The necessity for curiosity and play...even in middle school years

NIDARA TIPSALL THINGS CHILDREN

THE NECESSITY FOR CURIOSITY AND PLAY...EVEN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS

For Parents

1NTRODUCTION


Children are naturally interested in their surroundings and without this innate curiosity, or the need to explore and understand what the environment provides, they would fail to thrive. It is a rather unfortunate misconception that play and curiosity must end in the early elementary school years and that middle schools years are reserved for nothing but becoming serious and studying.

1NTRODUCTION CONTINUED


As parents, it is critical that you recognise the role of curiosity in shaping your children’s lives. Moreover you have to allow them the freedom to learn through play and curiosity. Children love to be outdoors in their natural environment or be left alone with their own things and lives.



As human beings we naturally try to understand everything around us and make sense of the world through trials and play. If children are free to think, be curious and play, they cultivate a love and understanding of their surroundings and environments. It develops courage, calmness, awareness, curiosity and flexibility to handle stress and unforeseen situations. They also learn many skills – from physical to linguistic, intellectual and social all necessary for success in life and not just in a classroom setting.



During key periods of development like the middle school years, curiosity and play are naturally inbuilt in the child. It appears to be a major designer of the brain. It is infact unnatural to control all those instincts and sit in a classroom all day long.

It is interesting that in the natural world, the more intelligent a species is, the more they play and follow their curious pathways. As a parent, you must be wondering how to strike a balance between cultivating these natural instincts and having your child focus for school and success in life – after all, we do not live in the jungles and well, grades do matter!


Allocate time in your child’s life where they are allowed to be who they are and pursue their natural instincts. Intervene only if there is serious harm that could be done.

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Help your child figure out what they interests are and set a context for learning other areas

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Help your child believe in their instincts and make decisions

3.


Give advice and suggestions only if your child asks. A quality in many parents is to push the child continuously with their own thoughts – this does not help the child think on their own – in the long run, this can spell disaster

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Set a great role model for your children where you show them how to being inquisitive– children will want to grow up to be like the adults around them

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A very common instinct in parents is to say “No” – what this does to the child is to discourage them and give up on asking for anything – instead if you do not want your child to do something, give them an alternative, and give an explanation – turn the “no” to a “yes”

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Positive affirmations that build the child’s confidence in their own abilities go a long way .

Give your child the comfort of knowing that you are there to guide them when they need it

7.


During middle school years, children mostly want to be treated like adults – this is a very crucial time to engage them and help them picture the life they want and make choices accordingly.

Give your child as many experiences possible by taking them to various colleges, locations, career fairs etc. To show them the life they could have

8.


Letting children follow their natural instincts while making them focus for school sounds like a tough juggling act, but one that can be harnessed for the child’s growth and development.

Letting your child follow their curiosity during the middle school years becomes even more critical as you are now dealing with children who want to be treated like adults. During these years, you have a very influential role to play in shaping their lives without letting them loose their innate curiosity.

CONCLUSION


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The necessity for curiosity and play...even in middle school years

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