The old adage, we are what we eat is a bit of advice that helps us to make healthier dietary choices, although lately, I'll admit I’m at a higher percentage of caramel and cheese popcorn than my doctor would probably prescribe. Beyond our nutritional intake, how else can this adage serve us? What about in the ways how we spend our time? How does what we “consume” shape us?
WHAT we are consuming?
Psychologists argue that spending too much time on social media, watching an endless cycle of news reporting, or even video games (though like boredom, video games have their upside) can be problematic. Focusing heavily on current world issues without an outlet for finding solutions can lead to cycles of helplessness and profound sadness in children. Extensive time on social media can lead to negative comparison conception and overreliance on “likes”, “views” or other forms of approval to improve self-esteem. This reminds me of another good proverb - too much of a good thing. Children engaging in social media, video-gaming, or learning about what is happening in our world are all good things...in moderation. The problems start to arise when the teenage developmental tendency towards obsessiveness with new tools and an expanding sense of self and their place in the world is “fed” with negative messages without a creative and positive counter-message. One solution is to balance consuming with creating.
Consuming vs. Creating
There has been a push lately from the recognition that all consuming all the time is not a great way to become our best selves. STEM and STEAM education movements in schools have been an effort to engage learners through hands-on problem solving, creative solution finding, and applying learning in ways beyond a single “right” answer. We certainly need to “consume” in order to learn and in order to seek inspiration for the things we might create. If we focus on how the media and information provide us with the know-how to better ourselves and to share learning with others, we might make better choices. If we are selective in the media and learning we consume, we can focus our time and energy toward the creative process, one that makes better use of our complex brains, one that challenges us to grow, one that provides an outlet to process negative feelings can leave us feeling more calm, connected and productive. We need to be critical consumers in order to become better creators.
Hands-on learning, the maker movement, and PBL (project or problem-based learning) are all mey elements meant to put the learner in a creative headspace or a state of flow. When students create things, they gain confidence, pride in their work, build perseverance, grit, and self-efficacy. We could all benefit from more time spent in creative pursuits.
What’s the best advice?
As with all things, our kids need to find the right balance for them, guided by the adults in their lives who care about them. Ask your child to reflect on the quality and types of media they regularly consume and the time they are consuming vs. creating. Creating has a broad definition and many levels of application. Basically, we all want our learners to do something with the things they are learning, both in the classroom and in life.
Here are some resources if you’d like to go further:
When Bright Kids Become Disillusioned
Creating vs Consuming — how to think about your time in a crowded world
Seven Stages in Moving from Consuming to Creating
Possible Effects Of The Electronic Social Media On Gifted And Talented Children’s Intelligence And Emotional Development
