Model unstructured time for children

Scholastic.com has a helpful article for parents about unstructured playtime for children. It talks about why such time is valuable and how to make sure your children get enough of it. One of the experts relied on in the article is Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D., a professor at Temple University in Philadelphia and co-author of Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Our Children Really Learn and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less. According to Hirsh-Pasek,

"'There is a myth that doing nothing is wasting time, when it's actually extremely productive and essential,...During empty hours, kids explore the world at their own pace, develop their own unique set of interests and indulge in the sort of fantasy play that will help them figure out how to create their own happiness, handle problems with others on their own, and sensibly manage their own time. That's a critical life skill.'"

The article recommends that parents model unstructured time for their children:

"You are your child's best teacher. If she sees that you value unstructured time, she will, too. 'The world is a rich learning environment, without all the frills,' says Hirsh-Pasek. Carve out time to turn off your cell phone, stop checking your email, and just hang out, without lamenting that you 'should' be doing something instead of 'wasting time.' Create retreats in your home to beckon everyone: a window seat lined with pillows, a corner filled with art supplies, musical instruments, CDs, a deck of cards. Eliminate, limit, or refuse to buy more high-tech gear such as video and computer games. See what happens."

Click here to read the rest of the article and learn other ways to promote unstructured play time in your home.