KEEP THE CREATIVE SPARK ALIVE
By Kate Collins
I worry about this young techno generation. I worry that
their minds are so accustomed to gadgets, games, and instant gratification that
they are losing their creativity. Am I right to fret?
When I taught second and third grade many years ago, my
favorite subject was language arts because I could encourage my students to use
their imaginations through story writing. Once I could get them to stop trying
to spell everything perfectly the first time and just write, oh, what tales
they told!
But it was a chore to get them to turn off the worry switch.
“Just write,” I’d tell them. “We’ll fix the spelling later.” And I’d still have
a line of students at my desk.
All the gadgetry makes me wonder: Do children craft their
own make-believe worlds now like I used to do or rely on game geeks to develop
them? Do they build forts with blocks or blow them up on their XBoxes? Do they
play with imaginary friends or make them through Facebook? I’d hate to think that whole sections of
their brains are going to waste.
Who will write the books of the future if we have no one
that can imagine?
I’m not saying this is so, I’m just saying I can’t help but
worry when I see kids with their thumbs on the buttons of their game systems
all the time.
Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, encourage your kids
to pretend. Encourage them to dress in costumes and make tents from blankets
and cast spells on people from a branch in a tree. Get them outdoors and onto a
bicycle that is actually their trusty steed, ready to carry them off on an
adventure.
So I don’t worry.
What worries you about the youngest generation?
Kate Collins is the New York Times best-selling author
of the Flower Shop Mystery series. Kate’s next mystery, THROW IN THE TROWEL,
#15 in the series, is a February, 2014, release. All of Kate’s mysteries are
available in print, digital, and large-print editions. Kate’s historical
romances are also available in digital format at Amazon, B&N, and other
e-book sellers. For more information on the Flower Shop Mysteries, visit Kate
at: www.katecollinsbooks.com. Kate’s blogsite is www.cozychicksblog.com .
I do.I spent a few years helping the slow learners at my grandchildren's school and years before that,I was very active in homeschooling. I see where the children do not hear real stories, especially those of their families.They have nothing to ground them with the throw-away relationships they live in and around.
ReplyDeleteIf you saw my house, you'd know imagination gets fostered here! My grandkids do play on the computer, watch some TV and movies, but no tablets and game consoles allowed.There are playhouses here and all sorts of toys, games,(7,9 and almost 11, they all play chess).I have all sorts of art supplies, plus tablets and BOOKS; they are all great readers.I recently remarked that between me and the kids, there are more books in my car than many people have in their homes!The oldest, (a boy), has already written a number of stories that we have handmade into books. I'm doing my part.
Nice to see you here,Kate! I hope Throw in the Trowel is a great success.
I strongly believe that the tools of technology, such as gaming consoles, computers, iThings, etc., are not to blame for a decline in recreational literacy and imagination. It depends on parental engagement and example.
ReplyDeleteEver since my kids were little, I bought very little "Educational" games, I bought dolls, little people, matchbox cars, lego's, pretend kitchen, pretend tools, etc. I wanted to foster imagination, there was always crafts around, crayons, paper, and books, books and more books, always books. I did use some educational items but they were not the focus, and we talked in the car and sang in the car, I taught my 5 year old daughter the concept of algebra on a trip in the car to the beach. She caught on and when my son was 6 he caught on too, for both of them math was the "easy" subject.
ReplyDeleteNow with grand-nieces and nephews, and now my grand-daughter, it's more little people, lego's crafty items etc.
Those are all wonderful things, Carrie! I'm so glad your children received such a rich experience.
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