How We Learn Fellowship
It all begins in childhood
One of the very first things we do in life is play games. To play is to engage in a wide range of voluntary activities for learning, as well as for recreational pleasure and enjoyment. It is inherent in our makeup. It doesn’t matter where in the world we are, what country we are from, or the culture that defines us. The need to play is instinctual, in other words, it is something hard-wired into our brains and nervous systems. To play is so much a part of who we are, that if we don’t play, we become unhappy and even sick. As babies, we often and easily play alone. In time we may expand to playing with a toy, pet — possibly a bird, puppy, or kitten. As we become a little older, we are instinctively drawn to other people and are likely to play with other children, especially those with whom we may have a natural rapport.
As children reach the ages of 7 and 12, they naturally begin to play organized games that are a bit more complex than merely making sandcastles in a sandbox.
From a very young age, children often play traditional or folk games. These games have been passed down from child to child, from generation to generation, formally or informally, and usually by word of mouth. Here, we have learned what the rules are intuitive, without reference to written standards.
It is here that we learn about kindness, compassion, and being a good winner!
“Accomplishments don’t erase shame, hatred, cruelty, silence, ignorance, discrimination, low self-esteem, or immorality. It covers it up, with a creative version of pride and ego. Only restitution, forgiving yourself and others, compassion, repentance, and living with dignity will ever erase the past.”
― Shannon L. Alder
The next step may be new, easy-to-play games, where all that is required are simple rules and equipment. In these games or puzzles, such as Frisbee or Lego, we learn by example from other children. Simple puzzles come into play in that they test a child’s ingenuity or knowledge.
Soon it is on to team sports, video games, and as a child explores these, they are introduced to and explore the game of life.
The term “knowing how to play in the sandbox” is often used by adults to describe those who are pleasant to be around, know the rules, and who agree to play the game of life fairly.
Many adults don’t know how to behave properly because they were never taught these gamer-thinking skills when they were children or teenagers.
In recent years it has become apparent to any attentive observer that game-based scenarios are becoming an increasing element of daily living.
For today’s youth, the steadily extending period of play and schooling in the 21st century comes as a result of the increasing complexity of our world and its technologies.
These changes demand an increasing intricacy of skills as well as a more exhaustive set of pre-requisite abilities.
Takeaway
In these complex times, many of the behavioral and emotional problems associated with adolescence are likely to increase in numbers and intensity. These problems can distort the thinking of young children and teens as they cope with the increased demands placed on them — demands that have become increasingly abstracted from the work and expectations of adulthood.
Author: Lewis Harrison is a serial entrepreneur, writer, teacher, public speaker, and seminar leader. He focuses on problem-solving, self-improvement, personal development, and sharing love with the world. He has suffered from depression earlier in his life.
“I am the former host of an absurdist, humor-based Q & A talk radio show on an NPR affiliated station in NY.
Here is a short excerpt from the show to make you smile.
I have a bottomless passion for the application of game theory in decision-making. My game theory/business website is AskLewisGameTheory.com.”
“I am always exploring trends, areas of interest, and solutions to build new stories upon. Again, if you have any ideas you would like me to write about just email me at LewisCoaches@gmail.com”.
……………..Lewis
A Final Thought.
Humans seek to be more effective every day. social animals. The Medium story below explore this issue in-depth.
To be effective in creating a strategic game-based life you need solid critical thinking skills and great data. The article below by computer scientist and Facebook executive Julie Zhou will show you how to do both.
