The End of Make Believe Essay -- Analysis, Claudia Kalb

In a culture saturated in high tech toys that explode with dynamite sounds and whirling lights, children communicate countless hours watching television and playing video games and less clock engaging in creative and imaginative play. In Claudia Kalbs article The exterminate of Make Believe, she introduces the K nont family from Cleveland, Ohio. Kris Knott and her husband, parents of three active children, are striving to get back to the bedrock of play by increasing family time and decreasing their childrens television and video game usage. During the summer months, it would not be uncommon to find the entire family outside enjoying a pleasant evening together. Mrs. Knott states that entertainment is not play and children need carefree, less structured time to use their imaginations (Kalb, par.1). While the Knotts children have plenty of organized activities such as after cultivate sports, their parents recognize the importance of using imagination and creativity as a sourc e of play (Kalb, par.1). In the same manner, parents must limit childrens time engaging in technology by creating quality family time and encouraging more creative and imaginative play for intellectual, emotional, and social skills to develop.In addition to television, directlys children are inundated with a wide variety of technological choices such as video games, Internet games, and other interactive activities. Despite these advance technologies, television continues to play a large role in todays society and while it began as an element to unite the family, it appears to be dividing the family asunder now (Winn 437). While television provides us with hours of entertainment, stirs emotions deep inside, and is a tool for gathering information, most experts agree ... ...roviding the box for more creative and imaginative play. In addition, parents must gather around the dinner table and create family traditions that leave alone last forever in their childrens memories. Par ents must emulate the Knott family who are creating memories by spending time together outdoors instead of watching television in separate rooms. As a result, these children develop intellectually, emotionally, and socially and contribute both to their family and community. Elyssa Knott, at the young age of 11 states, How much fun could you possibly have if you didnt use your imagination? (Kalb, par.1) As parents follow Kris Knott and her familys example, they will see their own family beginning to change and acknowledge the importance of spending quality time together, letting go of the television remote and stepping back to the basics of play.