Outdoor Play versus Electronics

[jhomarcams26]

When I was a kid I love playing outside with my playmates some times my sister we are super enjoy.now my kids playing too they have fun so much.
Even were in a high tech generation,me and my husband needs to guide them to use electronics we authorized them to use electronics sometimes lol

[haleygerstenberg]

I don't know if a book will be the thing that changes whether children want to play outside or with electronics, so much as how their parents / guardians encourage them to spend their time... I'd say if they have parents who read books to them they have a good start already

[Ktwills79]

I have 2 children, and my husband and I have worked hard to ensure that they have almost no screen time. As a result, they are both incredibly creative, and the things they come up with to entertain themselves are really quite amazing. I think it's important that books reflect the way things 'should' be, rather than the way things often 'are', so that we can set a good example for our children.

[Christina Rose]

Critizicing kids for prefering a video game to a basketball is as if older people criticized our generation for prefering basketballs and barbies instead of playing wit yo-yos or spins. Even sadder still, kids can't play outside with the same safety anymore. We could walk alone to the park or the school without a care in the world but, right now, they can't.

I don't think the comparison is quite accurate. There is so much more to electronics than just sitting and watching a show or playing on a game. There is social media, chat rooms, and instant messenger. I saw an article the other day about reasons teens shouldn't be on social media. It talked a lot about the development of the brain. There is so much opportunity to "discover" things on the internet that kids/teens shouldn't be reading about or watching. There is so much discussion about cyber-bullying. Social media has led to a lot of self-image issues for people of any age.

Technology is great in certain ways because you can connect to people you SHOULD stay connected to like long-distance relatives. You can research anything and everything. But do kids know how to look up information in an encyclopedia? Do they know how to use a map? I could probably read a map if I really needed to, but I literally let my Google maps read step-by-step to me where I need to go. Skills are lost as other skills are gained. As we progress and evolve in some areas, we devolve in others.

Overall you are right; parents need to guide their children to a well-balanced lifestyle. I was never trying to blame children for the choice, but books that can subtly advise children to living a healthy lifestyle are great because when a parent says "go outside and play," there may be less of a battle because they might actually WANT to do it.

@kfwilson6 You really hit the nail on the head here. I recently read an article on the correlation between digital use and ADHD. There are definitely a lot of positives when it comes to technological advances, but we need to set limits and boundaries. A book promoting good physical play is a great addition to a child's library. Parents just need to reinforce the idea.

I agree with you on the social aspects, as well. Bullying has gone to a whole new level. People don't interact with each other the same. No one memorizes phone numbers anymore. It's insane, lol. Parents have a lot of control here, but I have to say we don't have total control anymore. My teenager has to have access to internet capable devices at home, as well as at school. If she couldn't use a smart phone in the classroom, she would fall behind. It's the world we live in, I guess. Boundaries by parents are key - for example, she wasn't allowed a Facebook account until age 16, and only because we know she is responsible.

[smessing10]

I am going into Electrical Engineering (so I know a thing or two about the importance of electronics) and I sure hope that kids will put down the electronics more often. There is so much more the world has to offer than what you can learn from looking at a screen.

[Christina Rose]

Could potentially be some parents who also engage maybe a bit much on technology don't have patience or attention span to teach their kid to play outside or sit and finish their dinner.

I think you are absolutely right about this. I told my husband the other day that when I'm at my desk at work I tend to have a ton of things going on at once. I have candy crush up on my phone, OBC up on my computer, I'm answering emails and phone calls, and filling in a spreadsheet. I just alternate between all of those things because it keeps me from getting bored. I can't even sit and watch tv or a movie without doing something on my phone. It makes me restless and I am by no means one of those people who would be classified as ADD or ADHD. I'm just so used to having access to various forms of entertainment, I like to have lots of mental stimulation. That's not to say that I can't sit and read a book for 2-3 hours without looking at the clock! But when you really love something it's different... So I just hope that when I have children they will fail to notice the passing of time with activities like playing kickball with their friends rather than playing video games or binge-watching Troll Hunters

I love watching Troll Hunters with the kids, lol.

It truly is hard not to constantly multitask. I have to slow myself down sometimes, though - I really do have ADD, and won't get anything done if I can't take a step back to think properly.

[Izesicle]

I'm nostalgic for outdoor play which makes me feel like it forces children to be more social, creative and fit. Electronics can do that too but I don't think readers need to be encouraged to use them because they're so prevalent.

[Christina Rose]

I've seen a lot of this as well, the difference in childhoods across kids of different ages. My husband has a similar situation to your own; his brother is 14 years younger. My husband grew up on a farm and he worked as much as the adults did. By the time his brother was old enough to do anything like that, they sold the farm and he is always on his computer or cellphone. Instead of doing homework, kids are playing video games. It's not even that it takes up their free time, it's taking up the time they NEED to give to other things.

When we had birthday parties as kids we would go to the park, skating rink, or bowling alley. All physical activities. Now they have those video game centers where you can play as groups or arcades. Technological advancements are not 100% beneficial.

I agree that those who influence children need to influence them toward active activities.

I totally understand how it can be hard as a parent to get their kids out and doing things. I'm not a parent myself, so I won't judge people too harshly. I did have a conversation with my neighbor the other day though, and this conversation made me think sometimes you have to be a bit tougher. But she was saying she was out buying ice cream because her kids were complaining about the heat (heatwave in UK/Ireland right now and we have no AC) and wanted their mom to buy them ice cream. I made a joke to make them walk to the store to get the ice cream. The store from our house is about a 15-minute walk to the store. It's quite common for kids her son's age to walk from school to home (another 15 minutes in the other direction) or to the store for a little treat because we live in a small, quiet town. The worst trouble kids could really get into is if they decided to mess with the cows. Anyway, my neighbor said something along the lines of, "If I told them that, they'd just complain." I think some parents are a bit complacent and don't try to get their kids out and doing things. And when the parents themselves are so involved in technology like their kids are, why would they want to put in the effort? It's definitely a different time we live in now.

On a bit of a different note, I wonder what the statistics are (if any) on childhood obesity and how much time a child spends on electronic entertainment. I would assume there is a big upward trend in unhealthy kids the more time they spend indoors. So I'm not sure electronics are exactly healthy. I know that sounds odd, but the more children get out and play, the more active and healthy they are.
Like you say, kids not wanting to walk for 15 minutes is not a good thing. I think their parents should enforce this type of activity.

I agree that there is likely a correlation. Childhood obesity is on the rise, as is the use of electronic entertainment. I used to walk or ride my bike everywhere. In fact, hanging out with friends often included walking through the neighborhood. It was nothing to see a group of middle-schoolers walking around after school. Now, socializing includes playing video games with people you've never met in person.

[nikkyteewhy]

I know this book will encourage kids to play outdoors which is good for them.

[starshipsaga]

In general, I think kids these days are definitely way too plugged in. But at the same time, I believe in balance. We live in a different world than our parents and our grandparents; electronics are now the new reality and way of life. I feel it's okay for kids to spend time on them, as long as other aspects of life aren't ignored. Everything in moderation is the key!

[eHope]

Children's involvement with electronics vs outdoor play encompasses the ability to interact with others, both children and caregivers. Language skills, appropriate expression, ability to communicate clearly, all impact relational development . At what level are they able to relate? Is it appropriate for their age and grade level?

Just some thoughts to consider in the development of this generation and those to follow ...

[Christina Rose]

I noticed that other than playing and singing music, none of Toni's activities included any type of electronics. Toni was not listed as liking to watch tv Do you think children spend too much time using electronics instead of playing with more traditional toys like balls and jump ropes? Will this book help encourage children to play without electronics and enjoy outdoor activities? Toni was even reading his books outside.

Many children who own electronics certainly do, it's like an addiction for some of them. If unsupervised and left to their own antics they will play video games day and night or surf social media. The book is a step in the right direction but parental education and supervision is the crucial factor.

I definitely agree. I am not a parent yet, but I have been a middle school teacher for the past three years, and I have definitely seen a shift in students' attention spans from when I was in middle school myself 13 years ago. I believe that electronics are okay in moderation, and some knowledge of how to use computers is essential in today's electronic age, but we must not drift away from the creativity children learn through playing outside or playing with physical (non-electronic) toys.

I'm glad you bring up the shift in attention spans. I recently read an article discussing that very thing, and your observations give a real life example of the correlation.

[MiziS_1305]

In an era when technology development is fast paced, it is important that kids learn about the electronics and start using it but it should not come at a cost of their physical growth. This book can encourage children to go outside more and let their personality develop.

[Christina Rose]

When I was growing up there wasn't so much gadgets and electronics, out door was inevitable. These days kids stay on their electronics more. I dare say they're missing a lot especially in human relationships.

I agree that those who spend more time on electronics are missing out on important connections and interactions. Moderation is key, and parents will need to set limits if they want to see change.

[Christina Rose]

Kids do spend a lot of time on electronics, but with the time we are in it is almost as if it is a necessity. It is now up to parents to ensure there is a balance between indoor and outdoor activities.

I agree with this completely. Electronics are more of a necessity now than before, but we can still set limits.