Just before we put our house in California up for sale, I was trying to get Seth interested in a Simple Spelling workbook. You know, it’s the kind of book where you trace letters or fill in the one that is missing for easy words such as “cat” or “frog.”
But the packing up of the house and the drive to Chicago, pretty much meant I was too busy to keep Seth interested in the book. Lo and behold, Seth just pulled out that book and spent hours trying the exercises every day since Friday. He’s obsessed with it.
Seth has repeatedly badgered – this is a good thing – his parents to look over his work or ask for help. It’s just amazing how, with no pushing at all, Seth has added the activity book to his life like it’s another form of play.
Seth has always been good at spontaneous play. It helps that we keep the TV off. It also helps that his mom encourages our boy to play, either by himself, with Lael, or friends as much as possible. It also helps that we don’t over subscribe Seth with classes and activities.
Kids who don’t get enough free play worries the American Academy of Pediatrics, which believes that unstructured play helps children become more “creative, discover their own passions, develop problem-solving skills, relate to others and adjust to school settings,” reports The Associated Press via The Chicago Tribune.
Kids who don’t get enough spontaneous play face problems, including stress, obesity and depression, says the Academy. I suppose in some ways that’s an obvious conclusion, but it is easy to fall into the trap of signing your kid up for music, soccer and Spanish classes even before they turn 5.
We probably would have, except we have a practical limitation; it’s called money.
Just before we put our house in California up for sale, I was trying to get Seth interested in a Simple Spelling workbook. You know, it’s the kind of book where you trace letters or fill in the one that is missing for easy words such as “cat” or “frog.”
But the packing up of the house and the drive to Chicago, pretty much meant I was too busy to keep Seth interested in the book. Lo and behold, Seth just pulled out that book and spent hours trying the exercises every day since Friday. He’s obsessed with it.
Seth has repeatedly badgered – this is a good thing – his parents to look over his work or ask for help. It’s just amazing how, with no pushing at all, Seth has added the activity book to his life like it’s another form of play.
Seth has always been good at spontaneous play. It helps that we keep the TV off. It also helps that his mom encourages our boy to play, either by himself, with Lael, or friends as much as possible. It also helps that we don’t over subscribe Seth with classes and activities.
Kids who don’t get enough free play worries the American Academy of Pediatrics, which believes that unstructured play helps children become more “creative, discover their own passions, develop problem-solving skills, relate to others and adjust to school settings,” reports The Associated Press via The Chicago Tribune.
Kids who don’t get enough spontaneous play face problems, including stress, obesity and depression, says the Academy. I suppose in some ways that’s an obvious conclusion, but it is easy to fall into the trap of signing your kid up for music, soccer and Spanish classes even before they turn 5.
We probably would have, except we have a practical limitation; it’s called money.