Today's Tip for Families

2025-09-05

Include Some Time for Daydreaming in Your Child's Schedule

Many children participate in so many extracurricular activities that they have no time to relax and just "be." Experts say this can have a negative effect on elementary schoolers.

At this age, children are starting to think in more abstract terms. They're figuring out how to solve their own problems.

One of the things that helps them do this is daydreaming. Daydreaming helps children:

Unwind and reduce stress. Kids who have unstructured time learn how to be alone and at peace with themselves.
Be creative. The creative side of the brain gets busy. It invents, organizes, rehearses and explores.
Reflect on their lives. Self-reflection may dictate what hobby or career a child might eventually embrace.
Think situations through and imagine how others might think or feel.

You can't make your child daydream, but you can encourage it from time to time. Here's how:

Make time for free time. For instance, schedule some screen-free, "do nothing" time after dinner.
Give your child a special, disturbance-free place, such as a bedroom or a corner filled with soft pillows.
Set an example. Let your child see you sitting on the porch, gazing at the stars.
Build downtime into family activities. After a ball game, relax on a hill. Watch the clouds.

Brought to you by:

West Point Consolidated School District