Self-Directed Learning

It might be surprising, but when we leave our kids alone, they learn. Not only do they learn, but they learn how and what they want to learn for themselves. Even with younger kids, I have seen boredom turn into exploration, dirt turn into mud cakes, and paper turn into inspired works of art.

This type of unstructured learning is stronger than anything we could provide them in other formats because it is based on an emotional and creative experience. That’s the best recipe for creating strong, anchored brain connections, not to mention, the best memories!

Here’s how you can create an environment for exploration:

Have unstructured playdates

Instead of coming up with activities, invite kids over to do nothing! You’ll be surprised what types of activities they come up with.

Send your kids outside and let them get dirty

If it’s not safe to send them outside, take them to a secure playground. Rolling around in the dirt sounds messy to me, but that’s how my kids’ friends learned about fireflies. Even wonder where they go during the day? I had never thought about it!

Give your kids inspiration items

Let them use a paintbrush and a piece of wood any way they would like. Suddenly the wood is a rocket ship and the paintbrush is a mustache.

Let your kids be bored

There are connections between boredom, creativity, problem-solving, and building coping skills. Think about what happens when you get bored. You either decide to change something (maybe get involved in a new activity) or you suddenly solve that problem you’ve been poring over at work with little success. Boredom can sharpen the brain and promote clarity in thinking!

Although you may hear some initial complaining when you take away structured activities and their devices, the lessons learned will be worth it in the long run! Here’s to giving our kids a chance to explore their interests and decide what kind of person they want to be!