By Mary Elizabeth
Piretti
The pressure is on, moms. Kids (and babies) today are
growing up in a world where some of their peers have been taking Spanish,
Mandarin (yes), sign language, ballet, reading classes, etc., since they were infants.
And before they were born, these kids were registered for classes and five
top-tier preschools.
Parental micromanagement and over-stimulation of children are
at an all time high. When did we as parents start feeling the need to teach our
six month olds to read? Why do we succumb to the pressure to have our children
involved in so many activities that our mini-vans and brains are constantly on
empty?
Extra-curricular and learning activities aren’t necessarily
bad, but nowadays, many parents are getting their kids involved early and in
excess. Kids are no longer able to just be kids.
How do we combat this? How do we foster creativity and
learning in our children without taking them to a different “class” every day?
Here’s the simple answer—we let them be children. We provide them with learning
opportunities around the house when we cook or clean, and we send them outside
to ride bikes and build forts and make friends.
Some of my favorite memories of growing up are baking
cookies with my mom and building forts in the woods with my neighborhood friend.
Children need space and freedom to be creative and to explore the world around
them. They can learn more from the birds in the air and the leaves on the trees
than they can from running to activity after activity, especially when all of
these experiences are wearing them out. Again, providing enriching experiences
for kids isn’t bad. It’s the over-supply and non-stop pressure to perform that
is hindering our children’s “children-ness.”
So don’t give in to the pressure to expose them to every
avenue possible and in turn never leave the driver’s seat of your mini-van. You
are the parent. When your child begs to sign up for yet another sport, explain
to them that when they are able drive, they can get themselves to whatever
activities they’d like. And leave it at that.
A good guideline is to let each child pick one activity per
season, but do what works best for you and your family. Let them pick a music
class, an art class, or a sport, but also choose some time to just be home and
let your kids be kids. Bake with them, send them outside, and let their
imaginations run free so that they can build worlds all of their own in their
own yards and bedrooms.
