Menu
Parenting
By Clara Jennings
Updated: April 15, 2021
Originally Published: May 22, 2017
I discovered some time ago that my children thrive at the beach with just a bucket and a shovel. Nothing else is needed.
No massive shovels, no molds for sea creatures or castles, and certainly no baskets full of geometric shape molds. Forget about Frisbees, kites, bocce balls, or kiddie horseshoe games. No plastic dinosaurs or action figures. When we bring too much gear, it becomes a burden, and we start off feeling irritable.
Then we feel compelled to engage with all the items, leading to time spent making identical dolphins or chasing after wayward kites as if they might vanish. Those plastic dinosaurs end up buried, and in the end, no sandcastles are constructed. The buckets aren’t utilized to carry seawater. Instead of joy, it turns into an overwhelming experience for everyone involved.
This is not surprising. Research by consumer scientists Ravi Mehta and Meng Zhu shows that, in essence, the more items you have at your disposal, the less creative you tend to be. In simpler terms, fewer resources encourage people to discover innovative uses for the items they do possess. This presents a significant challenge for American parents who favor material possessions. We really, really love stuff (just take a look at the Easter basket frenzy, the Christmas rush, or the birthday celebrations). When we give a gift, we believe it expresses love, stops whining, or simply provides a desired item that brings happiness. We are conditioned to seek joy in material things, which results in American children amassing an excessive number of toys.
When I say that American kids possess “way too many toys,” I mean my children have actual buckets filled with plastic dinosaurs and action figures. They own several building toys: wooden blocks, Legos, Lincoln Logs, a marble run, Magformers, and Laser Pegs. Their collection of swords is almost like a mini arsenal, and their costumes occupy an entire 3×3 Ikea cube, featuring at least five different plastic Star Wars outfits. I dread discussing the stuffed animal situation and won’t reveal how long it took to sort through the Legos. My kids epitomize the concept of having too much stuff, and I’m not exempt from this.
At this moment, they are playing pirates. Each child is donning a specific pirate outfit and wielding a corresponding pirate sword. However, as they sit there with Legos, they must improvise boats, flags, weapons, and mini-figures. Lacking dedicated pirate resources, they are compelled to think creatively—even more so than with their costumes.
This need to explore nature is one reason children enjoy it so much. When they venture into the woods, they carry little more than a water bottle. The items my kids find to play with there include rocks and sticks. Nothing is ornate, and nothing has a predetermined purpose. A stick can become a sword, a gun, or even a house component. A rock could serve as a projectile or a meal. They can literally build bridges, climb trees, or leap from rock to rock, pretending there’s lava lurking below.
Unstructured play in nature provides a break from the overwhelming clutter that usually surrounds them. It grants them the freedom to be creative.
The issue isn’t solely about the quantity of items. There is an abundance of things in nature, too, but those objects lack designated uses. They don’t come with packaging or instruction manuals. There are specific ways to interact with a Han Solo action figure or a plastic Spinosaurus, for instance. The options are constrained.
As children accumulate more belongings, each item embodies numerous roles, making it less likely for them to think creatively. It’s challenging for kids to be inventive and think outside the box when the box is right in front of them, showing them how to engage with that toy.
On the other hand, having fewer possessions allows their innate creativity to flourish. In the absence of the beach’s overwhelming bounty, my children actually utilize the bucket and shovel to dig and engage with their surroundings. They construct castles, transport seawater, and search for shells to use as decorations or fortifications. They might attempt to dig a pool to fill with water or create a channel leading to the ocean. This form of play significantly differs from the repetitive task of stamping dolphins. It’s child-led, ever-evolving, and mentally stimulating. They tackle challenges and devise solutions while establishing their own rules. Most importantly, this type of play is not prepackaged; it is creative.
This article was originally published on May 22, 2017.
For more insights about parenting and creative play, you might find this excellent resource on home insemination enlightening. Additionally, check out this informative piece on what to expect during your first IUI treatment.
Summary
Having too many possessions can stifle creativity in children. Research shows that limited resources encourage innovative thinking. When children are overwhelmed by toys, they may struggle to engage their imaginations. In contrast, unstructured play in nature allows them to explore freely and creatively without predetermined uses for objects. Encouraging less clutter and more imaginative play can lead to richer experiences for kids.