Friday, February 29, 2008

A good story

Here it is; that extra day, seen just once every four years. Funny; so far it seems to be exactly like all of the rest of the days of the year. Not much is happening in the news and no storms. Just like yesterday.

There was a great story on NPR yesterday, all about ‘executive function’ and how it is suspected that our current cultural focus on organized play for our children has caused an increase in the diagnosis of ADHD.

“…when kids are in leagues and lessons, they are usually being regulated by adults. That means they are not able to practice regulating themselves.”

Of course it’s a subject that is on my mind a lot, as I’m one of the few people in the world that thinks that Little League should be outlawed. Believing instead that children should be furnished with a ball and a bat and sent outside to create their own games. No, you don’t need a glove. If you need one, you will mow some lawns or do some other chores raise the money to buy your own. Get over it!

This leads me think about the fact that we are so happy when our children are imaginative. (Their natural state) “Oh, Johnnie has such a great imagination!” and then we do our best to stifle it with organized play.

Sure, I’m just an old guy; ranting, as elders are prone to do. But I’m from that generation that didn’t see much television while growing up. I was ten when we had our first one. And Little League in those days was not democratic. Only the very best could even think of trying out for a team. “Not democratic’…duh! That’s how life really is! Might as well learn that when you’re young and resilient.

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