Are Your Children Getting Enough Distraction Free Thinking (Archived Pedcast)

I've got a very interesting subject to talk to you about today that I discovered while listening to a podcast! Yes, not only do I make podcasts but I am an avid listener of them as well. In this particular podcast, I heard Dr. Cal Newport, a computer scientist, interviewed about the negative effects  of interruptions on learning, memory, and creativity. I thought that what he was saying had so much relevance for your children that I couldn't wait to introduce my listeners to his research and ideas. Please take a few minutes to listen to this post that I call Distraction Free Thinking Vital for Kids. The message is so vital for all parents to hear that I don't want you to miss it. [display _podcast] Image by Pixabay Musical Introduction The Essence of Dr. Newport's Research First, a confession. I have not read Dr. Newport's book, Deep Work, Grand Central Publishing, 2016, but I have heard him speak in a fairly extensive interview and I feel I have a good grasp of his main idea! He has coined the term "Deep Work" to describe the kind of quiet uninterrupted thinking time that scientists tells us unleashes our brain's best creativity and important thoughts. The kind of quiet contemplation that so many great thinkers have used to create great works. Dr. Newport says there is  good evidence that any interruption to deep work thinking derails and diminishes the creativity of the work we do and degrades our learning ability. I am sure that includes not only your best thinking but also your children's. In fact, deep work is probably more important for your children to achieve than it is for you since you have likely completed your education and they have not! Your children live in a super distracted world Now, let's consider the distracted world your children are immersed in today and how it can negatively affect them.  Even in the quiet of their bedrooms, they likely are having their studies and thinking time interrupted by texts, cell phone calls, and popup instant chat requests on their computers. They have