In a world increasingly driven by productivity and artificial demands, raising children to become independent adults requires a fundamental shift in focus. According to health journalist Jodi Wilson, we must prioritise teaching them how to rest, the daily importance of nourishing food, the benefits of sunlight on their limbs, and the essential connection with trusted people. This perspective comes as Australia implements a social media ban, offering kids a chance to experience what many millennials now long for: the simplicity of a logged-off life.
The Lost Art of Boredom and Free Play
Parents are urged to introduce their children to the blank slate of boredom, characterised by languid days without rigid plans. As children reach adulthood, parents often reflect on the ordinary moments—like a curious face in the rear-view mirror or a small hand tugging on a skirt—that define early parenthood. These memories highlight the comfort found in the humdrum of home life, a stark contrast to today's scheduled childhoods.
We are inundated with parenting advice from birth, yet few discussions address the need to show children how to be human in an overwhelming world. Unlike robots, humans are part of nature, with energy and productivity that should not be forced into constant activity. However, society conditions us to chase aspirational goals, always seeking the next big thing, even in parenting decisions.
The Dangers of a Packed Schedule
Modern childhood is largely scheduled, teaching kids to be busy and ingraining the belief that a full diary equates to success. This approach risks eradicating breathing space, leading to a decline in mental health for children and teenagers, and contributing to an epidemic of exhaustion and burnout among adults. Research indicates that the brain, specifically the hippocampus, segments each day into chapters based on what we pay attention to, influencing our life stories and memories.
Wilson reflects on this, questioning whether chapters like "scrolling" dominate our minds. For children, growing up in a world that eliminates waiting and wandering deprives them of mellow states vital for a bright mind and settled nervous system. Australia's social media ban may help this generation rediscover boredom and the sweet simplicity of offline living.
Curiosity and Dopamine: The Benefits of Boredom
Introducing children to boredom is now seen as a parental duty. In this uncomfortable state, curiosity emerges, helping them understand the world and their place in it. Curiosity increases neural activity in brain circuits that release dopamine, the feel-good hormone associated with reward and motivation. This not only keeps them focused but also improves memory, guiding them toward what they want to explore and create.
Simple Yet Essential Lessons
To raise independent adults, we must teach children the basics: how to rest, the importance of daily nourishing food, sun exposure, and connections with trusted individuals. Comforts like a favourite movie, a warm bed, or a hot drink during stress are simple yet crucial. In the busyness of normal life, these reminders are often overlooked as we grapple with the incessant pull of phones, which yank us away from the present moment.
Tiny moments collectively make a life, and our memories, patched together haphazardly, tell the story of who we are and who our children are becoming. Jodi Wilson, a health journalist and bestselling author, emphasises these points in her work, including her book A Brain That Breathes: Essential Habits For an Overwhelming World. As we navigate a productivity-driven era, fostering these habits in children could be key to their well-being and independence.
