I have read that information in a magazine recently and I can’t help but agree with that data. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that those data are true not only for children but for us adults (although I’m not that sure with the 1/4 part).
When my grandparents were still kids, I believe that the games they played when they were little didn’t require sitting in front of the television or computer monitor all day. “Walking” means walking miles and miles (especially in the rural areas) and not just the few yards some kids right now won’t even go to without the car. They were probably more into biking, playing tag, hiking and other activities that require being physically active.
Now, instead of the usual games and activities outdoors, some people are more hooked to doing things on the internet. Well, I can see why because if you want to chat with friends or meet people, you can go to Facebook. If you want to play games, you can go online and play games on your computer or mobile device. Even in terms of education, online studies is also becoming more popular.
I guess technology is really a double-edged sword. It can be a boon or a bane, depending on where you stand and how you deal with it. Technology made things easier for us but it also made us less active and mobile.
The best thing to do right now is to become more active (yeah, I’m also talking to and convincing myself). And as a mother – I need to teach Baby Gee all those outdoor games and activities I learned when I was young.
I’m into badminton, mountain biking and now, running too with my hubby and two hyperactive boys (ages 9 and 6). as much as possible, my hubby and I brought our kids with us in our activities not only for the benefits of being active but for bonding as well.
Technology, which is making everything so easy for us, is making us a lazy person. Whether it is computer games or any other home appliances for that matter, makes our job very easy. But they are also the reason for many suffering from many health problems. When the technology was not so advanced, everyone used to get their jobs done by themself which helped the movement of the body and the body parts, which was like any exercise. Now we hardly do anything on our own, we have things to do such work and we are susceptible to many dangerous diseases.
Ah! That’s interesting. And to think I hear it a lot nowadays – adults telling children to ‘be good and sit still’, when we should be encouraging them to be more active.
Anyway, what you mentioned is a really good idea. Being a parent actually gives you a great opportunity to hit… well, multiple birds with one stone. =P When you do all those games and activities (outdoors, and could be indoors too, if the weather restricts it) with your kids, not only do you ensure you and your child are staying active, you also get to spend a lot of quality time together, more bonding moments. At the same time, you can be reassured your child is safe because you are able to watch over them yourself as opposed to leaving them in the care of other people. You become a more hands-on parent, and I’m sure that is very fulfilling. And also, another minor good, you kind of help ensure that all those more physical activities, sports both modern and traditional, don’t die out in this internet age. =P
i must admit that i agree with your post. nowadays, children are somewhere becoming anti social because of technology. no more time to mingle with other kids. i agree with moirai, inspite of all these innovations, we as parents need to encourage our children to be more sociable by playing with them and doing activities with them. i think, it’s also good to encourage them to play with other kids.