Friday, August 18, 2006

Ironically

Yout's going to be six months tomorrow my how time flies.

Was having a conversation the other day and the gist was look how times have changed. Back when we were growing up parents were all about school, school and more school. Extra curricular activities were just stuff that took you away from homework. Ok well some parents would let you learn to play the Violin or Clarinet or Piano because learning classical music was an exception in terms of extra curricular activities and was good for you but other than that it was like go do your homework and stop running around with those kids wasting your time.

Today its the opposite sort of. Its all about extra curricular stuff and not just extra curricular stuff but focused planned extra curricular stuff. Swimming lessons at 4, soccer at 5, skating at 6:30, piano at 7:30, this and that lessons, play time guided by adults. 3 year olds in soccer and t-ball leagues, what just happened to kicking a ball around with the neighbor's kids regardless of their ages? And when did the focus switch from school, school, school to must have child pay to do everything under the sun in an effort to make them well rounded.

Forget a well rounded our parents wanted to make sure we took school seriously and were able to get jobs when we graduated. lol

Anyway its just a comment, I think I stand somewhere in the middle on this. Moderation. I'm more of a play but chuck the adults and the regimented time scheduling kind of guy. Think those Brazilian superstar football players were playing in pee wee soccer leagues at age 3 over in Rio? Hell to the Naw they were probably just kicking some makeshift ball against the wall with a bunch of other kids in a favela while their moms screamed at them to come finish their homework.

I'm just saying.

19 comments:

Honest said...

Wow I can't believe your son is 6months either lol! I just remember reading your blog about him being born just a few months ago.

There is soooo much pressure and sooo much competition between parents to make sure "their kid" is in top this and that and I believe that is what's forcing people to have so many planned activities for their kids. Also now a days with two working parents planned activities gives the parents more free time or work time I guess.

Melody said...

Six months sure does fly by. In another six months U can start preparin' little J for his World Cup career:)

Luke Cage said...

Ain't that something brotha J. When little man came into the world, I recall my hiatus was still ongoing and now look at where we are today. I think Miss Honest pretty much summed up my thoughts. Although I wonder what I would be doing if I were a parent, I suspect that it would probably be along the same lines. Maybe if he or she decided to be an artist, I may not wonder too much about physical extra-curricular activities. But its just the sign of the times today man.

Miz JJ said...

Time does fly.

I can say from experience (I was an a soccer aunt) that people don't want their kids playing outside unsupervised (overhyped fear of child predators) so everything is scheduled and organized. It's crazy. However, I think that sports are very important for a girl and if I had a daughter she'd play sports until she begged to quit.

Scratchie said...

Six months already...wow. I think they need a reasonable balance between school and extra curric.

Gela said...

It's because people realize nowadays that sports can be so lucrative. Plus it can take you places. All these track, football, swimming scholarships. Doing well in sports can mean no need to pay expensive University fees, not to mention the money yu can make if you're doing well in the sports.

But with all that though, that children needs unstructured play time in addition to the regimented, structured one, to aid in their development.

Mad Bull said...

My yute does swimming lessons. Over the summer, every now and then he went to a "summer camp", mostly to give Natty a break. I need to get him to some of these things though, or he will spend all his free time in front de playstation, see, neither his mom or I want to go outside to watch him play (its too hot) and we can't let him go outside by himself (seven pit bulls surround us and they get loose every now and then). Its all arranged play dates for him so far... :-(
Now I want to enroll him in tae kwon do or karate classes... we shall see how that flies...

Deelze said...

Six months a ready Jdid!?!?!?!?

You have got to be kidding me...your wife just gave birth!

Wow you are right time does fly.


~Smooches~

Organized Noise said...

My mother was very pro-extra curricular activities. Then again, she worked two jobs, so she was just happy that I found something to occupy my time since she couldn't spend time with me. I did everything from the bowling team, to the baseball team, to video classes. The only thing that she asked was that I kept my grades up, which I did.

Unknown said...

You're right Jdid, time does fly!

I say, "Let the children play". I am not all for the strict timetable for extra curricular activities. I think children should have some free time to just play, but they should be balanced with school work.

Abeni said...

There is a place for both.But,I'd say if the child shows some definite talent thenI'd encourage it.Still,there are limits to everything

Marc M said...

Sometimes I feel sorry for the kids forced to pursue extracurricular activities along the lines of their parents desires instead of their own.

Jazz said...

It happens overnight.

Kids need outlets to be well-rounded. Have fun and enjoy every minute.

Oh yeah, don't forget to show us pics along the way. (smile)

Rose said...

Six months already...doesn't time just fly? Around this time there are some parents ready to put a bat, golf club, microphone in their childs' hand. I have met parents who want their child to make all kinds of money for the family, so they are starting early with extracurricular activities...

princessdominique said...

6 months! Congrats! Thanks for all the writing articles too!

Amadeo said...

I plan to make sure my kid has some to time to sit and daydream...after the homework is done. For real I sometimes think parents are praying their children will be good at something go pro and let them retire.

SP said...

wow! 6 months already?

I'm with you. Make Jr go play out in the street like we used to!

chrome said...

boy six months innit? time sure does fly.

could have benefited from swimming lessons at 4 though. my parents were typical nigerian. read read read read read. then play. hey i ain't complaining

Anonymous said...

it seems like nowadays - in this 'computer age' and all, that if you don't [force] them into extracurricular activities that involve, well, activity - then they end up spending all their time sitting in front of a computer on msn, myspace, yahoo, etc. They don't want to 'play' outside like we did.