Creativity Versus Boredom Part 1

Dripping tap? Fix it. Flat battery? Recharge it.

Bored kids? Leave them alone and like, Little Bo Peep's sheep, not only will they come home, but they will be enriched by the journey.
So often educators and parents race to provide yet another source of entertainment or task because 'bored children' cause trouble. If they do, is it because they haven't been taught how to find contentment and inspiration from within? Have they been sufficiently bored to activate their imagination? Or has every whim been gratified instantly? Teaching a composite class of 50 students at 19 years of age was no mean feat.

No assistants, no photocopiers and no computers.
My greatest resource was the children themselves.

This was never more tested than when the principal asked me to lead the Junior Red Cross Group. What to do in the short lunch break to inspire and challenge these 6,7, and 8 year olds? Teaching basic First Aid was simple, but could I do more? The school was in a very mixed socio economic region where anti -social behaviour was not uncommon.

The Red Cross Leaders' manual announced a state -wide competition for toys, made by children, to be sent overseas.
Could this be a means of giving assistance, while at the same time helping students find depths within themselves they had never explored before? Initially when I asked the children what they thought we could do, they just stared as one blinded by light. The waiting seemed eternal. Slowly hands were raised, "Animals made from pom-poms," was the first suggestion and the ideas flowed from there. They ranged from simple concepts to, down- right daunting! Parents came to see me the next day offering materials, their time to assist if I would stay after school to help the children (I stayed every day, so that was not new!) As the project progressed, parents were keen to pass on their observations. "Leon has never been so interested in anything before. He is measuring wood so exactly.

He's always been roughshod." "Susan has become so outgoing, asking everyone she meets, for wool for her animals.

" "Ben has been successful at last.
We were starting to doubt he would ever believe in himself.

" "Making the dolls' furniture has helped Anne forget about her asthma.

Before she was so nervy about bedtime, but now she goes to bed wondering what she will make next." What started as a trickle became a mighty flowing river.

Owls, clowns, koalas, hobby horses, dolls' house furniture, trains, dolls and trucks all glued, painted sewn or strung together by under 8 year olds.

As the menagerie grew, the overflow filled the tiny store-room.

Then came time to pack it up and send it off.

Delight and satisfaction reigned.

During this time of creativity and inspiration the behaviour, academic achievements and self- esteem of the children increased markedly.
A Junior Red Cross group from a small suburban school topped the state and were duly photographed and feted as they entered the Sydney Town Hall to be awarded their prize. This scenario was repeated the following year.
However the most rewarding and lasting result was to meet up with some of the parents years later and hear from them, that they believed the stimulation and creativity their children had experienced gave rise to much wider horizons than anyone had dreamed possible.

Their children were architects and psychologists, doctors and engineers, builders and businessmen, tradesmen and nurses. They had been the first in the families to complete high school and enter TAFE or university. The raw talent was always present, but it needed coaxing out of the cocoon, the opportunity and time for the thinking process, 'to dry,' before flying off in a positive manner. For inspiration follow the link: https://www.
ezyshaid.com/ideas.
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