IMAGINE LETTING KIDS USE THEIR IMAGINATION

Well written, thorough article. By the time I was my daughter Lilly's age I was two years latchkey. Summers were out of the house all day until dark. By nine I had already had my bike stolen from Gompers Park pool. During the school year I would come home, do my homework by myself, not turn the TV on (save for one or two ABC After School Specials that scared the daylights out of me). We walked to and from school every day doing all sorts of crazy and ridiculous things good and bad that resulted in being kids, humans, learning, growing, laughing, crying, spitting, jumping, running, screaming, getting dirty, being dirty. I was bullied, I bullied. All the things you couldn't do in front of an adult that have made us better adults. I know this, because of the people I am still connected to from that time. We were never bored because we were left to use our imagination to keep us going. We were allowed to or we had to. There were no schedules yet we played, made up plays, ran races, hung out at the park, tackled each other during unorganized sports and got our homework done all in an afternoon. That's what happens without adulty-safe structured ideas, endless organized activities, numerous devices and outings stacked on outings, stacked on outings - the brain thinks for itself, especially a child's. It has time to absorb, reflect, redirect, rebound...think. My parents exposed me to amazing, incredible experiences as a child, but the best times I had were when no parents were around.
Wrapping our children in bubble wrap or warping our children with bubble wrap?  These actions are not only censoring potential but censoring expression, resilience, future and I struggle with that.  The creativity, ideas, remarks, struggles and triumphs I see from kids during a class or workshop or party will never stop astounding me.  That's why I love it so much.
THE FRAGILE GENERATION: FROM REASON.COM