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> Modern children are also deprived of another key ingredient that has powered many a young person down the road to a career in science: boredom, and lots of it
by tribune 11y ago
> Modern children are also deprived of another key ingredient that has powered many a young person down the road to a career in science: boredom, and lots of it.
I've always had a little pet theory that boredom is actually a major driver behind a lot of innovations, and doesn't just matter in children.
- radiorental 11y agoAgreed. Boredom is a motivator, the issue is how it's relieved. The easy fix is gaming, it's like junk food for boredom hunger. Take away the junk food and you get reading/tinkering/creative play etc etc.
- TeMPOraL 11y agoI disagree about it; I'd say gaming is actually a great way to exercise creativity and to progress to more... practical stuff. There is, on the other hand, one "easy fix" that most kids end up taking - it is spending time with people. Hanging out. It's an infinite time sink. You can get bored or tired with a video game, but other people are the best at inventing something new to do or experience. Except if all the kids do is hanging out with each other, they aren't exactly learning much. So I guess it depends on who you want your kid to become. If you're aiming for a "people person", then by all means, cut out computer time. But if you want an engineer, I'd personally stick with video games.
- lfowles 11y ago> You can get bored or tired with a video game, but other people are the best at inventing something new to do or experience. That sounds like a driver of innovation too! Maybe the real issue is that kids should be taught motivational skills to make hanging out "productive".