think the author of Simplicity parenting might address the indoor/outdoor issue by talking about the abundance of stuff typical Ameican kids have inside their homes/rooms--generally plastic crap and way too much of it that can only be played with in very particular ways. Kids aren't making forts etc. inside because they are too overwhelmed with all of the stuff inside. When we remove the excess and allow them unstructured free time they can be creative in that way inside.

Creativity can't only be gotten by what a book or a google page says . The idea behind "playing outside" is more relevant, I think. I'm with deacongirl.

LOL, should we try to get funding?

Good one Grinity.

For the study, not just someone's opinion:

http://www.childrenandnature.org/uploads/Kellert_BuildingforLife.pdf

The Simplicity parenting book was not a study but just some guy putting out his ideas to make money. Sarah Palin also wrote such a book. I am not saying either one doesn't have something to say but NOT A STUDY.

The interesting thing about the Newsweek article is the discussion of documented studies of creativity analysis.

And perhaps the Simplicity author would jump on the whole outside thing because the guy sounds like a clever marketer. But I do agree that it is about stuff. That is what the whole outdoor thing was about. Using what you find and making it work instead of finding the stuff you have to use. I remember an Elmo's world episode of some kids in Africa finding scrap wire and bending it into these trucks they played with and I thought that kids in America don't get the chance to do that. A couple of years ago some kids made this elaborate castle on the beach and found all these twigs and made suspension bridges, it was so creative.

When Dd and I go through the woods in the evening with the dog, I find that she gets so creative in things she finds and pretends and works with them. Something she never does with her free time and Barbies or free time and drawing.

I found the articles enlightening and answered questions for me so I hope others find them useful. I find the concept of creativity in the Newsweek article changes my perspective on the subject.

Ren

Like the tv says on that cartoon network commercial,"get up, get up, get up. Be a player. Inactive activities on a glorious day. Foul!".
Nancy Chaun's daughters were quoted as saying, "American kid's parents say they let them find themselves and their own passion, but all they find is the tv.". Lol. And sOmeone here mentioned they're a teacher and the over-engaged (asian) kid's were creative and curious because they had a huge database of knoweledge to build from."
I'm just writing what to add fuel to the fire, not necessarily what I believe.

What I believe is that I respond and make my own choices differently based on my circumstances and what I know at the time. For example I would parent my babies differently if we lived in a city because our lifestyle would be different. Plus things change as we and the kid's grow older. That's what I believe. Wren I think it's great you can afford to live in the city and give your daughter an active lifestyle. I feel like i know you good enough to feel u aren't competitive enough to judge me for living in the country and sitting home with the kid's. We just got different circumstances. Fwiw I get the feeling that you play with your kid like a bossy protective older kid sister. That's not unhealthy. What's unhealthy is when you start seeing your kid like a project to be finished rather than a family member to be lived with.

Oh yeah, we're talking about free time. Oops. I get so sidetracked. Last night I scraped left over chili and biscuits onto a paper plate to feed the dogs. I walked to the cabinet to get some bread heels to add to it. On the way to the cabinet I threw away the paper plate to clear the table. Cheengaw.

ummmm...I am well aware the book I referred to is not a study. However it resonated with me personally and addressed the issue being discussed. Clever marketer or not, his ideas may be helpful to other parents on this forum. Really don't get the need to bring Palin into this conversation?

Clearly kids need more time outside, the whole nature deficit thing, etc. etc. My only point was that if kids aren't surrounded by stuff in their rooms, that they will also have to "use what you find and make it work instead of finding the stuff you have to use". That unstructured free time without being surrounded by all of the stuff marketed to our kids allows them to use creativity to address boredom. And since, for various reasons, I think most of us would agree that most of our kids don't get enough time outside, it might make sense to evaluate how to change the environment inside.

I like what you wrote eema. And La Texican, you made me laugh with your dog feeding story. Thanks.

Now my dog is barking to go play with her friends and climb the dog run fence and chase squirrels while I go chase her.

Then we have a Philharmonic Young people concert -- because we are city folk.

Ren

?Even your dog gets playdates, spoiled i tell you. Just kidding. I've lived around ny before. I know the culture. Now I live in Texas and my dogs have a job. It's to keep illegals out of the yard since I live in the country. My current dogs are not treated like fur kids. I play fetch with the Mamma dog sometimes. And the boy plays in the yard with them sometimes and comes in smelling like a dog and going straight to the bathtub. But they're just yard dogs. They get SAMs club dogfood, not puppy biscotti. -<3

I guess there's a little room for debate here. I mean, not really much. But I could probably find room for debate on a strand of silk. There's a, what's a metaphorical story called, like a allegory or something?
A pottery teacher divided his class in half. He told half the class to make only one pot. Be creative and make a single masterpiece. The other half he told to make a million different pots, don't worry about the quality or originality. Who came up with a masterpiece? Well, who had more ideas, more practices, and more chances?
But in historical reality the creative genuises whose inventions change the world often come from single mothers, abusive fathers, blah, blah feel inspired.

Grasping at straws to build a controversy over the definition of free time-
Does an over privileged city child have free time because they get fresh air, sunshine, and time to daydream or chat on the bus ride to the philharmonic?
Does a minimalist stay at home kid have more free time because the one income household gives them more time with mommy, less time in the daycare, but less gas money to go places? Is it better to have less clutter and imaginative handmade toys? Or less clutter and a variety of toys and activities? (in the stay-at home version)
Does a neglected latch-key kid really have "free time" when really they're just surviving but without resources or reason to dream? It might produce some diamonds.
Is fresh air and sunshine really that good? It gives me allergies. And dirt roads ruin the bearings on my skateboard. Pave the planet!

Oh yeah, city kid's meet more strangers. Surely that plants seeds of creativity in one's mind.

No bus to Lincoln Center, it is only 3 blocks. So she doesn't even get that time to daydream.

I do believe that being a survivor does train the brain to be more creative. Though, how did my spoiled dog learn to climb the fence like a monkey?

Everyone, have a good weekend.

Ren