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Think Like a Kid
September 2, 2010
True generosity requires more of us than kindly impulse. Above all it requires imagination — the capacity to see people in all their perplexities and needs, and to know how to expend ourselves effectively for them.
-I.A.R. Wylie
It's not every day that I get to cite an item from my home town of Fargo, but today is one of those days:
Researchers Darya Zabelina and Michael Robinson of North Dakota State University (in Fargo), in an article in Psychology Today (August 2010) advocate applying a "childlike mind-set to our daily lives" in order to boost our creativity. Zabelina explained... "It's about giving yourself permission to explore and free time to play. It would not just increase your creativity — it would also motivate you to create."
Robinson suggested these ways to boost creativity:
- View yourself in a more light-hearted fashion, perhaps by thinking of your odd (but not ego-threatening) quirks.
- Adults develop habits that narrow the range of what they think is possible. Do something spontaneous, preferably every day.
- Grownups treat errands as problems to be solved in a logical manner. Appreciate tasks as opportunities for exploration, not boring duties.
- Being present and living in the moment gives you the opportunity to appreciate fun when it occurs.
- Free time is free time. Don't fill every moment with chores.
Intellectual Emergencies: Some Reflections on Mothering and Teaching is a special contribution to the field by Lilian Katz. She has spent many years conducting workshops for teachers, parents, and students all over the world. During those workshops, she often refers to her son Stephen, and what she has termed the "intellectual emergencies" she experienced during the years he was growing up. Her responses to these "emergencies," the moments when he analyzed her actions and challenged her decisions as a parent and a teacher, are presented in this insightful, witty book.ExchangeEveryDay
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ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press, Inc. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.
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Shishu Vikash Kendra
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
09/02/2010 06:54 am
Those who cannot play with the child , cannot teach the child . Its true that
the person who wants to meet the child , should know how to create rapport
with the child through play .
INSIGHTS TRAINING & CONSULTING
Stillwater, MN, United States
09/02/2010 05:37 am
The whole concept of teachers and directors playing more is a valid concept. Nothing worse than children having to be subjected to crabby adults.
This article follows the premis of THE PALYFUL ADULT by Sue Baldwin which offers over 500 ideas for adults to be more playful.
Thanks for focusing on the importance of adults thinking like a kid!