“Go outside and play.”
That’s a phrase I heard a few thousand times growing up. When I think back to my childhood many of my fondest memories are of playing outside. It helped that I had two brothers and many more kids close in age living along my street. Riding bikes, building forts, exploring the creek, swimming and many other things took up much of those early years for me.
I’m in my early 30s now, so technology was by no means archaic during my childhood. But even in those days the only electronic distractions in our house were the television (limited to a few channels), VCR, radio and battery operated games. Later on, we had Atari and even Nintendo, but they never seemed to be a big part my fun. They certainly are not the source of any of my meaningful memories.
Times have changed.
Today, kids are lured by television, including numerous channels dedicated just for them; there are VCRs, DVD and DVR players. Then of course there are video game players like PlayStation, Xbox, Wii, PSP, Nintendo DS, Game Boy, not to mention computer games for the PC. And there’s the Internet, which hosts endless videos and games and the extremely popular social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook.
Add all of this together and it’s not difficult to see why kids are inside glued to electronic devices. This technology is fun, exciting, requires little physical effort, and in many cases, little imagination. And it’s often right there in their bedroom. Two-thirds of all 8- to 18-year-olds have a television in their room and almost half have a video game player.
The Kaiser Family Foundation found that children and teens are increasing the amount of time they spend with electronic media – approximately six- and-a-half hours per day on average. That was an increase of an hour over five years. By the time the average child turns 18 he will have watched somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 hours of television.
Not surprisingly, many kids are spending less time outside than before. Research done at the University of Maryland found that the proportion of children between the ages of nine and 12 who spend time in outside activities such as hiking, fishing and walking declined 50 percent between 1997 and 2003. Part of the decline was linked to an increase in computer use, television and video games.
I don’t know about you, but after months of cold temperatures I’m glad that springtime is here. With three kids under the age of six, my wife and I are thrilled to be able to say “go outside and play.” With the change in season this is a great time to get the kids active outside. And there are many good reasons to do so. Here are a few:
It’s healthy. What better way to exercise the body than to run around, play ball or ride a bike. It’s no mystery why childhood obesity is on the rise. Kids are spending an increasing amount of sedentary time watching television or playing video games, often snacking while they lounge.
It expands the imagination. Video games and television leave little to the imagination; being outside opens up a world of possibilities for children. It was certainly true when I was young, and I am amazed when I see my own kids create their own fun with what they find in the yard.
It’s cheap. Fun outdoors doesn’t require spending a lot of money—and it can’t be as expensive as the electronics they’re hopefully leaving in the house. This is especially true with little ones. It’s amazing how eager my children are to join most any amusement I recommend.
Perhaps most importantly, playing outside offers parents a great opportunity to spend quality time with their children. Of course we can’t always drop what we’re doing to be out there with them. But there are many times when we can. Turning off the television or setting aside other distractions is good advice for mom and dad too, especially when we have young ones whom we can engage.
Our kids want and need our attention. Being outside with them can create some meaningful memories. Are we more likely to talk with our child while the television is on or while we’re throwing the ball in the front yard? Can we expect to connect while our child is racing a grand prix on the Xbox or while we’re taking a walk in the woods?
I’m not against the use of electronic media. It has its place in a home and can certainly be a source of education and fun for the family. But it’s important for us as parents to limit our children’s use of technology. Sitting inside interacting with electronics can steal away time better spent elsewhere.
Georgia Family Council is a non-profit organization that works to strengthen and defend the family in Georgia by equipping marriage advocates, shaping laws, preparing the next generation and influencing culture. For more information, go to www.georgiafamily.org, 770-242-0001, stephen@gafam.org.
