If you really deeply think about it, do you think our kids of this generation have it in them to navigate the challenges and bumps that await them tomorrow?
With everything being handed to them so easily- information, mathematics, entertainment, etc- via the internet and social media, do they really know how to stand in front of a challenge and find solutions?
For us, when we were young, everything was a challenge.
Entertaining ourselves, finding information from encyclopedias and books in the library, memorizing the multiplication table and practicing mental math…
I remember the other day, my son was having a short break from studying. As always, I don’t allow electronics on weekdays. So he was just wondering around the house, almost going crazy not knowing what he should do in his break. Finally, he came to me on the verge of tears screaming: “Mom! I’m soooooo bored! I don’t know what to do.” So I answered calmly: “Well, its ok to be bored. It widens your imagination and allows you to actually use your amazing brain!”
However, that seemed to irritate him even more! Oh my!
So he just lied down on a couch next to me for a few minutes…..So I went and got him a few books I had borrowed from the library on innovation and how marvelous things can be made out of nothing. I just put it next to him and told him: “You can try looking at these books for a change.” He refused immediately. Then he slowly and sneakily reached out for his Ipad of course! I caught him and reminded him of the rules. After a lot of huffs and puffs, he finally reached out to one of the books. And from then on, stayed on them, flipping excitedly, through them for the rest of his break.
The moral of the story?
We NEED TO cut down on electronics for our kids and put strict rules against using them! We NEED TO let them be bored! We NEED TO let them work hard to gain knowledge, entertain themselves, and do math!
Please allow your kids to be half of what we were when we were young. Or else, you are looking at a future of depression, anxiety, and helplessness for your child.
Here, at LadderUp, we have another great solution for this problem….a “ladder” that will help your child reach his/her maximum potential, soar high, be ready to face life’s future challenges, and shine out of the crowd, all while having fun and getting to know new people!
