Let Them Be – How “Time Out” From Technology Can Boost Creativity In Preschoolers

How “Time Out” Really Works

Teaching has always come naturally to me. I think in part, because of my past experiences. When I was a kid before Time Out was ever a thing, my mother the trailblazer used it on me. No other form of discipline worked. She “says” all other forms made me angry and angrier. I mean, I am sweet. Like a cupcake. Most people will tell you. I can’t believe my mom would ever say such a thing about me. (Did I just see lightning?)

So, my mom in all of her wisdom would sit me in the middle of my bed until my fit or punishment was over. I would sit there. I would sigh. A lot. And loudly. Then, when it seemed like forever, boredom sat in.

I began to look at the patterns on my bedspread. I would start to make up stories about them, much like cloud watching. If you’ve never cloud watched, you should. If you haven’t, why not? I would also stare at the popcorn ceiling and try to see if I could find faces in the patterns. I swear, yall, Jesus was staring at me. And Bugs Bunny.

I would look at the stuffed animals in my room and start talking to them like they were real people. I would ask them questions. I would answer for them in the voice I thought they should have.

Pretty soon, our conversations were intense. I was telling stories, they were laughing, (my best audience ever) until mom came and gave me 10 more minutes of “quiet time” for being loud.

Give Your Kids The Gift Of Time.

My point to this story is, give your kids time to just be.

Boredom can be a GOOD thing.

Their brains are so overloaded with information and technology, that they don’t have a chance to process it all, something I didn’t have back then (unless you count my Mattel handheld electronic football game).

As teachers, we sometimes get overloaded as well with all of the content we have to teach, all of the milestones we have to reach, all of the lessons we have to plan. We forget that preschoolers need a chance to just be.

By giving them the gift of time, they have a chance to:

1. Breathe
2. Dream
3. Explore
4. Play

They get to be a kid, something not very many of them get to do anymore.

Having that time when I was little, allowed me to be creative. I may have already gotten that gift from God in my genetic code, my mom is an awesome teacher, but I would never have known or been given the chance to discover it if I didn’t have those “time outs”. ALL THE TIME.

Just as important is scheduling brainstorming sessions that help them think and see things in a whole new way. It may spark an interest in an area that was unthought of before.

If life gets so busy, and so hectic that the only downtime for the kids is screentime, we may never discover who will be the next doctor, teacher, scientist, etc. because they have not had a chance to discover for themselves what gifts and talents they do have.

Ok. My gifts and talents were not life-changing. I grew up reading books to children like I was on Broadway and pointing out cloud formations on the playground. So, hey, I do use these skills today. Every unique one.

However, one of my students may grow up to change the world for good, and that, my friend, IS life-changing.

The Teacher’s Role

So what about you?

• How has your childhood impacted you as a teacher?
• What skills do you have today because of it?
• Was there a teacher who inspired you to dream big, or one that stifled your creativity?
• Was there a teacher that you vowed you would never be like?
• Who was your favorite teacher and why?
• How did they make you feel?

Remember your childhood teachers, because one day your students will grow up and remember you.

What do you want them to remember?

Were you too busy, too stressed, or too cranky?

Did you disengage frequently by putting a movie on or pulling out the iPads for a few moments peace?

Or will they remember how you opened up the world to new possibilities?

4 Reasons To Have Scheduled “Timeouts”

To wrap it up:

1. Kids need to breathe.
   • Teach them breathing techniques (See post below*). It helps to settle their mind and their bodies so they can focus better. I wasn’t a believer until I reached the end of my rope one day and tried it. It works.
2. Kids need to dream.
   • Schedule brainstorming sessions that help them think and see things in a whole new way. It may spark an interest in a new area unthought of before.
   • Give them a chance to learn about different careers and what they might want to be when they grow up. Create an ongoing “what I want to be when I grow up” book.
   • Learn about different places locally, nationally, and globally. Have them discuss where they would like to go and why. Create a “where I would like to go” book. Include pictures.
   • Ask the 5 W questions to get their brain engaged.
     • (Who would you live with, what would you do, where would you live/work, when will this happen, how are you going to get there, why does being a/going to__________sound fun? etc).
     • You could even ask silly questions to get their creative juices flowing like, “If you were a purple frog, what would you eat, where would you live, what made you purple? etc. Kids love that kind of question and I love hearing their replies. You will too!
3. Kids need to explore.
   • Discuss different shapes of clouds and play “I spy”. Some kids can see the weirdest things in the sky!
     • Like seeing Bugs Bunny and Jesus staring down at me, I began to create patterns and see beyond the literal. It was an exercise that was an important milestone and important for your class as well. It may be difficult for some to “see” things at first, but the more they practice creativity, the easier it will become.
   • Go for a nature walk.
     • Ask creative questions while pointing out different shapes, colors, and textures.
     • “What would you do differently if you could design this?
     • What would this animal do if it had wings or 10 heads?
     • What color would you paint this flower if you could?
     • Do you think it can talk?
     • What do think it would say?”
     • Ask the 5 W’s again but just be as creative as possible.
     • Also, take a magnifying glass and look at a whole new world at your feet.
     • The point is to get them to start observing the world around them, not a screen.
4. Kids need to play.
   • Believe it or not, I have had to actually teach some kids how to do that. Play along with them. Get down on the floor. The more you act goofy, the more they will want to engage.
   • Pretend you are at the store or a restaurant in your home living center. Build a hospital, spaceship, or a time machine in the block center. Have them tell a story or act out a book in the book center to name a few. (See my Theme Learning Lesson Plans for more ideas)
   • Kids learn by example. Play. Smile. Laugh. They will too.

Have at least one OR MORE hours a day where kids can be without electronics or distractions.

Additionally, find opportunities for brainstorming sessions throughout the day, individually or as a whole class.

THEN LET THEM BE!

Let them breathe, dream, play, and explore. Soon they will discover all on their own their unique likes and talents that you can help foster. Who knows? The future might be in your very own classroom.

(*Here is the post on Breathing. https://preschoolsos.com/breathing-and-the-brain-part-1/

If you would like more information on ways to boost creativity in your preschoolers, send me an email. I would love to help! holley@preschoolsos.com