Comments on: “Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control” http://unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/ Living a TV-free life ... with a few crafts and books thrown in! Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:08:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Self-Regulation, Creative Play, and Television « tvSmarter http://unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/comment-page-1/#comment-2376 Self-Regulation, Creative Play, and Television « tvSmarter Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:19:59 +0000 http://www.unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/#comment-2376 [...] II:  Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control about Tools of the [...] [...] II:  Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control about Tools of the [...]

]]> By: A Book Giveaway! | Unplug Your Kids http://unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/comment-page-1/#comment-2203 A Book Giveaway! | Unplug Your Kids Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:43:39 +0000 http://www.unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/#comment-2203 [...] the newly discovered benefits of simple, creative play (Imaginative Play and Cognitive Function and Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control), as well as the Shiny Side [...] [...] the newly discovered benefits of simple, creative play (Imaginative Play and Cognitive Function and Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control), as well as the Shiny Side [...]

]]> By: Sarah http://unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/comment-page-1/#comment-2153 Sarah Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:33:43 +0000 http://www.unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/#comment-2153 I found this disturbing as well. When my kids were younger, I rarely organized their play. I found that if I was busy alongside them either working about the house or working outside, they seemed to feel secure enough to just let their imaginations take them somewhere else. I recently read a post somewhere else --maybe at "not quite crunchy" about getting kids outside more. Yet the suggestions for getting them outside was to script their time outdoors. That just increases their dependence on others. I sense a blog post coming.... I found this disturbing as well. When my kids were younger, I rarely organized their play. I found that if I was busy alongside them either working about the house or working outside, they seemed to feel secure enough to just let their imaginations take them somewhere else. I recently read a post somewhere else –maybe at “not quite crunchy” about getting kids outside more. Yet the suggestions for getting them outside was to script their time outdoors. That just increases their dependence on others. I sense a blog post coming….

]]> By: Mom Unplugged http://unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/comment-page-1/#comment-1997 Mom Unplugged Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:59:24 +0000 http://www.unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/#comment-1997 Thank you all for your comments! <hr> Hi MamaShift: Great comment and I have to say I agree with you. In fact the NPR piece also suggests that adult-organized activities and less outdoor time are factors in the change of play habits (especially the last NPR story that I wrote about here: <em><a href="http://www.unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/21/imaginative-play-and-cognitive-function/" rel="nofollow">Imaginative Play and Cognitive Function</a></em>.) You make a great point that more and more adults are organizing projects and activities for children in the home too (the Unplugged Project for example!!) I have always been a believer in not being my kids' "entertainment director" and allowing them to solve their own boredom issues. I am fortunate however to have a big, safe backyard and more than one child (instant playmates at the ready). Oooo...I feel a post coming on! <hr> Hi Gwyn: I am glad you are enjoying these posts. It is an interesting subject isn't it? Good question! I can't really answer it except to quote the last NPR piece: Complex imaginative play is beneficial when children engage in it for "a fair amount of time, a half-hour at a minimum, though longer is better. Sustained play that lasts for hours is best." My feeling is that it is not so much about saying to a child: "now it is time for one hour of sustained, complex, imaginative play" and setting a timer. I think it is more about making sure that children have a few free independent hours in their day, either with friends or alone, to just run around and do "kid-stuff." Oooo...I feel ANOTHER post coming on! <hr> Hi Virginia (and anyone else who is here looking for more info about this program): Thanks for your comment. The best way to get the actual details about the program is to visit the <em><a href="http://www.mscd.edu/extendedcampus/toolsofthemind/" rel="nofollow">Tools of the Mind website</a></em>. They have a contact page: http://www.mscd.edu/extendedcampus/toolsofthemind/about/contact.htm <hr> Hi Jenny: Yes, it is a bit disturbing, or at least odd-sounding. If the program works as they say, then that is great. However what bothers me, is that there is a need for such a program to begin with. If we could just treat the causes of lacking executive function skills and eliminate the problem, that would be wonderful. I guess that is kind of what this blog is about really. Thank you all for your comments!

Hi MamaShift:

Great comment and I have to say I agree with you. In fact the NPR piece also suggests that adult-organized activities and less outdoor time are factors in the change of play habits (especially the last NPR story that I wrote about here:
Imaginative Play and Cognitive Function.)

You make a great point that more and more adults are organizing projects and activities for children in the home too (the Unplugged Project for example!!) I have always been a believer in not being my kids’ “entertainment director” and allowing them to solve their own boredom issues. I am fortunate however to have a big, safe backyard and more than one child (instant playmates at the ready).

Oooo…I feel a post coming on!

Hi Gwyn:

I am glad you are enjoying these posts. It is an interesting subject isn’t it? Good question! I can’t really answer it except to quote the last NPR piece: Complex imaginative play is beneficial when children engage in it for “a fair amount of time, a half-hour at a minimum, though longer is better. Sustained play that lasts for hours is best.”

My feeling is that it is not so much about saying to a child: “now it is time for one hour of sustained, complex, imaginative play” and setting a timer. I think it is more about making sure that children have a few free independent hours in their day, either with friends or alone, to just run around and do “kid-stuff.”

Oooo…I feel ANOTHER post coming on!

Hi Virginia (and anyone else who is here looking for more info about this program):

Thanks for your comment. The best way to get the actual details about the program is to visit the Tools of the Mind website. They have a contact page:

http://www.mscd.edu/extendedcampus/toolsofthemind/about/contact.htm

Hi Jenny:

Yes, it is a bit disturbing, or at least odd-sounding. If the program works as they say, then that is great. However what bothers me, is that there is a need for such a program to begin with. If we could just treat the causes of lacking executive function skills and eliminate the problem, that would be wonderful. I guess that is kind of what this blog is about really.

]]> By: Jenny http://unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/comment-page-1/#comment-1996 Jenny Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:22:36 +0000 http://www.unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/#comment-1996 I didn't see your post until this morning, but I managed to catch most of the story on NPR anyway- what luck! I found the idea of children having to write down everything that they were going to do (play with play dough, even) a tad disturbing. It seems too far on the other end of the spectrum, to me anyway. I wonder if the kids in that program went home and watched TV and played with electronic toys like most kids seem to? It would be interesting to see how the kids in the program self regulate vs. an "unplugged" child. I didn’t see your post until this morning, but I managed to catch most of the story on NPR anyway- what luck! I found the idea of children having to write down everything that they were going to do (play with play dough, even) a tad disturbing. It seems too far on the other end of the spectrum, to me anyway. I wonder if the kids in that program went home and watched TV and played with electronic toys like most kids seem to? It would be interesting to see how the kids in the program self regulate vs. an “unplugged” child.

]]> By: virginia malton http://unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/comment-page-1/#comment-1995 virginia malton Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:08:17 +0000 http://www.unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/#comment-1995 I am a child therapist and see numerous useful concepts and activities. How does one go about getting the complete program. I am a child therapist and see numerous useful concepts and activities. How does one go about getting the complete program.

]]> By: Gwyn http://unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/comment-page-1/#comment-1993 Gwyn Thu, 28 Feb 2008 06:05:30 +0000 http://www.unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/#comment-1993 This series of posts is very interesting. My kids are barely plugged in at all and their toys are all open ended etc but I am still unsure whether they do enough creative and imaginative play. Is there a benchmark or guideline that you know of about how many hours a day should be this complex imaginative play the experts are talking about? It would be interesting to tally it up and see how we are going! This series of posts is very interesting. My kids are barely plugged in at all and their toys are all open ended etc but I am still unsure whether they do enough creative and imaginative play. Is there a benchmark or guideline that you know of about how many hours a day should be this complex imaginative play the experts are talking about? It would be interesting to tally it up and see how we are going!

]]> By: MamaShift http://unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/comment-page-1/#comment-1992 MamaShift Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:40:09 +0000 http://www.unplugyourkids.com/2008/02/27/creative-play-makes-for-kids-in-control/#comment-1992 Other possible reasons: play and art (crafts) are adult-directed (today we will do this), even in the home; children spend little time outdoors, and always within a restricted radius (there was a BBC report on this); children are not allowed to be bored; children have few responsibilities (not chores, necessarily); shopping is considered recreation (a way to entertain, get out of the house)... Other possible reasons: play and art (crafts) are adult-directed (today we will do this), even in the home; children spend little time outdoors, and always within a restricted radius (there was a BBC report on this); children are not allowed to be bored; children have few responsibilities (not chores, necessarily); shopping is considered recreation (a way to entertain, get out of the house)…

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