A practical list to deinstitutionalize your child’s mind.
I wanted to create this outline to help develop our kids beyond the agenda of large corporations and institutions largely in control of their growth and outlook. In the modern world, hands-on parenting is becoming more and more endangered, leaving the youth to be raised by peers, social media, TV, and others who won’t love them unconditionally. With these quick activities below, I hope to inspire more proactivity on how we’re leading our youth. I hope the activities are as creative, engaging, educational, practical, and fun as they’ve been for my family.
Quick games to play or questions to ask to deinstitutionalize children, empower critical thinking, and expand perspective:
- What are the potential harms of social media if not used responsibly?
- What are the 5 most important things for survival?
- You’re a teacher with the same kids from the age of 5 to 18. What do you teach them to be successful in life?
- 10-minute short story. (Can redo over and over)
- What is the role of a cop? Create a tense scenario for them and ask how they would police the situation.
- What is money and what role does it play in the world?
- Write a joke or 5 minutes’ worth of a standup.
- Mental health and what people are willing to do for attention is becoming a toxic tradition. What are your thoughts as to why, how, and what would you suggest in resolving this dilemma?
- Truth and facts today are largely un-agreed upon fragmenting society. What fixes would you propose?
- Write an essay explaining what life is to you and its purpose.
- How did you fail recently and how did you feel? Are you feeling better now? If so, how, if not, what can turn it around? What did you take away from the failure?
- What one thing would you change about the world?
- Create and define a word.
- What do you think are the most important skills most people should know?
- What do you think of war and what contributes to its formation?
- What do you think about the internet & computers? How do you think cell phones and computers changed society?
- Write a story or journal entry about what you imagine your life would’ve been like in a century of your choice. In the time you’ve chosen, what are your hobbies, role(s), responsibilities, struggles, food options, accessible tools, etc.?
- What is success to you? (Cross your fingers & the answer is not “money” or “power”)
- What’s the most important tool we have? Reverse-engineer the impact its adoption had.
- What is beauty to you?
- What business would you create to solve a problem? How does it benefit your customer? What are your long-term plans for the company?
- In your perfect society, everybody is _____?
- What’s your idea of ‘good’ and ‘evil’?
- Freeze game! To be played at random. How are you feeling? What are you thinking? How are your behavior/breathing patterns/heart rate/etc.? Analyzing self-regulation.
How to turn into a game(s) you ask?
For us, we kept score of the best answers and winners won things like water balloons (increasing or reducing your chance of postgame victory), putting makeup on me, and doing some house cleaning (or not) among other redemptive measures. When in doubt, ask them what they’d like to play for. Keep it democratic!
Paint WITH them. Create WITH them. Answer them. Observe the blatant and unserved propaganda and correct it. 💙
Now Your Turn. Create beyond this.
Additional resources on rethinking parenting and outsourcing your child’s development to others:
- YouTube or books by Dr. Gabor Mate. #ad Book “Hold on to your kids”
- Jordan Peterson on the importance of play. Games Are Microcosms of Reality
- Play outside with your kids. It’s extremely important and keeps you active, fit, and revered.
- Minimize/ restrict the media they consume. Greed is preying on their insecurities, miseducation, and lack of wellness. If you have them watch media a cartoon, I’d recommend is The Tuttle Twins. Cartoon
