The development of children has always been a pressing challenge for both parents and society. Some people argue that youngsters should spend the whole part of their leisure time with family members; while others contend that it might be unnecessary or negative to do that. This essay discusses both perspectives before my own viewpoint is presented.
On the one hand, spending time with families could further close relations, constructing mutual understanding. Family activities are conducive to bonding, which allows children to build trust and gain a sense of security and belonging with their parents. In addition, with enough family interactions, children are able to grow in a supportive environment, and thus be more confident and mentally stable. For instance, a child spending much time with his own family usually tackles difficulties more bravely and calmly, and he would be more willing to ask for advice or help from his family members due to trust and reliability.
Conversely, interacting with external environment can contribute to well-rounded growth for children. Engaging in extracurricular activities can help children nurture autonomy and better decision-making skills. Furthermore, exploring beyond the family unit can benefit children by enabling them to meet new friends as well as to foster a variety of skills, such as communication, teamwork and conflict resolution strategies. For example, if a child joins a camp, he would be able to learn different tactics for completing a task with collaborative efforts and excellent creativity.
In conclusion, spending time with families could be beneficial for establishing strong family relationship and mental well-being; however, it is equally significant for a child to explore and develop in other areas. I believe that the holistic development of a child could be achieved with a balanced approach by combining both of family activities and social exploration.