Childs Play Isn't What It Used to Be

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?