The March issue of Parenting magazine has a great article titled Why Babies Need Downtime.
As I read the article, I realized this isn't just about babies, it is so true for children in general. Read the following sentences and see what you think.
"Like most parents, I feel I'm forever being told about the importance of stimulating a baby's developing mind." Isn't there a cultural expection for parents to "stimulate" children thru lots of enriching activities? We feel our children might fall behind in this competitive world.
"But allowing babies the time and space to do nothing - or a quiet activitiy of their choosing - is crucial to their development." It is crucial to the development of any age child.
"There are side benefits to providing your baby with downtime throught the day: If he's not constantly interacting with you, he has a chance to work on becoming more independent." Our children will lose the special creativitiy born out of lots of time to dream, imagine and invent things to do. Unaccustomed to entertaining themselves, kids complain of being bored, and parents feel responsible for entertaining them.
"although infants need a lot of time in your arms." Let's never stop hugging our kids!
"When my kids were little, they liked to play quietly on a mat next to me while I worked," We can still do that by working in the kitchen while they do their homework, or reading silently next to each other, etc. Older children still depend on our presence and accessibility.
"One way to help head off overload: Make sure your baby's environment isn't too cluttered. But in the end, teaching kids how to enjoy the beneifits of doing nothing may remind parents of the most important lesson of all: to slow down and savor this time with our babies." Babies grow up, but our children will always be our children. Let's always savor this time with them!