Having been born in 1977 I guess you could say I'm technically a child of the 70's but I don't remember much of it. According to my parents I taught myself to read before the 80's rolled around, but I don't remember that so I just call myself a child of the 80's.
The 80's and the early 2000's are different in more ways than they are similar, but I suppose that could just be my modified perspective. There seems to have been some financial issues in both decades, and there were still some social tensions with other far-flung countries, but otherwise it seemed a more contented time. Again, possibly just my ever-changing perspective.
Really, I think it's easier to see the ways it's different now: really it all boils down to how technology has reshaped our lives and how we live them. This is a good thing and a bad thing, I know ;)
One particular derivation of this new technology that bothers me is the tendency of children to not play outside, to sit inside and play video games and do homework, and them play more video games, and watch one of 14 different cartoon channels that the satellite TV offers at any given time. I have a child who prefers to stay indoors, and one who prefers to go outside. The one who prefers to stay indoors has to be conned into getting his Vitamin D the natural way, and that bothers me. I wonder what the "ripple effect" of this will be down the line and am trying every day it seems to find new and different ways to make OUTSIDE more appealing for him. One step that seems to have helped is getting a puppy, but still he'd rather stay inside, and eagerly awaits his younger sibling's nap time so he can play on the Wii.
Something tells me he won't be following in my footsteps and ruling the tetherball courts for years to come.... the negative impacts from this could be so far reaching none of us really could fathom it accurately.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
My kids love to play video games as well as play outside but, their attention is held longer with the video games. They get bored quickly outside.I remember spending hours playing hide and seek or red light green light and hated when it got dark because I had to go back inside. I think as parents all we can do is encourage them to play and get exercise.
ReplyDeleteJIll
I agree with you too. The advances in technology have definitely had their downsides. Similar to what you mentioned, children are not getting the exercise that they need because they would rather play video games.
ReplyDeleteCould this lead to higher rates of obesity and perhaps other health problems for children later on in life?
My little brother just got a Nintendo DS for christmas and know thats all he wants to do. I can remember when we wanted to go otuside ran or shine... Now I'm begining to wonder if outside might become a thing of the past
ReplyDelete