One of the greatest problems in any society is the harnessing of the energy and vitality of its youth. It is also one of the greatest difficulties of parenthood!
"Johnny! Please sit still! Stop jerking and jiggling!" shouts the exasperated mother of a 10-year-old. "What's the matter?" she fumes. "Can't you ever be still and quiet?"
Parents have been saying things like that for centuries. Virtually all "normal" children are bundles of pent-up, explosive energy. And that energy must be released! When it is bottled up, suppressed and thwarted, it builds up incredible pressures in children. The longer energy is suppressed the more frustrated the child becomes.
Have you ever experienced this? You are driving along the freeway or the motorway. It's an extended trip of several hours. There are few stops except for gasoline or "rest" stops. The faces of the children in the backseat may be seen in the rearview mirror as they sit, squirm, struggle, wrestle, tussel, tug and pull away at each other.
The longer they have to sit there, the worse their attitudes will become. Sometimes they will fall asleep in sheer frustration. They may keep saying, "When are we going to get there, Daddy?" "How much longer?" "I have to go to the bathroom." (He just went 15 minutes earlier!)
The longer this agitation continues, the more irritable the parents become. After all, they would like a nice quiet, relaxing trip!
Before long an explosion takes place. "Will you kids shut up!! Just sit still and be quiet! We'll get there when we get there and I don't want to hear any more about it!". Sulk. Pout. Fume. Resent. The atmosphere in the car has degenerated considerably since the trip began. Why?
Simply because the parents did not understand, nor know how to cope with the factor of their children's energy! It's a law of nature--energy must be released. It must be burned up, utilized.
Yet children often lack the wisdom to know how to rightly utilize their own vast energy reserves. We are told that children left to their own devices, often use their energy in a destructive manner.
This is one of the principal reasons why children cooped up and left alone in a big-city environment often resort to acts of violence and vandalism. Children cut loose from the warm and creative environment of a close and loving family unit frequently become youthful vagrants prowling the streets and alleys of cities looking for destructive outlets for those pent-up energies. Such neglect on the part of parents is one of the key factors involved in the formation of adolescent street gangs.
A child should never be cut totally adrift from his family unit. He should be able to find expression within it. He should never be left exclusively to his or her own devices during those formative years. (This is not to say a child should not be taught independence, self-reliance and responsibility.) Parents must strive to understand their child's need for constant activity and provide ways for the release of that energy.
Family outings, sports activities, hikes, camp-outs, musical endeavors, building projects, hobbies, wrestling matches with Dad, walks and runs, jogging as a family, exercising together are all invaluable and constructive outlets that can be shared by all of the family.
Children should be taught and encouraged to "think family." Ideally, the family environment should be the most enjoyable place for a child to be. It should be the most interesting, the most satisfying.
A child who cannot find satisfaction and activity within his family unit will seek it elsewhere. Responsible, perceptive parents will recognize this need and seriously strive to provide the right kind of exciting, interest-filled environment for their children. Granted, it takes time and planning. But it pays off.
"Johnny! Please sit still! Stop jerking and jiggling!" shouts the exasperated mother of a 10-year-old. "What's the matter?" she fumes. "Can't you ever be still and quiet?"
Parents have been saying things like that for centuries. Virtually all "normal" children are bundles of pent-up, explosive energy. And that energy must be released! When it is bottled up, suppressed and thwarted, it builds up incredible pressures in children. The longer energy is suppressed the more frustrated the child becomes.
Have you ever experienced this? You are driving along the freeway or the motorway. It's an extended trip of several hours. There are few stops except for gasoline or "rest" stops. The faces of the children in the backseat may be seen in the rearview mirror as they sit, squirm, struggle, wrestle, tussel, tug and pull away at each other.
The longer they have to sit there, the worse their attitudes will become. Sometimes they will fall asleep in sheer frustration. They may keep saying, "When are we going to get there, Daddy?" "How much longer?" "I have to go to the bathroom." (He just went 15 minutes earlier!)
The longer this agitation continues, the more irritable the parents become. After all, they would like a nice quiet, relaxing trip!
Before long an explosion takes place. "Will you kids shut up!! Just sit still and be quiet! We'll get there when we get there and I don't want to hear any more about it!". Sulk. Pout. Fume. Resent. The atmosphere in the car has degenerated considerably since the trip began. Why?
Simply because the parents did not understand, nor know how to cope with the factor of their children's energy! It's a law of nature--energy must be released. It must be burned up, utilized.
Yet children often lack the wisdom to know how to rightly utilize their own vast energy reserves. We are told that children left to their own devices, often use their energy in a destructive manner.
This is one of the principal reasons why children cooped up and left alone in a big-city environment often resort to acts of violence and vandalism. Children cut loose from the warm and creative environment of a close and loving family unit frequently become youthful vagrants prowling the streets and alleys of cities looking for destructive outlets for those pent-up energies. Such neglect on the part of parents is one of the key factors involved in the formation of adolescent street gangs.
A child should never be cut totally adrift from his family unit. He should be able to find expression within it. He should never be left exclusively to his or her own devices during those formative years. (This is not to say a child should not be taught independence, self-reliance and responsibility.) Parents must strive to understand their child's need for constant activity and provide ways for the release of that energy.
Family outings, sports activities, hikes, camp-outs, musical endeavors, building projects, hobbies, wrestling matches with Dad, walks and runs, jogging as a family, exercising together are all invaluable and constructive outlets that can be shared by all of the family.
Children should be taught and encouraged to "think family." Ideally, the family environment should be the most enjoyable place for a child to be. It should be the most interesting, the most satisfying.
A child who cannot find satisfaction and activity within his family unit will seek it elsewhere. Responsible, perceptive parents will recognize this need and seriously strive to provide the right kind of exciting, interest-filled environment for their children. Granted, it takes time and planning. But it pays off.
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