Put Homework Aside and Play

Where are the kids????  “Kids should be outside playing right now,” I said to myself as I looked around.  I was in a San Antonio neighborhood, full of families and only two blocks from an elementary school.  School was over and it was two hours before dinner time, but no kids anywhere.  This neighborhood felt eery to me, like a ghost town.  There were tons of kids in these houses – why weren’t they playing?!  That’s what kids are made to do – PLAY! 

I was a visitor in this neighborhood; I didn’t know anyone there.  But, I started asking questions.  “Too much homework”, “watching T.V.”, “playing video games” were most of the answers.  “But, but, but,” I wanted to say,”don’t you know that kids need physical activity after sitting in school all day?”  “Don’t you know that physical activity boosts brain power and helps kids complete homework faster and better?”  “Don’t you know that you are teaching your kids to be sedentary, putting them at risk for overweight, obesity and disease?”  “Don’t you know that kids need to play to develop social skills, problem solving and critical thinking?”  I was thinking those things but I didn’t say them.   These parents think they are doing the right thing by sentencing their kids to homework prison after school.  They think it will make them smart.  They think it will help them get better grades.  They think it will get them into better colleges.  They think their kids will have better futures.  And besides, the schools keep giving the kids more and more homework….

Well, I have some important news for parents and teachers.  I had NO homework until fifth or sixth grade, and I’m really smart.  In my early elementary years- after a 6 hour day of sitting and learning in school - I spent the rest of the day learning, but in a different way.  I played outside with friends, or indoors if it was raining.  We built forts; we walked on logs; we invented all kinds of  games; we played every sport imaginable; we caught frogs, turtles, fish, bugs, snakes and salamanders; we climbed trees; we layed on our backs and looked at cloud formations; we walked and talked; we ran and screamed; on rainy days we baked cookies; played cards or board games; made forts with blankets; did crafts and painting.  Some of the most important life skills and lessons I have learned have been through these experiences.  Things like how to work with people and get along (without adults to intervene); how to create something from nothing; how to solve problems and figure things out; how to lead; how to follow; how to work hard and make something happen all by yourself; independence; courage; and the self-confidence that comes from all of it.  The best thing is, these kinds of activities actually raise a child’s I.Q.

I’m sorry, but kids don’t get smarter or gain skills, character and intelligence from repeating 30 math problems that they already know how to do.  Once kids (or adults, for that matter) understand a concept – like how to add two digit numbers – it doesn’t help to repeat it 50 times.  Repeating something we already know does not help us to know it any better – it just keeps us busy, wastes time, and prevents us from engaging in other activities where we really could learn something new.  Most homework isn’t real learning – it is just repeating the things kids already know how to do.  Now THAT’S a waste of time!  Why is it that home-schooled kids excel in academics and only spend about 3 hours a day in academic work?  It’s because of the vast and varied learning experiences they engage in that challenge their brains in new ways.  Brain research shows that challenging the brain in a new way creates new brain connections and new brain growth, making people smarter.  Doing the same thing repeatedly does NOT make people smarter! 

So, parents, teachers and administrators: pay attention to brain research.  Pay attention to the sad problem of inactive, overweight, and obese children.  Pay attention to the problem of kids who don’t know how to think, problem solve, or take initiative.  And then, DO something.  Kick the kids out the door and let them figure out what to do.  And, don’t feel guilty about it.  My Mom used to lock the door!  We could only get in the house to use the bathroom until it was dinner time.  But, my siblings and I can never thank my Mom enough for helping us develop the skills that made us so highly successful in life.  Yes, I am thankful for my academic skills and good academic literacy is important.  But the qualities that highly successful people have are problem solving, critical thinking, communication skills, creativity, perseverance, self-confidence and courage.  These are qualities that are developed through exploration, experimentation and socialization.   And, after school play is a perfect way to achieve them.  Help your kids – be a mean Mom and kick them outdoors to play! 

Now, research proves that fit kids do better in school.  Please read this article to learn more.

Did you know that kids who live near a park have a lower incidence of obesity?  Researchers now know that green space is important to promote play.