When I Was Young, We Were Encouraged to Play
Posted: Friday, November 18, 2011
by Nancy Daniels
Voice Dynamic
When I was a child, one of the phrases I loved hearing from my mother’s lips were the words, “Go outside and play." Four simple words. My brothers and I did not need to be told twice. We liked going outside and playing. There were always things to do. Whether it was sledding in the winter, playing ball in the spring, swimming in the summer (which included diving off a 1-meter board – Oh, My!), or swinging on the swings in the fall, we had much to keep us busy outside. In truth, getting us inside was often harder than getting us out.
Of course, in many states, it is illegal to play dodge ball in school on the grounds that it fosters aggression and discriminates against less athletic children. And, the climbing of ropes has been long gone from our school gymnasiums. Since this past September, a county in West Virginia is banning swing sets from all their schools because they are too dangerous. I ask you, what is life for a child without a swing?
If you look at pools around the country, many public facilities removed their diving boards a few decades ago. Today, you see fewer and fewer pools being built with boards. (That’s great news for our Americans in the Olympics, considering diving is one of the highlights of the summer games.) I would also venture to guess that sledding will be another wonderful pasttime that will get the axe in some city or some county because some child will get hurt and some parent will sue.
When I broke my wrist a few years ago, I was stopping a soccer ball that was veering directly towards my head. You know, the thought of suing the soccer league never crossed my mind. Son of a gun – I missed the boat on that one – I could have retired!
While bicycles for children have not yet been outlawed, I am surprised that someone has not done something about this particular activity because the danger of riding a bike in a street has lethal consequences – certainly more tragic than falling off a swing or getting hit by a soccer ball.
We are a people who, by law, have become so afraid of living and playing, that we are bundling ourselves into cocoons for fear that something might happen. For this, we should be more than indignant. Life for a child is playing. They learn more from play than they do from the structured lessons or the educational videos we shove in front of them as infants to give them a head start. According to parenting expert Kathy Lynn, babies and children “need to experience life in order to get life experiences," something you will not get from watching a screen or a TV monitor.
Kids will fall down; they will break a leg or an arm; and, they will learn from it. Often the best teacher in life are the mistakes that we make as children. Laws have allowed us to ban life from the unborn; they should not be allowed to ban life from the living.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)This is the one thing that is practically universal amongst our generation. The song was "go out and play". It was the song of endless fun and no baby sitters. It is so different from the present that it bends the mind. People won't know the fun we had - the last generation for which "go out and play" was a safe and ecstatic daily instruction.Christofer,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, I had forgotten. No babysitters. Wow!
Great article. It's true. Too much is being taken away from our children and too much (electronic technology) is being given in replacement. Excersing the bodies is too dangerous, so we keep them shut away in a room full of virtual un-realities!It is frightening and it is so wrong. Just look at the amount of childhood obesity. These 'questionable' parents do not understand the big picture.
Oh! This article is so in my mind as I watch my grandchildren grow up. They are only 2 and 4 now, but I see what the weak is taking away from the strong and it drubs my soul. It began with my own kids.
Have we decided that it's OK to protect the meager weak and their egos at the expense of the majority who are willing to compete; their natural inclination? Why are we putting up with the bullhorn of parents of a minority of weaklings and dullards who would bring a majority of sharp intelligent minds and agile spirits to mediocrity?
Great article Nancy. So true. How to we fix this or is it too big to fix?
I think we have to stand up for what we know is best. It would also help to reestablish true value in life. Unfortunately, suing has become the answer to every problem.
I agree. Stand up and be heard. I usually do when the situation presents itself, but I've not made it one of my causes. Unfortunately, suing works and it has debased long established American values.
There is no doubt that suing is one of the major problems in this country. I like the way you put it, "it has debased long established American values."
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