How early is too early to worry about addiction? According to some researchers, addictive behaviors begin in early childhood, and if we can train these behaviors out of children, we might be able to head drug and alcohol addiction off at the pass.
At a daycare center in Berlin, Germany, the kindergarten class (which includes kids ages three to six) had all of their toys taken away for three months. It wasn’t a particularly harsh punishment, but an experiment of sorts. During these weeks, the children would have no access to toys, and the teachers would not tell them how to play. The idea was that without toys, the kids would have to come up with their own ideas on how to entertain themselves.
Without pre-fabricated toys, the children learned to build their own. They made up their own games and learned to play more as a group. During the three months, the children only had things like blankets and furniture, and they had to figure out how to overcome their boredom and frustration and find a way to play.
The researchers say that important life skills were learned as a result – understanding and liking themselves, having empathy for others, thinking creatively and critically, and being able to solve problems and overcome mistakes.
This idea was based on a German study from the 1980s. A group of addiction specialists who had worked with adults got together and determined that for many of them, their addictive behaviors had started in childhood. Because children often cling to a favorite toy in order to comfort themselves, taking away that toy means they have to confront and deal with their feelings rather than avoiding them.
It might sound cruel, taking away a toy and comfort from a child. It is true, however, that many addicts become so because they are trying to self-medicate or are unable to cope with problems in their lives. Teaching a certain amount of self-sufficiency and the ability to face problems head on rather than living in denial might well be a good way to prevent some future addictions.
The first of these toy-free kindergartens started up in 1992, and now there are hundreds of them. Despite the increasing popularity of these programs in Europe and Asia, they haven’t taken off in the United States. For one thing, back with they were first being implemented in Germany, the United States was focused on its “Just Say No” message. The strategy there was basically to tell kids “drugs are bad; don’t do them,” rather than trying to come up with actual preventive measures, and it proved to have rather underwhelming results. It’s been proven that information-only programs are far less effective than ones that actually teach children positive behaviors.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504 to get started.
