Children Not Playing Outside
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Empty Playgrounds
As I read the article, “What Ever Happened to Play,” I was alarmed that children these days are not enjoying the outdoors. As a child I was always on a new adventure or exploring exciting sites around my neighborhood. My parents encouraged me to perform constructive activities outdoors and were eager to hear my new stories. Our block in the neighborhood had many other children of all ages who often met together to play a game or even create a better one.
I was fortunate to have time to play outside each day. They were definitely the highlights of my youth. I did not grow up around a lot of technology when I was younger. I was a child who did not own a Playstation or Nintendo. Playing games did not involve my friends and I sitting on the couch and playing video games. Playing games was an outdoor activity with many of the neighborhood children. It was a sacred time, a time to grow, exercise, laugh and enjoy being a kid.
There have been many studies that show children who have a lack of play time affects emotional development, leading to the rise of anxiety, depression, and problems of attention and self control. Allowing children to play outside has also been documented as one of the best ways to ensure that a child grows up with high self-esteem and the ability to solve problems. Parents should be aware that depriving a child of play time is also depriving them of some of the basic foundation they need to grow up confident and happy.
There are also many other benefits to children playing outdoors. Obesity in children is a growing problem in our country. While diet plays a major role in a childs weight and overall health, physical activity is also a significant factor. Playing outside will not only help prevent obesity, but it will also help children build stronger bones and muscles. It also improves their cardiovascular health, help them sleep better at night and reduce the risk of disease. Studies have also shown that playing outside helps children laugh more, which in turn, helps relieve stress. This profits children by improving their immune system and increases mental health and alertness.
The article, “What Ever Happened to Play,” also briefly touched on a parents fear of parks being dangerous. Local and cable television programs seem often in reporting parents worst fear; abduction. The media will routinely lead with another disturbing story of a missing child. Almost nightly, local newscasts strengthen parental anxiety. It is increasing levels of anxiety, perpetrated largely by the media. Children should be educated about dangers and their surroundings. Parents should not overdue or exhaust their children with constant fear. With the roughly 50 million children under the age of 13, the likelihood of abduction is literally one in a million. Parents are worried their children will be kidnapped