A Course Correction

Check out this article from the NY Post

“As for parents worried that all this non-academic time is dooming their kids’ futures, research at the University of Colorado at Boulder found that the kids who have more free time to create and structure their own activities develop stronger executive functioning skills — that is, better planning, problem-solving and follow-through — than kids whose lives are more continuously structured by adults.”

I'm not sure about you, but I'm finding myself constantly telling my kids (sometimes yelling at my kids), "Mom is WORKING, kids are PLAYING. Find something to do." My kids used to be absolutely awful at figuring out their own free play activity, and they still struggle in this area. But I've noticed, as time in quarantine has moved along, my kids are actually getting a bit better at free play. I've observed longer sessions of unstructured play, new bonds between siblings, more creative play, and less time in my face. Don't get me wrong, I got at least 12 interruptions with questions as I attempted to take my first shower in days yesterday... but I'm seeing growth.

This article made me realize that perhaps what feels like neglect (when I push away the picture book my child is asking me to read- I know... I'm evil) might actually be a gift.