Have you ever wondered, "What's going on in there?" when your child looks like she's in a trance, a million miles away?
Keeping busy
It seems to be widely believed that children need constant exercise and stimulation (and expensive extra classes) if they are to become intelligent and to sleep at night. However, it is starting to come to light that it is not always beneficial to cram children's lives with scheduled activities, with no time to just relax and 'be'. Indeed it can cause undue stress having to rush around getting to everything on time. Pressure to perform or respond in certain ways leads to anxiety. With no time to dream, explore or 'bed in' the new learning, their attention span may shorten, they can become easily bored and dependent on adult stimulation.
Watching and listening to children confirms that they are happiest when they are free to live life 'off the clock' at their own pace.
Free time
A child who is given space and time for free play, to choose what he will do from moment to moment, is enabled to develop his own inner resources. He is free to relax or explore at his own pace with no expectations placed on him. This helps learning flow freely without hindrance; a child's brain is much more receptive when he is relaxed. Imagination is strengthened and a sense of self-reliance develops naturally.
If he looks like he is drifting off in a trance for a few seconds at a time, this is simply a natural and healthy brain development tool which children use instinctively many times a day, in order to integrate new learning. Allow the child a few moments of quiet while he focuses his attention inwards. His brain is developing new connections!
Read the rest of this article on my blog and discover many more ideas and children's activities based on my natural, child-centred approach.
Look out for more from Cathy in Issue Four, where she'll be telling us all about baby whispering.
No comments:
Post a Comment