Release the WILD in our Children | Laurie Wright | TEDxCanmore

I have a question for you how many of

I have a question for you how many of you have kids okay good lots more than

you have kids okay good lots more than

you have kids okay good lots more than half how many of you have wild kids

awkward awkward laughing so it’s

awkward awkward laughing so it’s interesting because as parents we love

interesting because as parents we love

interesting because as parents we love to brag about our kids rightfully so

to brag about our kids rightfully so

to brag about our kids rightfully so they’re good in sports they’re good at

they’re good in sports they’re good at

they’re good in sports they’re good at school they’re good at home but we don’t

school they’re good at home but we don’t

school they’re good at home but we don’t brag about how while they are and why is

brag about how while they are and why is

brag about how while they are and why is that when wild is such a great thing to

that when wild is such a great thing to

that when wild is such a great thing to be wild kids are happy they are

be wild kids are happy they are

be wild kids are happy they are independent they’re good problem solvers

independent they’re good problem solvers

independent they’re good problem solvers wild kids are excited about everything

wild kids are excited about everything

wild kids are excited about everything wild kids love to go aside and we know

wild kids love to go aside and we know

wild kids love to go aside and we know how important that is so that’s the kind

how important that is so that’s the kind

how important that is so that’s the kind of wild that I’m talking about when I

of wild that I’m talking about when I

of wild that I’m talking about when I say arch need more of it we need to

say arch need more of it we need to

say arch need more of it we need to increase their playtime we need to let

increase their playtime we need to let

increase their playtime we need to let them get bored we need to make them go

them get bored we need to make them go

them get bored we need to make them go outside we need to release the wild in

outside we need to release the wild in

outside we need to release the wild in our children so I’m going to tell you a

our children so I’m going to tell you a

our children so I’m going to tell you a story about my son from last spring

story about my son from last spring

story about my son from last spring typically I’m a lazy parent meaning I

typically I’m a lazy parent meaning I

typically I’m a lazy parent meaning I don’t want to drive back and forth all

don’t want to drive back and forth all

don’t want to drive back and forth all day and night to activities but he

day and night to activities but he

day and night to activities but he wanted to try ball hockey it wasn’t too

wanted to try ball hockey it wasn’t too

wanted to try ball hockey it wasn’t too far from our house it was only for two

far from our house it was only for two

far from our house it was only for two months so okay it was a bit of a more of

months so okay it was a bit of a more of

months so okay it was a bit of a more of a commitment than I had anticipated it

a commitment than I had anticipated it

a commitment than I had anticipated it was one hour twice a week instead of

was one hour twice a week instead of

was one hour twice a week instead of once and there was a tournament at the

once and there was a tournament at the

once and there was a tournament at the end which is a whole weekend of driving

end which is a whole weekend of driving

end which is a whole weekend of driving back and forth to hockey games I

back and forth to hockey games I

back and forth to hockey games I survived and at the end i did my due

survived and at the end i did my due

survived and at the end i did my due diligence and did you like it would you

diligence and did you like it would you

diligence and did you like it would you like to do it again and he thought about

like to do it again and he thought about

like to do it again and he thought about it and he said well I liked it but no I

it and he said well I liked it but no I

it and he said well I liked it but no I don’t want to do it again I didn’t have

don’t want to do it again I didn’t have

don’t want to do it again I didn’t have enough time for everything else so this

enough time for everything else so this

enough time for everything else so this was actually the exact same way that I

was actually the exact same way that I

was actually the exact same way that I felt about it but I man at all with lots

felt about it but I man at all with lots

felt about it but I man at all with lots of really important things to do and

of really important things to do and

of really important things to do and he’s eight so I said what do you need

he’s eight so I said what do you need

he’s eight so I said what do you need time for I don’t understand he said I

time for I don’t understand he said I

time for I don’t understand he said I need time

need time

need time to play in my room I need time to play

to play in my room I need time to play

to play in my room I need time to play in the basement I need time to play

in the basement I need time to play

in the basement I need time to play outside and if at all possible I want to

outside and if at all possible I want to

outside and if at all possible I want to play with the neighbors I had no idea he

play with the neighbors I had no idea he

play with the neighbors I had no idea he was so busy so luckily I’m a really

was so busy so luckily I’m a really

was so busy so luckily I’m a really understanding good listening kind of a

understanding good listening kind of a

understanding good listening kind of a mom in other words i’m lazy and i have a

mom in other words i’m lazy and i have a

mom in other words i’m lazy and i have a lot of really important things to do so

lot of really important things to do so

lot of really important things to do so I listened to him and I didn’t push him

I listened to him and I didn’t push him

I listened to him and I didn’t push him into any activities this past fall

into any activities this past fall

into any activities this past fall something else that we should consider

something else that we should consider

something else that we should consider when we’re debating about our child’s

when we’re debating about our child’s

when we’re debating about our child’s activities is the difference between

activities is the difference between

activities is the difference between adult driven and child driven so most of

adult driven and child driven so most of

adult driven and child driven so most of those fabulous extracurricular

those fabulous extracurricular

those fabulous extracurricular activities are adult lead there’s rules

activities are adult lead there’s rules

activities are adult lead there’s rules the kids have to conform to the

the kids have to conform to the

the kids have to conform to the expectations of the activity compare

expectations of the activity compare

expectations of the activity compare that to child driven activities the

that to child driven activities the

that to child driven activities the child decides what to do the child

child decides what to do the child

child decides what to do the child decides what to play with the child

decides what to play with the child

decides what to play with the child decides how long to play it what the

decides how long to play it what the

decides how long to play it what the rules are and what happens to the rule

rules are and what happens to the rule

rules are and what happens to the rule breakers so in other words they are

breakers so in other words they are

breakers so in other words they are developing really important skills

developing really important skills

developing really important skills they’re developing language skills math

they’re developing language skills math

they’re developing language skills math skills problem-solving skills leadership

skills problem-solving skills leadership

skills problem-solving skills leadership skills they are actually growing their

skills they are actually growing their

skills they are actually growing their brains in really meaningful ways so if

brains in really meaningful ways so if

brains in really meaningful ways so if you’re trying to decide if the

you’re trying to decide if the

you’re trying to decide if the activities are a problem you do a self

activities are a problem you do a self

activities are a problem you do a self check and you decide as a parent are you

check and you decide as a parent are you

check and you decide as a parent are you stripped are you resentful of the

stripped are you resentful of the

stripped are you resentful of the activities are you jealous of lazy

activities are you jealous of lazy

activities are you jealous of lazy parents like me and then you do a kid

parents like me and then you do a kid

parents like me and then you do a kid check and is your kids dressed is your

check and is your kids dressed is your

check and is your kids dressed is your kid unusually tired is your child

kid unusually tired is your child

kid unusually tired is your child resembling a grumpy old man and then you

resembling a grumpy old man and then you

resembling a grumpy old man and then you can also always ask your child and you

can also always ask your child and you

can also always ask your child and you might be surprised by their answers like

might be surprised by their answers like

might be surprised by their answers like I was so if you decide to take out some

I was so if you decide to take out some

I was so if you decide to take out some of the scheduled activities from your

of the scheduled activities from your

of the scheduled activities from your child’s life you might find them for a

child’s life you might find them for a

child’s life you might find them for a little more often it’s okay it’s normal

little more often it’s okay it’s normal

little more often it’s okay it’s normal it’s to be expected and it’s actually a

it’s to be expected and it’s actually a

it’s to be expected and it’s actually a really good thing boredom is not a

really good thing boredom is not a

really good thing boredom is not a problem that we have to solve for our

problem that we have to solve for our

problem that we have to solve for our children warnham is a wave

children warnham is a wave

children warnham is a wave them to learn how to interact with the

them to learn how to interact with the

them to learn how to interact with the world around them and boredom is a

world around them and boredom is a

world around them and boredom is a really good thing that process of going

really good thing that process of going

really good thing that process of going from the dull of nothing to do too and I

from the dull of nothing to do too and I

from the dull of nothing to do too and I dia I’m excited about that whole process

dia I’m excited about that whole process

dia I’m excited about that whole process that’s called imagination so I want you

that’s called imagination so I want you

that’s called imagination so I want you to try to think of a time when you were

to try to think of a time when you were

to try to think of a time when you were bored so let’s say all your devices died

bored so let’s say all your devices died

bored so let’s say all your devices died and there’s nothing there’s nothing on

and there’s nothing there’s nothing on

and there’s nothing there’s nothing on TV and there’s no one to talk to and so

TV and there’s no one to talk to and so

TV and there’s no one to talk to and so you will kind of wander aimlessly around

you will kind of wander aimlessly around

you will kind of wander aimlessly around a little bit nothing to do and then all

a little bit nothing to do and then all

a little bit nothing to do and then all of a sudden did you feel it there’s a

of a sudden did you feel it there’s a

of a sudden did you feel it there’s a jump inside there’s a spark that gets

jump inside there’s a spark that gets

jump inside there’s a spark that gets ignited and it grows and it grows and

ignited and it grows and it grows and

ignited and it grows and it grows and you your heartbeat quickens a little bit

you your heartbeat quickens a little bit

you your heartbeat quickens a little bit and your thoughts speed up and all of a

and your thoughts speed up and all of a

and your thoughts speed up and all of a sudden you’re wildly excited about that

sudden you’re wildly excited about that

sudden you’re wildly excited about that new idea so the next time your kids come

new idea so the next time your kids come

new idea so the next time your kids come to you and they tell you that they’re

to you and they tell you that they’re

to you and they tell you that they’re bored I want you to remember that spark

bored I want you to remember that spark

bored I want you to remember that spark of excitement and and think of that and

of excitement and and think of that and

of excitement and and think of that and instead of solving their problem of

instead of solving their problem of

instead of solving their problem of boredom I want you to think of it as a

boredom I want you to think of it as a

boredom I want you to think of it as a gift you’re giving your children that

gift you’re giving your children that

gift you’re giving your children that gift of excitement and wildness now it’s

gift of excitement and wildness now it’s

gift of excitement and wildness now it’s possible that your children won’t want

possible that your children won’t want

possible that your children won’t want your gift of boredom

your gift of boredom

your gift of boredom but it’s worth it now those children who

but it’s worth it now those children who

but it’s worth it now those children who are so constantly scheduled they are

are so constantly scheduled they are

are so constantly scheduled they are going to have a really hard time sitting

going to have a really hard time sitting

going to have a really hard time sitting in their boredom and waiting for an idea

in their boredom and waiting for an idea

in their boredom and waiting for an idea to come so you just need to be there for

to come so you just need to be there for

to come so you just need to be there for them smile and hug them and reassure

them smile and hug them and reassure

them smile and hug them and reassure them that they can and they will find

them that they can and they will find

them that they can and they will find something to do now if they really can’t

something to do now if they really can’t

something to do now if they really can’t find anything to do that’s when you send

find anything to do that’s when you send

find anything to do that’s when you send them outside the current recommended

them outside the current recommended

them outside the current recommended amount of time for kids to spend outside

amount of time for kids to spend outside

amount of time for kids to spend outside is one hour so it sounds really doable

is one hour so it sounds really doable

is one hour so it sounds really doable right seventy percent of Canadian

right seventy percent of Canadian

right seventy percent of Canadian children don’t get that there is one

children don’t get that there is one

children don’t get that there is one group of people who are guaranteed two

group of people who are guaranteed two

group of people who are guaranteed two hours of time outside a date inmates

hours of time outside a date inmates

hours of time outside a date inmates convicted criminals are guaranteed their

convicted criminals are guaranteed their

convicted criminals are guaranteed their time outside every day so when I was a

time outside every day so when I was a

time outside every day so when I was a teenager maybe acting like an inmate my

teenager maybe acting like an inmate my

teenager maybe acting like an inmate my mom would send me outside if it was

mom would send me outside if it was

mom would send me outside if it was winter I usually had to shovel the

winter I usually had to shovel the

winter I usually had to shovel the driveway the long driveway and if it was

driveway the long driveway and if it was

driveway the long driveway and if it was summer I just had to get out but the

summer I just had to get out but the

summer I just had to get out but the point is by the time I got back inside

point is by the time I got back inside

point is by the time I got back inside my troubles whatever was going on they

my troubles whatever was going on they

my troubles whatever was going on they were long forgotten and I felt fabulous

were long forgotten and I felt fabulous

were long forgotten and I felt fabulous so my mom was actually really on to

so my mom was actually really on to

so my mom was actually really on to something not that I ever told her that

something not that I ever told her that

something not that I ever told her that why did you use to answer people when

why did you use to answer people when

why did you use to answer people when they would say what is your favorite

they would say what is your favorite

they would say what is your favorite school subject recess and there’s a

school subject recess and there’s a

school subject recess and there’s a reason for that 15 minutes kids get to

reason for that 15 minutes kids get to

reason for that 15 minutes kids get to go outside they get to be wild and play

go outside they get to be wild and play

go outside they get to be wild and play and jump and scream like it to be wild

and jump and scream like it to be wild

and jump and scream like it to be wild for the 15 minutes and if you’ve ever

for the 15 minutes and if you’ve ever

for the 15 minutes and if you’ve ever really seriously wondered about the

really seriously wondered about the

really seriously wondered about the importance of consistent time outside

importance of consistent time outside

importance of consistent time outside you just have to talk to an elementary

you just have to talk to an elementary

you just have to talk to an elementary school teacher after a week of indoor

school teacher after a week of indoor

school teacher after a week of indoor resources

being outside in nature is wondrous bugs

being outside in nature is wondrous bugs and sticks and snow are endless source

and sticks and snow are endless source

and sticks and snow are endless source of fascination with my kids and we all

of fascination with my kids and we all

of fascination with my kids and we all know the benefits of being outside the

know the benefits of being outside the

know the benefits of being outside the increased vitamin D the increased

increased vitamin D the increased

increased vitamin D the increased physical activity again that the

physical activity again that the

physical activity again that the important skills the child driven

important skills the child driven

important skills the child driven learning skills those are also important

learning skills those are also important

learning skills those are also important now you might be sitting in your chair

now you might be sitting in your chair

now you might be sitting in your chair with your arms crossed you know thinking

with your arms crossed you know thinking

with your arms crossed you know thinking Lori my kid gets any more wild they’re

Lori my kid gets any more wild they’re

Lori my kid gets any more wild they’re going to end up with a guaranteed two

going to end up with a guaranteed two

going to end up with a guaranteed two hours of time and that’s okay some kids

hours of time and that’s okay some kids

hours of time and that’s okay some kids maybe shouldn’t be left to their own

maybe shouldn’t be left to their own

maybe shouldn’t be left to their own devices so all I asked for you is to

devices so all I asked for you is to

devices so all I asked for you is to make a conscientious decision about the

make a conscientious decision about the

make a conscientious decision about the way that your children spend their time

way that your children spend their time

way that your children spend their time once every few months if you can really

once every few months if you can really

once every few months if you can really think about what they’re doing in their

think about what they’re doing in their

think about what they’re doing in their activities and how you want them to

activities and how you want them to

activities and how you want them to learn in my opinion something magical

learn in my opinion something magical

learn in my opinion something magical happens when kids get a little wild like

happens when kids get a little wild like

happens when kids get a little wild like and happy if we increase their playtime

and happy if we increase their playtime

and happy if we increase their playtime if we give them that gift of boredom if

if we give them that gift of boredom if

if we give them that gift of boredom if we let them go outside more they eat

we let them go outside more they eat

we let them go outside more they eat better they sleep better and they’re all

better they sleep better and they’re all

better they sleep better and they’re all around more content so let your kids get

around more content so let your kids get

around more content so let your kids get a little bit wild folks because wild is

a little bit wild folks because wild is

a little bit wild folks because wild is a great thing to be thanked

a great thing to be thanked

a great thing to be thanked [Applause]