Adults Shouldn't Play with Children

"Leave those kids alone: The idea that adults should be playing with their kids is a modern invention -- and not necessarily a good one" How true.

I was drilled into my head that playing with my children was very important part of raising them. And so I did. But looking back, it isn't the best way to raise them. Adult world is different from children and it isn't good to blur that.

My oldest son is a teenager and my younger son will be one in few months. However, they see playing (computer games) as the most important way to spend their time rather than study or work. I haven't really thought through of what kind of children I would end up with.

As an unschooler, I have been more hands off with their education (although my wife wanted and have put in little more structure than that). Yet, life is more than just pursuing whatever is "interesting." With freedom comes responsibility not just for oneself but for others: God, family, extended family and church. I'll blog on this some more as I think through what it means for my family....

Copyright 2007, DannyHSDad, All Rights Reserved.

Raising the Next Rebellious Einsteins

"The World Needs More Rebels Like Einstein" points out the "real" Einstein:

what made Einstein special was his impertinence, his nonconformity, and his distaste for dogma.[...]

At a time when the US, worried about competition from China, is again emphasizing math and science education, Einstein's genius reminds us that a society's competitive advantage comes not from teaching the multiplication or periodic tables but from nurturing rebels. Grinds have their place, but unruly geeks change the world. [...]

"Imagination is more important than knowledge," Einstein later said.

So, how many children, in any school, are being taught to be like Einstein? School and so called "education" are too focused on memorization and knowledge, rather than applying ideas and even stretching the [old] ideas.

Copyright 2007, DannyHSDad, All Rights Reserved.