vindicated, again

Last night, I went to a fabulous discussion at Shout's school about learning and play. A lot of it came from this research, which is something that all good preschool teachers have known for years, that when you SHOW a child how to use something, they learn that specific way of using an object. But when you let a child figure out how to use something on their own, they come up with countless ways to use it.

Take for example this:



What is it?

I have no idea. It looks like a bedpan to me. But Shout's school has 10 of these. They are chairs, hats and rabbitholes. Stones to jump across a stream. Tops to spin, cradles for imaginary babies. Something that I would have completely bypassed if I saw it, not knowing what it is or how to use it... it is the essence of hours of imaginative play. (I wish I had pictures of all the things I've seen kids do with these.)

One of the exercises we have to do for my parenting class is to play with our child for 20 minutes but not give any instruction or suggestions and not ask any questions. Try it. It's VERY hard.

We are so used to guiding and instructing. Slipping in those teachable moments.

But it is very revealing to see what their creative minds come up with completely on their own.

I have been thinking about the value of unstructured time. Not dance class or soccer practice. Not homework time. (And Shout doesn't actually HAVE homework, but because everyone else does, she WANTS homework. Desperately. So I have to make some up for her.)

Our school year doesn't leave much room for unstructured time anymore. With sports and afterschool clubs and homework. And don't get me wrong, those are all good things.

The life lessons my kids have learned from sports are INVALUABLE. (Working hard, taking turns, losing, not being the best, other people depending on you... priceless.) The afterschool activities too - play practice, cooking club, chess club, band. All so important. And yes, even homework. My kids have learned time management skills I could never have taught them. Following directions. Self-motivation. Using resources when you can't find the answer. Essential life skills. I wouldn't trade those lessons for a minute.

But, philosophically, I'm pretty unstructured. Our summers are very unstructured. Most days are a blank slate. I used to worry that it was a bad thing. That I should be using these valuable hours teaching them Spanish or introducing them to modern art. (Or how to scrub the bathroom floor for God's sake.)

But according to the experts, I am teaching them how to think. How to be creative. How to learn.

My instincts haven't been so far off after all.

Unstructured time slowly slips away from life as kids get older. Grab as much of it as you can.