Why don't kids play outside anymore???
Risa Bernstein
Haven't written here in a *long* time, probably since last year when
Colin was having his tonsils and adenoids out. In case anyone still
remembers and is interested - he's great! I'd knock on every piece of
wood in the house but there isn't enough to make me believe I'm not
jinxing him, so let's just say it *appears* to have worked wonderfully.
Enough said...(she said superstitiously)
Now, my beef of the month/year/century. Why don't kids play outside
anymore? This seems to be a kind of dumb question, but from everything
I've seen, not only do kids not want to leave the house (i.e., gameboy,
Cartoon Network, videos, and Nintendo), but their parents don't seem to
want to "offer the alternative suggestion" of...playing on the *out*side
of the house! Take today for instance. My son went over some friends'
house this morning. He's an only child (he's 6 by the way) so he's
always looking for playmates in the neighborhood and there are quite a
few 5-8 year old boys so that's not a problem. So he goes to their
house and they stay in all morning. Then after lunch, my husband called
another mother to see if they were home. They were and Colin walked
over. The child's mother said her son would be happy to play Nintendo,
etc. I said NOT. Today happened to be, after weeks it seems of endless
gray and snow, a beautiful, blue-sky, bright-sunshine, 40 degree day in
Northern VA. Perfect for going outside, sledding on the hills on our
street, and getting some much needed fresh air. My husband argued that
at least he had someone to play with but I followed Colin over to the
house and told the mother (who barely peaked her nose out the door) that
it's gorgeous out and they should be outside. She said - oh, I didn't
realize it (well, you'd have to poke more than a nose out to notice).
And proceeded to try to get her son out of the house who evidently
through a fit at the suggestion and never did leave (luckily there were
other kids sledding so my son stayed outside for a while, then went
inside to play with the other child). When he got home, I asked him
what he'd done and he said he sledded and then played Nintendo. Then
came the dreaded question - why don't WE have Nintendo? I said -
because you don't NEED Nintendo and his father, at the same time, goes -
don't worry, we'll get it for your next b-day. I wanted to throttle my
husband...but that's another story. :) Anyway, what is up with these
kids? I was *always* outside, unless it was raining or freezing (and I
grew up in New England). I don't care if he sits in someone's driveway
and trades Pokemon cards - just stay outside!!! Anyone else out there
noticing this change in play-space????
risa
Risa E. Bernstein
FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD:
http://www.monumental.com/rbernstn/cooking.htm
DONALD MAZEROLLE
something. Finaly he has found a friend who's mother feels the same way, so
they go play outside now.
Kathy Mazerolle
Risa Bernstein wrote in message <389CB129...@monumental.com>...
oliveprincess
Sage always comes with me. In order to get her out more, I need to get out
more. That's probably a good thing.
just me wrote in message ...
>I have noticed the same problem, and we live in outside paradise,
>Florida!!!! My son is 4 and he loves to go out and play in our backyard.
>The problem is that he is an only and I have a hard time getting dh outside
>and my weekend time is half spent on housework. I do find that when *I*
get
>out working in the yard, etc., everyone seems to come outside, too.
>Fortunately, Alexander's little buddies all seem to enjoy playing outside.
>We are just at that age where parents are required for visits, etc., and so
>this tends to slow things down a bit.
>
>You know what I've noticed that we could use as a selling point with other
>parents: on days when my son plays outside much of the time he goes to
>sleep easier and sleeps better. Anyone thinking of adult time?
>
>- Aula
>
>"Risa Bernstein" <rber...@monumental.com> wrote in message
>news:389CB129...@monumental.com...
just me
Fred
<rber...@monumental.com>wrote:
>Now, my beef of the month/year/century. Why don't kids play outside
>anymore? This seems to be a kind of dumb question,
Probably because, unlike you, nobody cares or notices anymore and this
is sad. By the way, there are no dumb questions, just dumb answers.
>I've seen, not only do kids not want to leave the house (i.e., gameboy,
>Cartoon Network, videos, and Nintendo), but their parents don't seem to
>want to "offer the alternative suggestion"
I think you just answered your own question: alternatives that are
more attractive and less healthy.
>came the dreaded question - why don't WE have Nintendo? I said -
>because you don't NEED Nintendo and his father, at the same time, goes -
>don't worry, we'll get it for your next b-day.
Have you considered pummeling hubby repeatedly about the head and
shoulders with a frayed nintendo cord? Buy them *both* a football and
show them the door!
> Anyway, what is up with these kids? I was *always* outside,
Just a suggestion but could it be that they're constantly told to be
wary of strangers (justifyably unfortunately) and strangers are
*outside*? Could it be because parents are afraid to encourage outside
play since it's almost impossible to pick up a newspaper without
seeing a story of abduction?
I'm afraid we live in a sick sick sick society and it's so much easier
(and safer) to keep the kids in where we can see them. Maybe this is
one reason we're raising a generation of overweight, understrength,
less healthy kids that are less capable of anything creative because
everything is pre-created for them. OK, I'm off my soapbox and looking
for my Geritol :):):)
Fred
Ericka E. Kammerer
Risa Bernstein wrote:
> Now, my beef of the month/year/century. Why don't kids play outside
> anymore?
Because these days you can't just toss them outside without
supervision, mostly. Obviously, this depends a lot on where you
live, but in our case (and too funny--we're in Northern VA too, and
my youngest is names Colin ;-) we don't have a fenced in yard and
there's too much traffic to just turn the kids out on their own.
That means *I* have to be out (or their dad, but I'm the one home
during the day) for them to be out, and that's not always possible.
However, I do hear what you're saying, and I agree it's
important to get them out. We're working on learning the rules
so that they can play out on their own near the house where I
can see them. I also send them out with an older neighborhood
boy (a teenager) whom I trust and who likes to play with them.
I make an effort to go out with them when other alternatives fail.
We take the playgroup outside when weather permits. Frankly, if
they don't get outside time, *my* sanity is in question, as they
go stark raving made indoors all day. And, as others have mentioned,
they sleep better and behave better when they get out.
> This seems to be a kind of dumb question, but from everything
> I've seen, not only do kids not want to leave the house (i.e., gameboy,
> Cartoon Network, videos, and Nintendo), but their parents don't seem to
> want to "offer the alternative suggestion" of...playing on the *out*side
> of the house!
Well, it is more work for the parents (though laziness is no
excuse). At the same time, as a kid who never wanted to play outside
myself, I can vouch for there being *some* kids who are just homebodies.
Of course, my parents *made* me go outside regularly (even if I just took
a book outside to read ;-) and it was probably the right thing to do.
Certainly it's hard for kids to get enough exercise cooped up all day.
> Anyone else out there noticing this change in play-space????
I do notice it, and I agree that kids need to get out. But I also
think that there are valid reasons why it's more difficult to get them
out now, particularly when they're preschoolers. And if they don't learn
to play outside while young (and in the process learn a lot about how
to entertain themselves indoors), I'm sure it's a difficult habit to
instill later.
Best wishes,
Ericka Kammerer
Hedgehog42
>> Anyway, what is up with these kids? I was *always* outside,
>
>Just a suggestion but could it be that they're constantly told to be
>wary of strangers (justifyably unfortunately) and strangers are
>*outside*? Could it be because parents are afraid to encourage outside
>play since it's almost impossible to pick up a newspaper without
>seeing a story of abduction?
>
>I'm afraid we live in a sick sick sick society and it's so much easier
>(and safer) to keep the kids in where we can see them. Maybe this is
>one reason we're raising a generation of overweight, understrength,
>less healthy kids that are less capable of anything creative because
>everything is pre-created for them.
Couple of other thoughts -- there are also health-related concerns associated
with being outdoors today that did not exist, or existed to a lesser degree,
when we were growing up:
1. air quality -- no such thing when I was growing up as smog alerts, when
people were encouraged to stay indoors at certain hours of the day. Also,
asthma's become almost epidemic among kids today, meaning more of them need to
be kept indoors on those ozone alert days.
2.skin cancer -- more reports on association with childhood sun exposure, and
worry that sunscreens aren't enough protection. People are being advised to
limit sun exposure -- it's easier to do by encouraging indoor play rather than
making sure their hats, sunglasses & long sleeves stay on on a warm, sunny day.
3. traffic concerns -- varies by area, of course, but there were fewer cars on
the road where I grew up. Also fewer two-car families and fewer teens with
their own cars. And fewer elderly in general, plus fewer elderly drivers on the
road.
And of course, there's a greater percentage of obese adults (i.e., parents) who
don't model active behavior, but prefer to veg out in front of the tube & I
don't think it's so surprising that kids don't play outside as much anymore.
Lori G.
Milwaukee, WI
Leah Adezio
Hedgehog42 wrote in message
>And of course, there's a greater percentage of obese adults (i.e., parents)
who
>don't model active behavior, but prefer to veg out in front of the tube &
I
>don't think it's so surprising that kids don't play outside as much
anymore.
Please don't stereotype and overgeneralize. As a large parent, I find it
offensive. I've always been physically active with my children -- whether
it's just running around with (or when they were younger, *after*) them at
the playground, going on long walks or taking karate classes with them. I
know many other large parents who are -- perhaps more than you think --
*because* we know that physical activity is important -- most of us have
children who are slender and, quite frankly, would rather they avoid all the
stigma and social crap that many of us went through (like being stereotyped)
and encourage them towards physical activity.
Leah
Hedgehog42
Please read more carefully before claiming that I am overgeneralizing and
stereotyping:
> >And of course, there's a greater percentage of obese adults (i.e., parents)
>who
>>don't model active behavior, but prefer to veg out in front of the tube
This does NOT imply that ALL obese adults or parents don't model active
behavior -- that would have required a comma after "adults". I did not put a
comma there because I realize there are obese people who are physically active,
and because I did not want to include them in my statement.
Instead, I asserted that there's a larger percentage of people meeting both
criteria (obese AND sedentary) than there used to be.
That I'll stand behind. Obesity is now considered a much greater health problem
than it was 30 years ago, and lack of sufficient physical activity is
considered a contributing factor in the increase. I am aware that obesity makes
physical activity much more difficult; obese parents who make a special effort
to model active behavior for their children have my utmost respect -- as does
any large person working to achieve or maintain physical fitness.
Lori G.
Milwaukee
just me
recent years. This is a very different world from the one I grew up in in
the 60's. I would comment, however, on one of your points. There are
*theories* that the increase in asthma rates may be due, at least in part,
to increased exposure to climate control [IE: air-conditioning, closed
buildings, etc.] in combination with chemicals in the environment [IE:
household cleaners]. I wish I could give you cites, but I read this some
while back and have no idea where. Maybe there is something on the web.....
I think, however, that one of the biggest reasons that children are inside
is because parents are not quite so directive about what the children are to
be doing. I know that my parents, and my sister, and others of earlier
generations, told the kids to play outside more to get them out of their
hair for a couple hours than for the healthful benefits of playing outside.
Now a parent can achieve nearly the same time to pursue their own pursuits
by buying mesmerizing toys like Nintendo, computers, and TVs. As long as
the child is not requiring their attention 100% of the time and not in the
parent's way while they try to get something done....
Now, don't read this as a criticism of parents trying to get time away from
children demanding attention. We all need that, even if it is just to get
the bathroom cleaned! The criticism is more in how we achieve that time.
Being outside can be unsafe due to human predators, increased traffic,
concerns about children playing together poorly [i.e.: injuries, learning
undesirable stuff and injured spirits] and harder to supervise. I fight the
same battle often. [Boy, it will be great when daylight savings time comes
and I have light outside at night so we can play after dinner!] I find
that I have to make decisions often about whether or not the house will be
cleaned this week or I will play outside with my son this week. {that is
why I am so anxious for light after dinner!} Although I do let some of the
housework go longer than I did before child came along, it still must be
done at some point. Now son is involved with aspects of the housework,
which is helpful and hindrance all at the same time, but at least we are
together and he still regards housework as play, usually.
Well, now I'm rambling on. This is a simple gripe that has complexities
that we can examine for quite some time. Society has moved on from the
Donna Reed days and we miss it, to some extent. Thanks for listening.
- Aula
"Hedgehog42" <hedge...@aol.comno> wrote in message
news:20000206155759...@ng-fp1.aol.com...
> And of course, there's a greater percentage of obese adults (i.e.,
parents) who
> don't model active behavior, but prefer to veg out in front of the tube &
I
> don't think it's so surprising that kids don't play outside as much
anymore.
>
> Lori G.
> Milwaukee, WI
Hedgehog42
>You raise some areas of parental concern that have certainly developed in
>recent years. This is a very different world from the one I grew up in in
>the 60's. I would comment, however, on one of your points. There are
>*theories* that the increase in asthma rates may be due, at least in part,
>to increased exposure to climate control [IE: air-conditioning, closed
>buildings, etc.] in combination with chemicals in the environment [IE:
>household cleaners]. I wish I could give you cites, but I read this some
>while back and have no idea where. Maybe there is something on the web.....
I've heard something like this -- that greater allergy/asthma problems may be
the result of greater indoor air pollution caused by central heating & more
energy-efficient homes.
Still, you can't send a kid who's already got asthma outside on an ozone alert
day, because that could provoke an attack. After a few attacks, I could see
where a parent might tend to err on the side of caution.
>I think, however, that one of the biggest reasons that children are inside
>is because parents are not quite so directive about what the children are to
>be doing. I know that my parents, and my sister, and others of earlier
>generations, told the kids to play outside more to get them out of their hair
for a couple hours than for the healthful benefits of playing outside.
>Now a parent can achieve nearly the same time to pursue their own pursuits
>by buying mesmerizing toys like Nintendo, computers, and TVs. As long as
>the child is not requiring their attention 100% of the time and not in the
>parent's way while they try to get something done....
Very true. I will admit that sometimes I encourage indoor play rather than have
to slop all of them with sunscreen ("Mom -- that's cold... Mom, it
tickles...Mom... all the other kids are WAITING for me...") & hunt down or
repair sunglasses or keep checking to make sure they haven't laid them down
somewhere.
I think parents today also feel more comfortable knowing exactly what their
kids are doing. We've parented not just with highly publicized reports of
crime, but also of dangers from in-line skating, bike riding, playground falls,
private swimming pools, etc. There's a much greater emphasis on child-proofing
than there was in our parents' day, so having the kids play outside when we're
trying to work inside probably causes us more anxiety today than it did for our
parents.
Something else for us to worry over!
Lori G.
Milwaukee, WI
Risa Bernstein
Ericka E. Kammerer wrote:
> Risa Bernstein wrote:
>
> > Now, my beef of the month/year/century. Why don't kids play outside
> > anymore?
>
> Because these days you can't just toss them outside without
> supervision, mostly. Obviously, this depends a lot on where you
> live, but in our case (and too funny--we're in Northern VA too, and
> my youngest is names Colin ;-) we don't have a fenced in yard and
> there's too much traffic to just turn the kids out on their own.
> That means *I* have to be out (or their dad, but I'm the one home
> during the day) for them to be out, and that's not always possible.
wow, what a discussion this has generated - great! I probably should have
explained the area in which we live. We're on a pipe stem at the end of a
cul-de-sac (North Reston, Ercika). When it's nice out, most of the kids are
out in the cul-de-sac playing street hockey, baseball, basketball, soccer
etc. There's also parents who come outside who live right on the cul-de-sac
to supervise and/or play with the kids. When they're out sledding, it's on a
hill between 2 houses. Although there are not always parents out there, the
kids are usually doing Pokemon in someone's driveway or building a fort in
someone's front yard, so the safety factor isn't as bad as it could be
elsewhere (i.e., always in site of someone and no traffic). I agree with
what's been said, though - when Colin was younger and *needed* one of us out
there, we weren't always running out there to be with him. I'll finish with
today's story - today I went skiing and my husband was home with Colin all
day. Colin played at the same friend's house this morning as yesterday
(inside of course - the mother will say - oh, uh, I should have sent them out,
huh?) and then this afternoon he watched TV and built K'netics with my
husband. Nice time spent with his dad but again, a gorgeous day. Right when
I got home his friend from up the street came to get him - thank heaven.
She's 8 and like a little mother - when he's with her, they forget to come
in! Anyway, it's been interesting hearing what everyone has to say on the
matter. I personally want to move somewhere warm all year - you'd have to get
*me* inside with a derrick! :)
Rachel Duke
>anymore?
I can remember when I was a kid. My two brothers and I would be playing
inside and my Mom, who was trying to scrub the kitchen floor right in the
middle of our play area -- can you believe the nerve of that woman--, would
suddenly scream at the top of her lungs, "OUTSIDE!"
We'd scramble for the door wondering what in the world got into our mother.
I really think another poster to this thread hit on the real reason our
generation played outside so much. We didn't have Nintendo, Playstation,
Cartoon Network, personal computers/internet, etc. to keep us out of mom's
hair.
I can't speak for anyone else's mom, but mine threw us out of the house on a
daily basis (weather permitting) just so she could have some breathing room
to clean the house and peace and quiet to herself.
About two years ago, we moved from a neighborhood where we couldn't allow
our children play outside alone (very busy road, no other children around,
lived next to a high crime area), to a wonderful neighborhood. It's one of
the lowest rated when it comes to crime. We live at the end of a dead-end
street so traffic isn't a problem. And, there are **plenty** of children
running around.
My kids have grown in so many ways by being able to run around outside with
other children their age. Ok, some of that growth isn't all that great
(Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys????); but a good bit of it is wonderful.
We've set down strict guidelines as to where they are and are not allowed to
go, walk, rollerblade, and bike ride. They are only allowed to go in a
friend's house if we've previously met the parents and approved of the
parents. And, they have to call immediately if they do decide to play
inside of an "approved" friend's house. But, we try to encourage playing
outside vs. inside weather permitting.
I've noticed that my two play outside during Daylight Savings Time much more
than during the Winter. I tend to hibernate during the winter months, and
so do my kids.
What's sad is that in a week or two, someone will probably start a thread
about how their neighbor has suddenly started throwing their children
outside for a little while each day. She'll want to know which authority we
suggest she call to report this incident of child abandonment and abuse.
Don't mind me; I like to ramble,
Rachel
Rosalie B.
so widespread. But there was some of this even then. The Donora PA
smog incident killed a number of people. This was before 1948. I
think even then LA had smog. The reason that there were no hazardous
air alerts was the people were less aware of the hazards - they were
not as well understood.
Traffic was less at that time, at least during the war, because no one
had any gasoline to drive.
>I think, however, that one of the biggest reasons that children are inside
>is because parents are not quite so directive about what the children are to
>be doing. I know that my parents, and my sister, and others of earlier
>generations, told the kids to play outside more to get them out of their
>hair for a couple hours than for the healthful benefits of playing outside.
My mother used to make me go outside to play all the time. I was a
little bookworm, had asthma, and was not very athletic. I would rather
read a book than almost anything else.
Once my mother forced me to go outside primarily because she wanted to
bake my birthday cake for a surprise party. I was unhappy because no
one had mentioned my birthday and decided to run away from home. I
went across the street and hid behind a parked car.
High energy kids go outside and run around. My #2 daughter and her #1
son are like that. I was a more sedentary type. My mother arranged
lots of activities for us to do, and I was always a little reluctant
to come away from my books.
I don't remember playing outdoors with friends at all before I was in
school BTW. My #2 daughter used to walk to a friend's house during
the day (both working mothers, but had arranged their schedules so
they were home during the day) so the kids could play together. When
I was doing it (and even most of the time with my kids), I could walk
over to a friend's house by myself. Of course I was older than my
grandson is now too.
grandma Rosalie
Rosalie B.
>"Rosalie B." <gmbe...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>news:1p0s9scpi32cifi0q...@4ax.com...
>> I grew up during WWII in the 40's. It is true that smog was not quite
>> so widespread. But there was some of this even then. The Donora PA
>> smog incident killed a number of people. This was before 1948. I
>> think even then LA had smog. The reason that there were no hazardous
>> air alerts was the people were less aware of the hazards - they were
>> not as well understood.
>>
>> Traffic was less at that time, at least during the war, because no one
>> had any gasoline to drive.
>
>to stay inside. I know for a fact, being a history buff, that the air over
>cities and larger towns in the "industrialized" world of the 1800's and into
>the early 1900's was horrible. It was filled with wood and coal smoke from
>all the heating and cooking fires. This apparently caused a number of
During the oil crisis of the early 70's when a lot of people started
heating with wood, some of this came back. I can drive in the winter
in our rural county and see a haze from wood fires hanging over the
valleys.
>problems. I will now start looking to see if I can find some info about
>rates of asthma and similar problems in highly populated areas of the
>1800's. The decrease was first and primarily brought about by electricity,
>particularly hydroelectric power, as so many homes stopped using coal or
>wood to heat or cook. Other homes went to various forms of gas, further
>relieving the air pollution index. I read somewhere that our skies are much
>better now than during the height of the industrial revolution.
I think one of the items in air alerts today are ozone problems. That
wasn't conceived of as a problem before. Sunburn was avoided in young
children by prudent mothers (mine for instance), but no one ever asked
a kid to wear sunscreen (didn't even have it I think very early), and
a nice tan was considered desirable.
Incidentally one of the first industrial diseases that was discovered
was scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps in the 1800s
grandma Rosalie
just me
"Rosalie B." <gmbe...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:1p0s9scpi32cifi0q...@4ax.com...
> I grew up during WWII in the 40's. It is true that smog was not quite
> so widespread. But there was some of this even then. The Donora PA
> smog incident killed a number of people. This was before 1948. I
> think even then LA had smog. The reason that there were no hazardous
> air alerts was the people were less aware of the hazards - they were
> not as well understood.
>
> Traffic was less at that time, at least during the war, because no one
> had any gasoline to drive.
interesting that two posters should mention smog/air condition as a reason
to stay inside. I know for a fact, being a history buff, that the air over
cities and larger towns in the "industrialized" world of the 1800's and into
the early 1900's was horrible. It was filled with wood and coal smoke from
all the heating and cooking fires. This apparently caused a number of
problems. I will now start looking to see if I can find some info about
rates of asthma and similar problems in highly populated areas of the
1800's. The decrease was first and primarily brought about by electricity,
particularly hydroelectric power, as so many homes stopped using coal or
wood to heat or cook. Other homes went to various forms of gas, further
relieving the air pollution index. I read somewhere that our skies are much
better now than during the height of the industrial revolution.
- Aula
Tracey
And here in the northeast, we have the constant threat of Lyme Disease.
Hedgehog42 <hedge...@aol.comno> wrote in message
news:20000206155759...@ng-fp1.aol.com...
> Couple of other thoughts -- there are also health-related concerns
associated
> with being outdoors today that did not exist, or existed to a lesser
degree,
> when we were growing up:
, WI
Greg
safe, kid-friendly amounts of 'outside' are constantly shrinking... Me as a
kid growing up in the late 60s early 70s, and also by virtue of where my parents
chose to live with their 5 kids - we had woods, unpaved stretches of road, etc,
places to build forts, to go on long mini-bike trail rides, etc. Many days we
disappeared all day long, from dawn to dusk. There was no such thing as video
games (heck, I remember B&W TV !). There were very few cartoons on during the
week, Saturday morning was about it... Home computers, internet ? Uh-uh.
We have a million and one reasons; video, electronic, flashy-fantasy role play and
on and on- reasons for kids to stay indoors and veg out. Why go out and build a
tree fort when you can rule (and destroy) an entire empire on your PC ?! I don't
claim that those were the 'good old days' but there was where we were, a lot
of stuff and places to do it, outside...
How many kids when you/I were young, had their own TV, video, PC, games ?
To encourage outdoor play will cost you time, money, energy (like basically anything
worthwhile!). We have a fairly elaborate kids play fort/swingset, a trampoline,
tetherball, swimming pool, a small patch of woods to play/build in and even a small
firepit all to provide various forms of outside distraction. These are not musts
as I'm sure someone will take some sort of exception to what I say, but they work
for us. WE set an expectation (not the kids) that if "so and so comes over you have
to play outside" Midday heat ? Swim, play with hoses, play under the roofed, insulated,
ceiling fan cooled outside patio roof. If its really hot yes they come in during midday
and cool down with some sort of inside play and we also avoid the midday sun due to
skin cancer risk. We set a timer when they're on the video games as otherwise it
goes on forever... During the school year we have no TV during the week, none. After
school its snack and outside for at least 30min of exercise/fun before dark. Often we
join them for a bike ride, run, or jumping on the trampoline 'cause we need it too and
I think nothing teaches like example and actions do... We had a 12 kid sleepover birthday
party this weekend and they stayed outside 'till 9pm jumping on the trampoline, doing
sparklers, and roasting marshmallows in the fire. Next morning the kids were stomping
to get back outside and all were by about 8:30am, right up until their parents arrived
at 10 to pick them up. We don't normally orchestrate their activites but are always
somewhere about to see that things stay safe... A couple ideas, anyway...
Greg
just me
same opportunities. I keep grousing at DH about wanting to give our son
toys that require use of the imagination, not motorized, battery driven
stuff. I am certain that kids can develop a very good imagination using
modern toys that buzz, chirp, whirr, and zing, as well as have software, but
I don't quite believe the words I just typed, if you understand. I will
still do what I can to get DS outside [DH, too, for that matter] and
enjoying this sunny paradise we live in. Enough with the climate controlled
video/computer/tv stuff. I notice that my 4 year old is much more
interested in playing with his Thomas train tracks and other wheeled
vehicles than in his videos and most tv shows. Says a lot to me.
- Sorry for the tired rambling. Gotta go rock a certain short person in the
rocking chair for a few minutes.
TTFN - Aula
"Greg" <gze...@intersil.com> wrote in message
news:87mpcu$m...@hearye.mlb.semi.harris.com...
Sean T. Smith
woods that a lot of kids attend afterschool and weekend activities --
soccer, dance, music, etc. So there's just not a lot of time or
opportunity for them to simply romp around outside. When they _are_ home,
they are usually inside doing homework, having family time, or relaxing by
playing with computer games, watching TV, etc. This affects kids like
ours, who are not as scheduled -- they're not as inclined to play outside
because there's just no one around to play with...and, frankly, we prefer
them not to be outside all by themselves.
This trend doesn't necessarily stop in the summer, either -- kids to go to
camps or day programs, or are off on family vacations.
Sean Smith
leesrose
>toys that require use of the imagination, not motorized,
battery driven
>stuff. I am certain that kids can develop a very good
imagination using
>modern toys that buzz, chirp, whirr, and zing, as well as have
software, but
>I don't quite believe the words I just typed, if you understand.
I do, but keep in mind that if your son is the kind of kid who
likes electronic things, those could be the start of a long-term
interest. My son was younger than four when he started trying to
figure out how things ran. He still loved his NON electrical
toys, but when he was 11 or 12 he could take apart and fix my
VCR. I guess I'm saying it needn't be either/or.
rose
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just me
"leesrose" <donnaN...@seanet.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:02c6ef38...@usw-ex0104-032.remarq.com...
> I do, but keep in mind that if your son is the kind of kid who
> likes electronic things, those could be the start of a long-term
> interest. My son was younger than four when he started trying to
> figure out how things ran. He still loved his NON electrical
> toys, but when he was 11 or 12 he could take apart and fix my
> VCR. I guess I'm saying it needn't be either/or.
>
> rose
While I fully agree with what you said, I still believe that giving children
toys that mainly require batteries and "do" something rather than toys like
blocks, legos, paint, playdough, and other items that one has to interact
with a bit more *can* limit the development of imagination, problem solving
skills and the like. The issue I am raising may boil down to the "entertain
me" syndrome as opposed to the finding something I enjoy doing solution.
Passive versus active involvement with the item. Certainly the development
of skills to work on electronic devices is admirable and to be encouraged.
Somehow I doubt that playing with a game boy is going to encourage the
development of that skill.
So, there you have it. I still want more of the toys in our house to work
without batteries and adapter cords. And, I really like the toys that
require physical activity and interaction with other people [and not just to
take turns to play independently of the other person.....].
- Aula
leesrose
>While I fully agree with what you said, I still believe that
giving children
>toys that mainly require batteries and "do" something rather
than toys like
>blocks, legos, paint, playdough, and other items that one has
to interact
Oh, I never said to limit those things. My son had all of the
above and enjoyed them. He just never made little Playdough
people...but ramps and balls and "Rube Goldberg" like things.
>Somehow I doubt that playing with a game boy is going to
encourage the
>development of that skill.
Well, it did in this case. He figured out how to wire it for
bigger batteries so it would run longer. He did it, too. This
led to him knowing how to wire on bigger speakers to his clock
radio...currently he's figuring out how to modify his old
remote-control car to have additional moving parts. But he is
unusual in that he doesn't ever just "sit there" when he's got
an electronic or battery operated toy. He's always plotting how
to make changes. I drew the line, though, at letting him
dismantle the perfectly good tv.
>
>So, there you have it. I still want more of the toys in our
house to work
>without batteries and adapter cords. And, I really like the
toys that
>require physical activity and interaction with other people
[and not just to
>take turns to play independently of the other person.....].
All very admirable. Even geeks need to go outside and play with
other kids, which he does. My older DD, on the other hand,
wouldn't know how to dismantle anything elctronic short of
smashing it, and would rather do creative play and run around
outside with her friends than anything else, even at 10.
Angel Sparrow
Risa Bernstein wrote:
>
> Hi everyone -
>
> Haven't written here in a *long* time, probably since last year when
> Colin was having his tonsils and adenoids out. In case anyone still
> remembers and is interested - he's great!
Terrific. We're looking down the
barrel of that ourselves with DS2.
> Now, my beef of the month/year/century. Why don't kids play outside
> anymore?
Abduction
snakes
feral cats
stray dogs
drive-by shootings
traffic
heat-stroke (20 days over 110 last summer)
And those are just my reasons.
The outdoors is something you go through
between he house, car, store and library.
It's too big, too bright, inconveniently temperatured,
often wet, and usually smells funny (we live down wind
of everyhing).
> This seems to be a kind of dumb question, but from everything
> I've seen, not only do kids not want to leave the house (i.e., gameboy,
> Cartoon Network, videos, and Nintendo),
as well as
Computer
books
air conditioning
heat
crayons
cars
> but their parents don't seem to
> want to "offer the alternative suggestion" of...playing on the *out*side
> of the house!
Safer inside.
Angel, touch agorophobic,
and taking 4 kids out to play is a handful
Marie
Angel Sparrow wrote in message
<38A4DB4C...@hotmail.com>...
>Angel here
>Angel, touch agorophobic,
>and taking 4 kids out to play is a handful
That's why you tell Daddy to take them out.
:o)
Marie
http://go.to/mommydowis