Many parents who would like to turn off the TV and spend more time with the family are worried that without TV they would constantly be on call as entertainers for their children. They remember thinking up all sorts of things to do when they were kids. But their own kids seem different, less resourceful, somehow. These parents find regretfully that their kids seem unable to come up with any thing to do besides turning on the TV.
One father, for example, says, “When I was a kid, we were always thinking up things to do, projects and games. We certainly never complained in an annoying way to our parents, ‘I have nothing to do!’” He compares this with his own children today: “They’re simply lazy. If someone doesn’t entertain them, they’ll happily sit there watching TV all day.” There is one word for this father’s disappointment: unfair. It is as if he were disappointed in his children for their not reading Greek though they have never studied the language. He deplores (哀叹) his children’s lack of inventiveness, as if playing were some inborn ability his children are missing. In fact, while the tendency to play is built into the human species, the actual ability to play ― to imagine, to invent, are skills that have to be learned and developed.
Such disappointment, however, is not only unjust, it is also destructive. Sensing their parents’ disappointment, children come to believe that they are, indeed, lacking in something, which makes them feel less worthy of admiration and respect. Giving children the opportunity to develop new resources, to enlarge their horizons and discover the pleasures of doing things on their own is, on the other hand, a way to help children develop a confident feeling about themselves as capable and inventive people.
Help:
be on call:随时可用,随时到
例:I'm on call.我随叫随到。
Who's on call tonight?今晚谁值班?
Physicians who were on call for48 hours.48小时随叫随到的医生们
come up with: 提出,想出
例:He's come up with a great idea. 他想出了一个绝好的办法。
The scientists are beating their brains trying to come up with a solution to the problem.科学家正绞尽脑汁,力求找到解决这个问题的办法。
inborn:天生的,生来的,生成的
enlarge one's horizons: 使某人眼界开阔
全国多地相继出台催二孩政策
国内英语资讯:Government vows to promote fair and quality education
如何保存和清洗胸罩?看看最常犯的三个错误
人民币贬值能缓解贸易战冲击,但也有代价
体坛英语资讯:China smash Slovenia 85-62 in international basketball challenge
还有这种美事?只要起床就能赚钱的APP
塔利班称上周与美国高官会谈
国际英语资讯:Delays continue at Munich airport after security breach
国内英语资讯:Chinese-produced documentary to be aired in Cambodia
体坛英语资讯:Kazakhstans Olympic medalist skater Denis Ten stabbed to death
国际英语资讯:Trump says ready to meet with Iranian president without preconditions
国际英语资讯:Russia criticizes U.S. refusal to partake in Syrian talks in Sochi
Offer the Seat to Others 让座
《破产姐妹》主演大婚,女神终于找到了白马王子
国内英语资讯:Senior Chinese official meets British foreign secretary
Football Match 足球赛
美国逮捕一名参与偷渡也门人的约旦公民
伊万卡服装品牌全线关闭!原因震惊到我了
国内英语资讯:Xinhua discusses media innovation cooperation with Israel
体坛英语资讯:Seven new events included in Beijing Winter Olympics program
美国马里兰报社枪杀案嫌疑人不认罪
This Is Me 这就是我
《真实的人类》翻拍中国版!女主角是戚薇!
日本公司赚钱有奇招 出租腋窝当广告位
体坛英语资讯:Organizers: No new venues for Beijing 2022 newly added seven events
梅根第一个王室生日怎么过?
体坛英语资讯:Foreign martial arts fans celebrate their Kung Fu roots at Shaolin Temple
国内英语资讯:Problems found in latest round of CPC inspections, entities urged to do better
About the Future 关于未来
日本与欧盟签自贸协议 承诺取消99%关税