Being a kid is much more complicated than we may think. While there’s plenty of playing, having fun, and socialising without a care in the world, it’s these childhood years that shape our future, and make us who we are. New research is starting to show us the importance of everyday experiences during childhood in terms of development, including family time, learning, and activities for kids. The problem is that, while children on one level know what they need to thrive, they’re often unable to articulate exactly what it is.
Do they need more structure or more freedom? Do they need more play time or more educational activities? As parents, it can sometimes be difficult to know what to do for the best. If only we could see the world through a child’s eyes…
Kids Today
Surf Excel have recently launched a new project, called Kids Today, which really does let us see the world through a child’s eyes. Using bespoke state-of-the-art technology, Surf Excel have opened up a whole new world of to us parents, giving us an insight into childhood from a kids’ perspective. The insights from Surf Excel’s research into kids’ activities shows us how our children learn from their environment and the people around them, and, most importantly, directs us towards those all important factors which shape our kids’ experiences.
As you may have guessed, there is no single thing a child needs in order to be happy – it really is a blend of different aspects and activities, which work together to create experiences that kids build upon to become well-rounded adults. Based upon the findings of Surf Excel’s EyeView camera, five essential subject important to kids today have been captured:
● Play Face
Play may seem like fun, but it can also be highly educational to children. Studies have found that play ‘contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children’, whether that be structured indoor play, such as building a tower out of bricks – or unstructured, messy, outdoor play, where kids are given the ultimate freedom and encouraged to use their creativity, to make mistakes, and to learn from their surroundings.
● Busy Kids
As we’re starting to understand the association between childhood experiences and successful, happy adulthoods, many of us are encouraging our kids to have a wide range of experiences, such as partaking in after school activities, signing up for extra classes or courses, or taking up a hobby. It’s really no wonder that (according to research done by Surf Excel for the Kids Today project) an astonishing 74 percent of us think our kids are busier than we were at that age.
● City Kids
More than half of all mums interviewed for the Kids Today project reported that they would like their kids to spend less time watching TV or playing video games, but many kids living in big cities simply don’t have much opportunity to get out and about and to play in designated safe areas. These areas are important, however – footage captured by the EyeView camera demonstrates just how hectic urban environments can seem to young kids. Fortunately, there are plenty of outdoor activities that can be enjoyed in the city; we just need to use our imaginations.
● What’s it Like?
Things have changed a lot since we were kids, making it challenging for us to identify with children today, and understand their thought and action processes. As Dr Jansari, the psychologist behind the Kids Today project, states: “What might look like messing around can really be a learning experience”. Just because we don’t understand a child’s behaviour doesn’t mean that it isn’t a vital part of their development.
● Learning is Messy
Learning isn’t as straightforward as we once thought. Years ago, it was thought that the most important factor in creating successful adults was a school education, but now we’re seeing that children learn everywhere, not just the classroom. The process is quite complex and messy, but new technology is helping us to understand the complex spider web of learning more than ever before.
So, what’s it like to be a kid? It’s complicated! However, with major brands such as Surf Excel making childhood development a major focus, and with the introduction of new technology, we’re finally starting to be able to make more sense of this complex yet magical time in life.
The above post is a guest article from Surf Excel Team.
28 Responses
Interesting project…it could be an eye opener for many mothers
Yes, it sure is!! Did you have a look at the other videos on the site? They show that recreation and hands-on experiences are critical to every child’s developmental success. The project provides a fresh perspective on our belief that ‘Dirt is Good’, and that children develop best when they are allowed to move, explore, experiment and inevitably, get dirty while doing so!
Very interesting and some great information here!! ♥
Thanks Kathy! Glad you found the info useful 🙂 ♥
“Being a kid is much more complicated than we may think.” True, but a large part of the complication is due to unrealistic pressures put on kids by parents and other elders.
Bringing up a kid is not simple, but it’s not as complicated as it is made out to be.
I know what you mean, but in these modern times, parenting is not as simple and as easy as what it was a few years ago!
True ..Kids today learn from everything and They are no more treated like kids..they are forced to grow up before they are ready
Yes, we live in rapidly evolving world and the rules apply to kids too!
I found your blog! Sometimes Google Plus can be a little confusing.
Being a kid can be tough. I think sometimes people forget how difficult it can be, unless they had an abusive or particularly difficult childhood. They remember the fun and games but forget the feelings of unsureness that one goes through.
Hi The Real Cie. Good to see you here!! Yes, I find navigating through Google Plus a bit confusing too. Yes, life’s not easy for kids today, it is tough growing up with so much of competition, pressures and uncertainties too.
Very informative article…to be frank tmrw’s generation really scares me… all they are into are tablets and computers…they are very poor while socializing with people but do it well on texting…don’t know what the world’s going to become…
hope they do make sense of this complicated gen!
You echo my sentiments, Danny! The new generation scares me too. Guess, for this very reason, we need to focus on them and understand them better so that we can guide them well. So, projects like these are really helpful to bridge that gap!
This is SO true, Shilpa! My daughter just started signs and such on the side of the road one day, and it’s not something we had taught her or gone over with her. Maybe it was osmosis! :O)
Oh, we are dealing with gen next and they are way smarter than we were at their age!!
Shilpa,
Thanks for sharing. I am asking our daughter and son to read this as they have young children.
Take care
Thank you so much, Mr Jack! Appreciate it!
This looks like an interesting project. I especially value the “Learning is Messy” part. That is so true!
This is a wonderful project, indeed!. Now the focus is on learning by doing, so guess, getting their hands dirty to learn is a given!!
This is a wonderful project they have taken up!!!
Oh yes, it is!! 🙂
Excellent post. Today’s kids are more intelligent and knowledgeable than the previous generation.
Well said, the competition, the exposure is much greater than our times and thus they are more aware and more sharper and more intellectually sophisticated!
I too believe the whole world is a classroom and children being non judgmental and spongy absorb and learn faster from their surroundings. Playtime is essential part of childhood but shilpa, urban children don’t just lack infrastructure but also the competitive parents push their wards into many tuition classes. children hop from maths tuition to french tuition to coaching for various professional courses. many have no play time. Wish urban parents especially realize this, but unfortunately parents themselves are into so many things that they have no time to realize this.
I hear you Asha. Actually it is a vicious cycle and it is tough to come out of it!
With the kind of exposure kids have now is very dangerous and educative,both.Add to that is the absence of working mothers can make it too trcky.
It depends upon the parents to hold their hands and show the right path.
Parents have a far bigger and a challenging role today, than the ones of the earlier generation in guiding and nurturing their children!
Great blog 😉
🙂 Thanks Cianna.