For the holistic development of children, leisure time activities play a very important role. Some people are of
the opinion that such activities should be decided and organized by the parents, whereas others opine that
children should have the freedom to decide how they want to utilize that free time. This essay intends to delve
into both perspectives. l, however, side with the latter view.
It is easy to see why some people opine that planning free time activities should be in the hands of parents.
They say that children are not mature enough to understand the value of time, and may end up wasting their
free time through unproductive extra-curricular activities. So, parents should plan the available free time for
their children, as they want the best for their children. Parents know their children well, in terms of their likes
and dislikes, and also their interests. They can organize activities that will help their children, s holistic
development. For example, they can have them play outdoor games, learn music or dance, develop their
creative skills llke drawing and painting and so on. Parents also need to ensure that the time spent on
unproductive activities, like watching TV, playing video games, etc. should be minimized, and they should set a
time limit for such activities.
However, I firmlv believe that children should have the liberty of deciding how they want to spend their leisure
time. Research has proven that the children, who perform unstructured free-time activities, are more creative,
and become more successful when they grow up. lf children are always told what to do and follow a set of rules,
it hinders their cognitive, emotional and creative development. Such children may not be very good at decision
making, planning and setting goals. The children, who are in-charge of choosing how they spend their free time,
are more likely to have better concentration levels and become more successful in their studies and later, in
their professional lives.
Furthermore, if children have the independence to choose the activities for their free time, it may bring to light
some hidden talent of the child, which may otherwise go unnoticed if they do only what is planned for them.
For example, a child may be good at dance, and maybe parents notice him practicing steps after seeing some
programme on TV. They may not have planned dance classes in his/her free time on their own. But, on noticing
that talent, they may then help their child exploit his/her talent. So, even if the free time planning is left on the
children, the role played by the parents cannot be undermined. They should definitely supervise their children
to notice some hidden ability, and also to ensure that they do not harm themselves.
To sum up, I would like to reiterate that children and youngsters should be given the independence to decide
their free-time activities for the complete development of their mind, body and skills, but at the same time their
parents' watchful eye should be there over them.
For the holistic development of
children
, leisure
time
activities
play a
very
important
role.
Some
people
are of
the opinion that such
activities
should
be decided
and organized by the
parents
, whereas others opine that
children should have the freedom to decide how they want to utilize that
free
time
. This essay intends to delve
into both perspectives.
l
,
however
, side with the latter view.
It is easy to
see
why
some
people
opine that planning
free
time
activities
should be in the hands of parents.
They say that
children
are not mature
enough
to understand the value of
time
, and may
end
up wasting their
free
time
through unproductive extra-curricular
activities
.
So
,
parents
should plan the available
free
time
for
their
children
, as they want the best for their
children
.
Parents
know their
children
well, in terms of their likes
and dislikes, and
also
their interests. They can organize
activities
that will
help
their
children
, s holistic
development.
For example
, they can have them play outdoor games, learn music or dance, develop their
creative
skills
llke
drawing and painting and
so
on.
Parents
also
need to ensure that the
time
spent on
unproductive
activities
, like watching TV, playing video games, etc. should
be minimized
, and they should set a
time limit for such activities.
However
, I
firmlv
believe that
children
should have the liberty of deciding how they want to spend their leisure
time. Research has proven that the
children
, who perform unstructured free-time
activities
, are more creative,
and become more successful when they grow up.
lf
children
are always
told
what to do and follow a set of
rules
,
it hinders their cognitive, emotional and creative development. Such
children
may not be
very
good
at
decision
making
, planning and setting goals. The
children
, who are in-charge of choosing how they spend their
free
time,
are more likely to have better concentration levels and become more successful in their studies and later, in
their professional
lives
.
Furthermore
, if
children
have the independence to choose the
activities
for their
free
time
, it may bring to light
some
hidden talent of the child, which may
otherwise
go unnoticed if they do
only
what
is planned
for them.
For example
, a child may be
good
at dance, and maybe
parents
notice him practicing steps after seeing
some
programme
on TV. They may not have planned dance classes in his/her
free
time
on their
own
.
But
, on noticing
that talent, they may then
help
their child exploit his/her talent.
So
, even if the
free
time
planning is
left
on the
children, the role played by the
parents
cannot
be undermined
. They should definitely supervise their children
to notice
some
hidden ability, and
also
to ensure that they do not harm themselves.
To sum up, I would like to reiterate that
children
and youngsters should be
given
the independence to decide
their free-time
activities
for the complete development of their mind, body and
skills
,
but
at the same
time
their
parents' watchful eye should be there over them.