During Thanksgiving celebrations, parents often face the dilemma of dealing with kids who are either too loud or too quiet, often engrossed in their iPhones. But there is a simple solution - opening the door and giving kids a watch to play outdoors while adults stay indoors. This approach not only ensures a happy holiday for adults but also an educational one for the younger relatives.

Unlock the Secret to a Happy Thanksgiving with Kids

Dealing with Noisy or Quiet Kids

Parents often find themselves in a predicament during Thanksgiving when kids are either too noisy or too quiet, often absorbed in their digital devices. It's important to find a balance. By opening the door and giving kids a watch, they can have a chance to play outdoors and explore. This allows adults to enjoy the holiday while also providing an educational opportunity for the kids. 1: Thanksgiving is a time for family togetherness, but it can also be a challenge when it comes to managing kids. Some kids may be too noisy, running around and causing a commotion, while others may be too quiet, lost in their own world. This can be especially true when kids are focused on their iPhones. By opening the door and giving them a watch, parents can encourage them to go outside and play. This not only gets them out of the house but also gives them a chance to interact with nature and other kids. 2: The watch serves as a reminder for the kids to come back inside when the big hand reaches a certain number. This helps them develop a sense of time and responsibility. It also gives them a goal to work towards and a sense of accomplishment when they complete the task. As adults, we can sit back and enjoy the holiday while knowing that the kids are having a good time outside.

The Impact of Intensive Parenting

For the past generation or two, parents have been struggling to spend time apart from their kids. They worry that if they don't constantly watch and help their kids, they will be in danger of being hurt or falling behind. This has led to intensive parenting, where parents are constantly involved in their kids' lives and activities. 1: However, a recent study published in The Journal of Child Development suggests that this approach may not be the best. The study found that when adults are told that kids actually "learn" by doing things on their own, they intervene less. This means that parents can give their kids more space to learn and grow on their own. 2: By allowing kids to do things on their own, they develop important life skills such as self-efficacy, autonomy, and resilience. These skills will serve them well in the future and help them become independent individuals.

The Yale Study on Hockey Gear

Researchers at Yale conducted a study to explore the impact of framing everyday tasks as "learning opportunities". They began by interviewing 77 parents of kindergarten-age kids and found that parents are less likely to intervene when they think their kids are learning something. 1: Then, at a children's museum in Philadelphia, they recruited 30 kids to put on hockey gear. Half the parents were told that putting on the gear was an opportunity to learn a life skill, while the other half were told it was a way to engage with the museum. The parents who were told it was a learning opportunity intervened about half as many times as the control group. 2: This study shows the power of framing everyday tasks as learning opportunities. By doing so, parents can reduce over-parenting and help their kids develop important life skills. It also shows that kids are capable of learning on their own and that we should give them the chance to do so.

The Importance of Mastering Skills

As Maria Montessori said a century ago, doing things for our kids that they are ready to do themselves deprives them of the opportunity to master a skill. And mastering a skill is what makes us feel great. 1: Whether it's perfectly browning a turkey or simply adding half a stick of margarine to Stove Top stuffing and serving it up unscorched, these are skills that kids can learn on their own. By giving them the chance to do these things, we are helping them develop confidence and independence. 2: When kids master a skill, it gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride. It also helps them build self-esteem and believe in themselves. So, let's give our kids the chance to master these skills and watch them grow.