If our schedules as working professionals are jam packed with to-do work lists and fancy bucket list during holidays. The children are not much behind with their time-tables completely blocked out of freedom of choice. Moreover, the holiday homework casts a spell of sulking splashed across their faces.
In this scenario, 'the streamlining of expectations' for and from children is sought as the best way forward. It just makes things seem so organized and easier.
However, the point is by doing so, we are interfering in the following ways: 1. Curbing and obstructing their natural growth patterns both physically and cognitively.
2. Build automatic reflexes and reactive systems with defined tendencies instead of natural intrinsic and proactive brain and body functioning.
3. Knowingly or unwary, adopting a combination of authoritarian and helicopter parenting which will do no good in the dynamics of social relationships, independent mindset, self-esteem and more.
Given the above circumstances, there is an immediate need for children to experience freedom of time to explore and balance their own inner & outer energies to trace their unique path.
Other wise we are just on our way to make robots, clones or surrogates out of human children !!! Children who will act on instructions and have similar thought process.
The 2 most crucial aspects of natural self-exploration till the age of 10-12 years are:
1. Free play (indoors and outdoors) without any toys, or readymade accessories. This is also a great way to learn adequate life skills and build strong relationships.
2. Hands-on experience leading to observation, modelling behaviour and repetition. Here their is a lot of cognitive application at work giving a lot of exercise to the brain synapses.
The issue is that we today don't have the patience for natural instincts and milestones to take their time. We are rushed on every minute twist and turn.
The need is to trust and let the child take time to do what they can do.
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