Comments on: Unstructured Time http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/06/09/unstructured-time/ Illuminate Everyday Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:29:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Ryan http://www.tjhirst.com/2008/06/09/unstructured-time/#comment-394 Ryan Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:38:04 +0000 http://www.tjhirst.com/?p=344#comment-394 I don't know many mothers, but besides my own wife (who is also a mother), moms don't really do this (unstructured schedules, letting kids go free, etc.), and those who do actually have to schedule in free time. It's like, "OK, between 2pm and 3pm you have free time." I think these people may be missing the point. As a child, my mother was great at just letting us be. We were forced to entertain ourselves or else mom would just say something like, "If you're bored you can go mop the floor or weed the garden." That's great motivation for a kid to find something to do. It was with this free time that I really discovered who I was and what I liked. I learned about computer programming because I was so bored I decided to see how the game I was playing actually worked. I learned to love basketball. I really really really think time like this helps kids find themselves and learn to make decisions. I don’t know many mothers, but besides my own wife (who is also a mother), moms don’t really do this (unstructured schedules, letting kids go free, etc.), and those who do actually have to schedule in free time. It’s like, “OK, between 2pm and 3pm you have free time.” I think these people may be missing the point.

As a child, my mother was great at just letting us be. We were forced to entertain ourselves or else mom would just say something like, “If you’re bored you can go mop the floor or weed the garden.” That’s great motivation for a kid to find something to do.

It was with this free time that I really discovered who I was and what I liked. I learned about computer programming because I was so bored I decided to see how the game I was playing actually worked. I learned to love basketball. I really really really think time like this helps kids find themselves and learn to make decisions.

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