Why don't you do what you enjoy?
Caring parents undoubtedly want only the best for their children. Be it in terms of education, nutrition or leisure activities. The latter is often put together like a healthy, balanced meal: lots of vegetables, lots of protein, some carbohydrates and as little sugar as possible. The supposedly ideal leisure activities then look something like this: lots of sport, lots of arts education, some foreign language lessons and, if possible, no computer games.
In order to achieve a learning effect, the emotional centres in the brain must be activated. This happens when something excites us.
However, there is no such thing as a prescription for balancing leisure time, and not all children need the same thing. It is much more important that children and young people can do what they enjoy. Their needs must be taken seriously, especially when it comes to how they want to organise their free time. However, this attitude has nothing to do with anti-authoritarian, alternative parenting methods, but with neurobiological processes - it makes perfect sense from a scientific point of view. The German neurobiologist and author Gerald Hüther describes the process of learning as a change in networks in the brain. This change is brought about by positive experiences. In order to achieve a learning effect, the emotional centres in the brain must be activated. This only happens when something excites us.
Room to try and fail
The midbrain then releases neuroplastic messenger substances that create new connections. It is now known that the brain absolutely needs breaks for sustainable learning success, indeed it needs to be bored. This is the only way to develop and strengthen the new connections in the brain. People therefore need enthusiasm and relaxation in equal measure if they want to develop further. This is why Hüther favours creativity and enthusiasm over pressure to perform and stress. «Meaningful leisure activities» can therefore look very different. What is meaningful is what the child enjoys doing - and of course does not harm them. Enjoyment and voluntariness are important factors here. Fear and compulsion freeze people and stifle any creativity.
«We adults must learn to accept children as they are and not as we want them to be.»
Children in particular must be given the space to try things out, look for new ways and, above all, be allowed to fail without the constant fear that a supposed failure could have negative consequences. We adults must learn to accept children as they are and not as we want them to be. This increases their self-esteem immensely, which in turn is an important prerequisite for a successful and happy adult or professional life. The choice of a hobby should therefore not be made by the parents for the children.
However, leisure and holiday activities should not only support young people in their cognitive development, but also in their social and personal development. Social contacts are particularly important for young people. They want to feel that they belong to a community and, as future adults, it is important for them to become responsible and participating members of such a community. They also need time to get involved in their groups or clubs. Participating in a leisure activity in a group promotes a sense of community, empathy and, the more diverse such groups are, the more they can break down prejudices against others. These are important prerequisites for peaceful coexistence.
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About the Pestalozzi Children's Foundation
The Pestalozzi Children's Foundation is an internationally active children's aid organisation. Children and young people have been at the centre of its activities since 1946. The Children's Village in Trogen is a place of peace-building where children from Switzerland and abroad learn to deal with cultural and social differences.
learn to deal with cultural and social differences. In twelve countries around the world, the foundation provides disadvantaged children with access to quality education.
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