Hours pass by without us noticing. As with water flowing down the stream, there is a smooth, almost automatic movement toward an inevitable outcome. Parents of children who experience flow often do treat them differently from the way other parents treat their children. They are more supportive as well as more stimulating. Their children feel safe to invest attention in gradually more challenging opportunities.
Flow tends to occur when challenges are high and personal skills are used to the utmost.
Flow motivates people to grow. Adults experience flow too. They report being happiest during leisure time when they make love, socialize and talk, followed by when they eat, do sports, shop, cook and pursue hobbies. They are least happy when taking a nap during the day, watching TV, reading, working and doing chores around the house. Yet a large part of free time is spent precisely on these passive activities, which involve practically no challenges and require no special skills.