“Go Outside and Play!”
The Majority of Parents,
In Those ‘Good Old Days’
Today’s parents, rarely ever say this
Most children today, now play inside
They spend hours with their computers
They’re also getting fat – easy to see why
I spent my childhood in the outdoors
I rarely came inside, until it got dark
Today, as I frequently walk all about
I sadly see very few kids in our parks
Hiking, camping, and bird watching
Are today, very sadly, on the decline
And, when I speak to parents about this
Most of them say, “Oh, things are just fine.”
When I speak to today’s children about this
Most of them tell me, they prefer video games
Even many educators today, praise this lifestyle
We’re now raising fat, lazy, kids with ‘tech brains’
To me, it’s no wonder that nature now suffers
And that helping our planet, is not their concern
Thank God, I had different parents and teachers
For a return to those days of yore we should yearn
If we want to leave our offspring, a better world
We have to once again promote outdoor activities
Teaching today’s children, about our natural world
I believe, must now become, a modern day priority
‘GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY’ is a familiar phrase to many adults today,
But the simple truth is that kids today aren’t hearing, or heeding, this call.
Research shows that today’s children now spend half as much time outdoors
As we once did. In fact, they’re spending an average of six and a half hours
Each and every day, these days – ‘plugged into’ their modern electronic media.
Author Richard Louv describes this modern day phenomenon as ‘Nature Deficit.’
And this modern phenomenon is now having a profound impact on our children’s
Mental and Physical health. In the last 20 years, while time spent playing outdoors
Has decreased, childhood obesity has doubled, and adolescent obesity has tripled.
Children who have spent more time in nature,
Are also far more likely to then carry and retain,
A love for the natural world, into their adult years.
And very sadly, if this modern day ‘nature deficit’ continues,
We will very soon face a severe lack of environmental leaders,
At a time when we face unprecedented environmental challenges,
Including natural habitat loss, global warming, and species extinction.
©2009, Mr. Ed
Where The Redwing Sings
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Yes, I think this is so sad. Children now are not as healthy as they used to be, for once they sit in front of the computer, all they do is to eat junk food and play games.
A sad write of the reality!!!
Sandie Angel :(
The drawing is sad but true. It is a shame that so many kids would prefer to pal around with their video games instead of outside with other kids. My parents had a bell that they would ring to let us know it was time to come in. We hated to hear it...outside was the best place to be any season of the year.
Thanks for this great write.
Cathlene
SPRING - 2 hand touch football w/neighborhood kids - baseball (hardball) & softball games at the park - walked everywhere - BSA meetings, Jamborees & Camporees - Hula-hoops - and more ...
SUMMER - more baseball - curb-ball - stick-ball - Iron-Horse - Red Rover - REDLINE - Hot Butter Beans - swimming at park pool & down the shore - playing Marbles, or AGGIES - roller-skating on the inner city streets - bicycle riding to and from everywhere - playing cards on the grass: Pitch, Pinochle, Cribbage, Canasta, Gin Rummy, Old Maids, War - Fishing - Rowing an old heavy wooden boat - Field Day - 50 Yard Dash - 220 Relay Races - Dodge-Ball - and more, more, more ...
FALL - Basketball at the park - more football: Tackle & Touch - Fishing - Dancing Fast & Slow every Fri. & Sat. nite at Church of The Advent - literally running & CHASING GIRLS -
Street Hockey - Lacrosse - and more ...
WINTER - Ice-Skating indoor & outdoor - MORE FOOTBALL - this was just Sand-Lot, choosing up sides, rarely any adult supervision, when young rarely any equipment for full field tackle, no helmets, no pads - NUTTIN' HONEY - and somehow we all survived with FEW casualties, plenty of cuts, bruises, and grass burns on the knees and elbows, a rare broken bone or two - could it be that we were all ATHLETIC & IN SHAPE?
TV WASTELAND - the beginning of the Downfall circa '53 or so! BUT EVEN THEN - we went outside and played SOMETHING ALL DAY - HOWDY DOWDY - PAUL'S PUPPETS - KUHKLA, FRAN, AND OLLIE - didn't come on until LATE AFTERNOON or EARLY EVENING!
SATURDAY MORNINGS - a good mile walk down to the movie theaters - homemade penny candy from DIENER'S CONFECTIONARY - double features were great! the long walk back home again - and then - MORE BALL PLAYING!
ED - we EARNED OUR STRIPES and the right to NOW SIT ON OUR FAT ARSES, didn't we?
NATURE ? What ever happened to the BSA & the GSA ? are they defunct?
ESPRIT DE CORPS - now it is PARENTS ARGUING WITH COACHES over little Tommy's inability to hit a Friggin' T -BALL !!!
Peace my Friend - TK.
Please, bring them back; boy, have things changed . . . excellent!!
Best always,
Lance
I've often wondered what the kids will do when their home electricity is turned off. Sadly, many are now finding out.
Keep writing your "prompting" poetry and articles, Ed...
Blessings and Love - Micke
we must also take this one step further and ask ourselves if we are guilty as adults of setting an example for them. I know I spend far too much time on the computer myself and when I look around at friends and relatives I see the same thing. Yes we must bring our children back to nature and the outdoors but perhaps we need to find our own way there as well.
Fee
Are also far more likely to then carry and retain,
A love for the natural world, into their adult years."
Well stated ED!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :(
In Spirit,
Bear
not computer games, health etc all are impacted severely in all of this new modern day life, love your write/. Blessings!Jasmin Horst
This is a piece I can relate with. Where I stay (in Thailand), there are two groups of children. There are those with enough allowances to spend on playing computer games. There are also those with less and spend their time playing with and feeding pet and stray dogs. The later never fail to smile and hail me whenever I pass by. It's pure joy to see them relish on the cheap cookies and beverages that I offer sometimes. I have hope that one day, they will prevail.
Thanks for this very relevant posting. God Bless my friend.
Sincerely,
Regino
This is so sad and so true. In some places, they're even thinking of cutting recess, because it's a waste of time. Kids need that break and exercise. Mom didn't have to say "go outside and play" to me", because when I was very young, Dad told me, my favorite cry was, "I want my outside!" How are cultures change and I agree with everything you said.
Mary
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Georg