Boredom for a child can lead to good things

Almost every week since the virus turned our lives upside down I have seen articles about how to keep your child busy. There are descriptions of projects to do, activities to participate in and various other suggestions.

I find this to be puzzling. Yes, our grandkids have formal activities such as baseball, or swimming. Recently they have all been signed up for a class in jujitsu at their local YMCA. Jujitsu is a martial art. From what I understand it is an introductory class similar to the karate class that Emma took when she was little. The details are different but it is basically a way to defend one’s self. This is also known as a good way to give mom or dad a break for an hour or so.

Most of the time our grandchildren are told to go outside and play after school. Their free time is their own. What they play is entirely up to them. Their parents realize that a little boredom and unscheduled time is good for them.

I have to wonder about the children who have every minute of every day scheduled. Can they entertain themselves? Do they know how to while away an afternoon watching clouds? Will they know the pleasure of getting lost in a book that is their choice and not something they are required to read?

Granted, there is much more that is expected of our grandchildren than was ever expected of us. We weren’t expected to know how to read when we entered first grade. Adding and subtracting were first and second grade level and multiplying wasn’t taught until third grade. We didn’t have advanced classes. The teachers grouped us according to our abilities but it was never a formal thing. We didn’t have to worry about school shootings. If someone was being bullied an adult would step in and stop it. That doesn’t seem to be an option any more.

Another thing that I find puzzling is the number of days devoted to dressing like a book character, or a color, or some other special thing. There are days when grandparents are supposed to have lunch with the child. There are days dedicated to the military. It seems like every week has a special event requiring a special outfit or something.

I am so glad that none of that was common when I was in school. I wonder what the kids without grandparents, or those who have only a single parent feel like when everybody else has someone to sit with them.

The virus has disrupted the way lessons are taught. Remote learning is a good temporary solution. The problem is that school teaches children so much more than what is in the text books. School teaches how to get along with people, among other things.

My point is that children are so much more resilient than we give them credit for. They are capable of entertaining themselves. We all need down time. The lists of activities we need to do with our children are nice but not necessary. One of these days things will get back to normal, in the meantime they can entertain themselves.