The "Producers"

Although we are constantly pegged as consumers by the media, I think we really prefer our role as producers in society. We maintain this dance between consuming and producing:  producer by day, consumer by night.  Producing usually requires some type of creativity, while consuming is more passive (maybe that is why some people enjoy bargain-hunting so much--it makes shopping less passive and we feel more productive).  Some people have jobs that provide more satisfaction than others, so some adults find other ways to be producers "after hours" through their hobbies.  Parents are producers 24/7 (which can be taxing) by actively producing new members of our society as they raise their children.  As much energy as it takes, it is so rewarding when our children become great human beings right before our eyes.

Children are given plenty of opportunities to be active consumers in our society of "buy, buy, buy."  However, they are not provided as many opportunities to be REAL producers.  Most opportunities for producing are fabricated by the adults around them--teachers, parents, and coaches.  In school, they are given assignments in which they are required to produce something--like a completed worksheet or a science fair project.  Some lucky children find a passion and are able to pursue it (sports, music, etc.) and feel the wonderful power of producing something truly beautiful (a piece of music, a well-played basketball game, a drawing, or a well-cooked meal).

This producer/consumer paradigm has helped me re-frame our homeschooling journey.  We are in the process of shifting our homeschooling experience to provide more real opportunities for my kids to be producers through projects of their selection.  Through these projects, they will not only have products, but they will also learn the skills and knowledge they need to be successful producers throughout their lives:  project planning and execution--something adults are required to do at home and at work on a daily basis.  Along the way, they will attain a certain level of competence at reading, writing, and math because those are basic skills adults need to be successful producers.

I believe that being productive is, in itself, a motivator.  When the day is done, don't you feel better when you are surrounded by things you have produced rather than the spoils of your consuming?

Producing is fun!  Our entry into the 2012 Peep's Diorama Contest