"Children Need to be Encouraged at a Young Age..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Monday)

Judith Whitehead is back guest-blogging on this awesome Inspirational Monday about one of the many ways that "These times they are a changin!" Judy lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the medical profession for over 30 years.

Children Need to be Encouraged at a Young Age

In today’ s times of electronics, technology, and the world wide web, we are starting to ignore the creative gifts that our children have and their potential to do something great because they are always “occupied” these days. It is so much easier to put a child in front of a video, I pod or an electronic “toy” than to let them be creative.

Recently we went out to breakfast with our family as we have done since our children were born. We always brought a small box of toys, crayons or books for them to do as we waited for the meal to come. I couldn't believe what we saw…a small computer on the table and the toddler watching a cartoon at the table. There was no communication between the parents and the child, just the child sitting in a trance viewing the movie. Is that what technology has done to our new generation of families? I still believe that kids need to be encouraged to be creative and expand on their natural talents and gifts.

When my son was 10 years old he expressed an interest in playing a guitar. He picked up an old one of his dads and starting plunking at the strings. It wasn't long before we bought him a small used one of his own and that was the start of his destiny. He had talents that we tapped into that we would have never known had we not gotten him that guitar. He could play by ear and could pick up any song he heard. He went on to recording, playing and became a well known luthier in one of the biggest guitar stores to the rich and famous in California.

Our children have hidden gifts that are just waiting to be discovered. Our parents of today need to put a cap on the electronics and save time for interaction with their children; real old fashioned conversation will give them a great foundation for their adult years and let them discover their gifts.

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.