And Then There's Dad

Do They Think They're Better Than Us? (continued)

by Gary Drevitch

I disagree. Every parent must resist reliving his childhood through his children, but when I think of how late I came to appreciate the value of making music, performing in public, or playing organized sports, I’m quite proud of opening those doors to him. He may give up ballet next year. The piano may never take. But he’ll still have had the experiences, and I’m sure he’ll be the better for it. About a year-and-a-half ago, my four-year-old daughter had the chance to handle and try to play a violin at a children’s fair. She loved it, and asked us about once a month since that day when she’d be able to begin lessons. She finally started last week. Before I became a parent, I’d have thought it ridiculous for any sane adult to take a four-year-old to a weekly violin lesson. Now I know better. Kids do need time for free play. They do need opportunities to explore their world independently. But when something catches their attention, parents must be ready to take action and give them the experiences they desire. No matter what else comes to pass in the years ahead, if we do that, the next generation will still have their chance to surpass us.

Gary Drevitch is a former assigning editor at Teen People, Parade Publications, and Scholastic. He’s also a dad with three young kids. A veteran producer of educational content for McGraw-Hill, Scholastic Inc., and Time Inc., he’s written several non-fiction books for children.  

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