I observe that many parents today just don’t leave their children alone. This must be the most scheduled and monitored generation in history. I’m relieved I’m not growing up in it.
I often tell people that the best thing they can do for their kids is let them be bored. Bored kids have to figure out how to entertain themselves. Boredom breeds curiosity, discovery, and creativity. Apparently it also is important for the development of something called “executive function” — the ability to take charge of yourself.
“Executive function is a person’s ability to organize thoughts, prioritize tasks, manage time efficiently, and make decisions. An important aspect of executive function is the ability to self-regulate. In other words, children learn how to control and understand themselves through the process of self-guided imaginative play!”
Yolanda Wong, MD How Well Does Your Child Play?
Active, independent play is important in order to develop self control.
Some people said that encouraging active play may be a worthwhile goal but it’s so easy to give into passive entertainment, to feel responsible for always entertaining their kids. Doing so, I contend, is a short term solution that will develop into a long term problem. Being a tough parent (an authority figure rather than a friend to your children) is not what this article is about, though. The real discussion here that active play enables the child to develop self -control and motivation. And that’s far better than respect for any form of authority.