Engaged

A couple of separate events got me thinking about how to be a better parent today.

I had the opportunity today to spend some time with a co-worker on a local college campus (Fullerton College) manning a trade show booth. We were there to help expose some 600 or so High School Seniors to our industry (information and product distribution) and company Dot Printer Fulfillment. We set up a booth with some good visual aids to help explain the kind of programs we run. The kids would come by and we would walk through the concepts so they could see some real life examples on how technology they are learning about in school is actually being applied in the world outside.

Moment number one built up over a couple of hours with the kids. As they would file by in 5’s or 10’s like they were in the mess hall line of M*A*S*H, they were like zombies. No spark. Nada. But then one would walk up and would be total engaged. Eyes bright, head up, asking questions, listening to the answer and then asking refined questions. These kids were like little islands of hope. It continued like this for the rest of the afternoon; 10-20 kids slowly crushing your perception of America’s youth, than along would come the one.

Moment number two was a conversation with my coworker on the way back. He was reflecting on how his son had struggled learning to be a good driver. He had been a passenger for so long (looking out the window watching the scenery) he had to build up the mental skills needed to be a driver.

Now to tie these two together.

I realized I want my kids to learn how to be engaged. Can I teach that? I want them comfortable questioning authority, thinking through the answer given and being able to argue a point. Not going with the flow, even if it is my “flow”. I want them to feel the thrill of learning something because they challenged themselves and got outside a comfortable box.

It was actually moment number two that gave me the idea on how to fix moment number one. I want them to mentally process what is happening even when it is just driving around town. I think it will be a fun game to let my kids “drive” by telling me what to do. Can they process what is going on and pay attention to their environment well enough to direct me on the correct reaction?

Here is a bigger jump. Can they take that same level of situational awareness to their classroom and question an authority figure on why they have to follow a rule that does not make sense or seams unreasonable? And probably the biggest question, will we be okay being called to the principal’s office because our kids are acting in a way that is perceived as non-conducive to the learning environment. The last part actually sounds like fun but I wonder if I will do more damage than good.