I often wonder if middle class kids even get to have self-made amusement anymore? More importantly, if their well-intentioned helicopter parents realize how important it is for kids to have unstructured, unsupervised play for developing brain plasticity and real-life problem solving, critical skills in the research arena.
The kids I see and know, their schedules are jam packed all day with safe, “organized” after school activities and/or homework. They never get to be kids just playing together and making their own fun.
It is telling that most of the otherwise bright college grads we take on in our research firm seem to have no ability to think ahead to the next task, or beyond what we instruct them to do. And then they expect us to give them handsprings of praise, or let them go for the day when they complete a task, even if it is just one step in the process.
The look of confusion and frustration on their faces when we just say, “okay, that’s great, thank you, but go ahead and do the next step” is a bit astounding. And then we again have to tell them what they need to do. And because now it’s their “job,” they will do the same tasks and process over again on the next project, and the next, etc. The “semester” never ends and there is no final exam. And yet, every project we end up having the same conversations about what needs to be done.
You can tell their whole lives were planned for them with an adult always watching, and they never had to decide what to do next or solve a problem totally on their own. It is a huge wake up call for a lot of these privileged 20 somethings.
Sadly most of them can’t cut it and flame out, even with patient coaching, encouragement, and mentoring. They would rather walk away from a plum position they spent years training for than apply themselves in a cool, but mentally challenging job.
Zykoic almost 2 years ago
Two 2X4s, old roller skates and some nails. I had fun.
Redd Panda almost 2 years ago
Next time I see a baby buggy, out at the kerb, I’m draggin’ it home and making a go-kart.
Like Zyloic says ‘’Two 2X4s, old roller skates and some nails’’ substitute baby buggy for roller skates.
Construction of said conveyance would keep me busy for 2 or 3 weeks, when I was a kid.
Let’s all meet at Deadman’s Hill, the 4th of July, we’ll have a race!
prairiedogdance Premium Member almost 2 years ago
I often wonder if middle class kids even get to have self-made amusement anymore? More importantly, if their well-intentioned helicopter parents realize how important it is for kids to have unstructured, unsupervised play for developing brain plasticity and real-life problem solving, critical skills in the research arena.
The kids I see and know, their schedules are jam packed all day with safe, “organized” after school activities and/or homework. They never get to be kids just playing together and making their own fun.
It is telling that most of the otherwise bright college grads we take on in our research firm seem to have no ability to think ahead to the next task, or beyond what we instruct them to do. And then they expect us to give them handsprings of praise, or let them go for the day when they complete a task, even if it is just one step in the process.
The look of confusion and frustration on their faces when we just say, “okay, that’s great, thank you, but go ahead and do the next step” is a bit astounding. And then we again have to tell them what they need to do. And because now it’s their “job,” they will do the same tasks and process over again on the next project, and the next, etc. The “semester” never ends and there is no final exam. And yet, every project we end up having the same conversations about what needs to be done.
You can tell their whole lives were planned for them with an adult always watching, and they never had to decide what to do next or solve a problem totally on their own. It is a huge wake up call for a lot of these privileged 20 somethings.
Sadly most of them can’t cut it and flame out, even with patient coaching, encouragement, and mentoring. They would rather walk away from a plum position they spent years training for than apply themselves in a cool, but mentally challenging job.
goboboyd almost 2 years ago
A set of wheels are always treasured. If only to inspire future adventures.