Childs Play Isn't What It Used to Be
Kids just don't play outside like they used to now that play time seems to revolve around play dates with adult supervision.
Photos
I remember when I was little, my whole subdivision was my playground, there wasn't any place that was off-limits including people's roofs, underground storm drain pipes, open fields, industrial dumpsters, and more. We had so many daily activities that we had to be forced in the house for lunch and dinner. My two older brothers always protected me so I suppose that is why my mother never really worried. In addition, the bonds I have with some of the children of my childhood are still my best friends today. When I moved out of the subdivision and into the country, we would ride our bikes the 5 miles to see each other.
Summer is now fast approaching and children should be going outside for the day and hanging out with their friends. But if you drive through a subdivision even now you rarely see children let alone children who are unsupervised.
Some areas of Caledonia are so open it is easy to let your children play and you have limited worry, but they have no one to play with. Newer subdivisions seem to be filled with children and provide the feeling of a gated community, and I know some children just refuse to leave their game systems long enough to play.
As parents, we realize that the years and summers we spent playing in the neighborhood creating and imagining all sorts of games and activities were enrichment for our lives. We need to allow our children the ability to have the same freedoms to discover a new imagination. Lego products used to be built with the imagination from a standard set of blocks; now you can follow a design and create nice things but there's a lack of imagination.
Some of my son’s soccer team members who live in Wind Point have decided to ban TV and video games for the summer and to even arrange a standing opportunity for drop-in games with the children.
Should kids be able to "call for" their friends or are play dates with supervision the way of the now and the future?
Carl Engelking
2:54 pm on Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Here's one way kids play differently...check out the girl texting while enjoying time on the swing!
Heather Asiyanbi
4:12 pm on Wednesday, May 4, 2011
She's gathering her courage to do the swing-as-high-as-you-can-and-jump stunt!
Heather in Caledonia
8:26 am on Thursday, May 5, 2011
:) She's probably updating her Facebook status to say she's at the park and it's lame. :)
Lisa Brennan
6:10 pm on Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The best part is even today I can saw words like mohawk, station wagon, ballet teacher, typerwriter, flying soda can and send me and a host of friends into pure laughter. What will my son say DSI, WII LOL I do not see the laughter.
Heather in Caledonia
8:25 am on Thursday, May 5, 2011
So many parents are scared to death to let their children play outside by themselves. Will the Bogy Man (sp?) come and take them? Will the kid run out in the street and get hit? Will they hang themselves in the chains of the swing? Will they fall from the monkey bars and break an ankle? Will they ingest sand and get some sort of weird intestinal problem?
Sure, kids like video games and playing on the computer. Since being a mom, I've noticed how scared many of my friends are of letting their kids (especially boys) get up and go play. Could it be the many lawyers who are constantly looking for a way to sue people? Could it be the CPSC and other groups constantly bombarding people with Safety Tips? Is it peer pressure from other moms? ("Did you know your son is outside hanging from tree branches?!?") I'm sure my neighbors wonder at my sanity from time to time, but none of my kids have been hurt more than scratched knees from playing outside. I even let them run in the house when the weather's bad (gasp!)
Hmm... just thinking "out loud" here, too... how many kids have a parent who stays home? Maybe that's also making a difference. If they're young, they're at daycare or babysitter after school. Older kids can stay home alone, but are probably instructed to stay in the house until someone comes home. Once parents are home, there's dinner, homework, and bed. Weekends are busy with errands and sports.
Chris Sobush
3:13 pm on Thursday, May 5, 2011
I'm happy/lucky that we live in a neighborhood where there's constantly people (and kids) riding bikes, walking dogs, and generally hanging-out outside up and down the street... That being said, however...
"Could it be the many lawyers who are constantly looking for a way to sue people?"
I think that's part of it. As a parent and homeowner, I'd be afraid to let the neighborhood kids in my yard "at will" or without supervision, for fear that if they were to get hurt, some neighbor might be sue-happy. At the same time, I'm reluctant to let my kid play in other neighbors yards, for fear of him doing any sort of (even minimal) damage (the old cliche of a baseball through a window comes to mind). Not that I wouldn't offer to fix any damage that was done... but again - some people are sue-happy, and some neighbors are "call the cops" happy, and I'd hate my kid to have a police record, just for being a kid.
I also think you hit the nail on the head with the daycare/sitter situation, and then after dinner, homework, scouts, bath.. it's already bedtime - even with a considerably "late" bedtime of 9:30!
Heather Rayne Geyer
7:03 pm on Thursday, May 5, 2011
I never even though about the legal issues. Gesh. Another worry :)
When I was a kid (born in 1974) we lived on the northside and I would walk to the beach, zoo, many parks, school lots, up to Rapids movie theatre...we were SO independant. By the time I was my step daughter's age (11) I was watching other people's kids!! She is nowhere near being able to do that and it is because we treat these kids with...well...kid gloves lol. Its like they need to live in a bubble.
I do also think that we dont have neighborhoods anymore. Its all subdivisions with no sidewalks and busy highways. And I do agree that parental peer pressure is a clear and presesnt PITA. Not to mention if we looked at our kids cross eyed, someone threatens to call CPS.
So much is so different. And it is really a shame.