Since children have a great deal of leisure time, what they should do during this time would be a concern of many parents. Some suggest organized activities as a beneficial choice for children, while others contend that they should be allowed to do whatever they want. In this essay, I will elaborate on both views, and give my own opinion.
On the one hand, planned activities would benefit children in various ways. This approach requires parents to organize ahead, and thus such activities would generally be proved to be advantageous and bring relatively no harm to children. For example, parents might choose to arrange for their children to learn dance, violin, and then play toys with their friends, which means the leisure time children have is devoted to healthy, exciting activities, fostering the development of their mentality and social skills. What is more, as they are arranged with certain consideration, children can utilize their free time effectively without any time being wasted. This advantage would be significant in this technological era, in which whenever children get bored, they are immediately tethered to the screen.
Meanwhile, using free time spontaneously would also foster children’s development in a distinct way, although such an option can expose them to a number of potentially risky scenarios. Since children have a great deal of control over what they want to do, they can devote all the time they have to their favourite activity, whether it be artistic or logical. By spending more time on the task they prefer, children gradually discover their talent and might have a chance to nurture it. However, in some cases, if their favourite activity happens to be a harmful one, such as playing violent games or surfing the Internet, their outlook might be distorted and, disturbingly, their mental and social development will be negatively affected as well. In these cases, parents should pay close attention to what their children watch, or even switch to the other method, which is organizing activities for their children.
In summary, while both approaches bring benefits in two different ways, planning a schedule for children’s activities would be a safer choice as parents can ensure the positive effects of these activities and discard any potential risks. Allowing children to act freely, on the other hand, lets them discover themselves more, yet is not suitable for all children. The most feasible option, in my opinion, is that parents should recognize whether their children are addicted to the screen or not, and act accordingly.