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Daydreaming
There was an interesting story recently about the research behind daydreaming and the value of letting your mind drift.
About seven paragraphs in, there's a section from a researcher in England who found that the children she studied automatically turned on the TV when they got bored. She decided that they hadn't learned how to use their own imagination, didn't have enough "empty time," the story says.
With very few exceptions, my three-year-old watches no TV. And she has an incredibly active imagination, which we encourage very much. She's really good at entertaining herself.
What's going on at your house? I'm sure that kids who watch TV can have pretty active imaginations too.
Comments
That's a really interesting topic. It's funny because after reading that and thinking about it, I think it can work both ways.
I know some of my son's friends (he's 4) that watch TV all the time. And they have an incredibly creative imagination, whereas some of them seem to rely on TV for any creativity that reaches their mind.
I was also a believer of little TV for my son, and he has a great imagination. I've noticed he tends to want to play with toys more than those friends of his who watch lots TV. I think he's happier to create that little world in his mind and go off to wherever it takes him with his figurines!
I think it probably depends on what the children watch too. Different shows would most likely stimulate different ideas in children's minds. I guess if they're watching the news, CSI and other shows with their parents all the time it's going to kill their imagination a little!
Amanda
I agree with you - I think it can work both ways. One of my daughter's friends who seems to watch a lot of TV acts out characters from the show he watches - always Thomas the Tank Engine, etc. My daughter acts out stories that are entirely her own. Both kinds of play are imaginative ... but different kinds.
yes agreed.... its wen the child starts acting out the role of a serial killer that we need to be worried about what they're watching!
Amanda