[Pyramid*]

Taken from everyone's favourite rag.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...childhood.html

Fewer than one in ten children play in wild places and, most depressing of all, 11 to 15-year-olds spend half their waking life in front of TV or computer screens.


When I was a child, being sent to your bedroom was a punishment. But for today’s children, the bedroom is the centre of their social life.

They can play computer games, stay in constant touch with their friends and never need to venture outdoors again. They may not realise it, but they have become prisoners in their own homes.

The consequences of this are frightening. Our nation’s children are suffering from an epidemic of obesity, depression and behavioural problems, all of which have risen rapidly in the past couple of decades. They are also missing out on the joys of exploring the natural world and the lifelong benefits this can bring.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1rXptT2TX

I do happen to believe there is great truth in this.

[Marc]

Sums up my childhood!

[Lee.]

My kids get wrapped up and sent out to play.. they like their games consoles but there's no way I'd allow them to play on them for hours on end, especially now that the days are longer

[MTVN]

I think people make too big a deal about this, it's sorta just the inevitable result of technological development, I'm sure those who lived in the pre-television era said similar when TV's were taking on greater importance. Besides it's an exaggeration to say "they have become prisoners in their own homes", I used to go out all the time as a kid even though I also watched a lot of telly, kids are actually capable of finding a balance

[Josy]

When we were younger we hated being kept indoors, if it wasnt raining heavy outside we were out first thing in the morning and stayed out for hours but it seems to be the complete opposite these days.

I normally take a few of my nephews and nieces to a caravan for a few days every year and last year one of my nephews who was 11 was really bad for not going outside, we hired go karts for them and then had the usual caravan stuff like swing ball, football etc and he just refused to do anything he wanted to stay in the caravan with a ds all day we had to end up hiding it from him

[Kizzy]

One of the reasons I got our lab is I was concerned about my lad becoming an 'inside' child.
All his mates live a busride away and I was afraid he was getting too reliant on screens for entertainment.
It worked! he is at the woods now he also does drumming lessons, gym, kick boxing and has applied to do his bronze Duke of Edinburgh award.
For some though TV and games consoles are 'babysitters' for kids imo and its across the social spectrum.

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by MTVN

I think people make too big a deal about this, it's sorta just the inevitable result of technological development, I'm sure those who lived in the pre-television era said similar when TV's were taking on greater importance. Besides it's an exaggeration to say "they have become prisoners in their own homes", I used to go out all the time as a kid even though I also watched a lot of telly, kids are actually capable of finding a balance

Yeah, I agree its about finding a healthy balance and making time to do stuff as a family, even if it is watching a film or playing the Wii.

[Pyramid*]

When I was a kid - right up to teenage years - my parents /grandparent could never get me IN the house -the amount of times I got bollocked for trailing in, soaked, manky, and with a face like fizz because I HAD to come home.... - I lost count !

I honestly do think the amount of time spent indoors, it is not good for social interaction - it's too insular, too remote, and too much time is spent relying on electronic communications for the vast majority of human contact. I think it does indeed lead to many behavioural problems, anxieties that simply have been brought about by the the lack of social involvement outwith the virtual world.

In doing so: many very basic life skills are simply lost, to the point that 'some' (not all by any means) - no longer are able to relate to people on a real life 'one to one' social basis.

[Boothy]

I'd say the obesity, depression and behavioural problems are more to do with poor diets than being kept indoors but that's another issue.

Although I do agree that kids should be sent out to play. Between the ages of 10 and 15, I used to get home from school, eat my tea, go out and not come home until 9.30/10. Same thing in the summer holidays, I hardly ever stayed inside. I played my PS2 quite a bit, but only when the weather was miserable, no-one was about or a new game had just come out. Glad I did too. Had some of the best times just knocking about in the streets on out bikes or playing football at the park.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

When I was a kid - right up to teenage years - my parents /grandparent could never get me IN the house -the amount of times I got bollocked for trailing in, soaked, manky, and with a face like fizz because I HAD to come home.... - I lost count !

I honestly do think the amount of time spent indoors, it is not good for social interaction - it's too insular, too remote, and too much time is spent relying on electronic communications for the vast majority of human contact. I think it does indeed lead to many behavioural problems, anxieties that simply have been brought about by the the lack of social involvement outwith the virtual world.

In doing so: many very basic life skills are simply lost, to the point that 'some' (not all by any means) - no longer are able to relate to people on a real life 'one to one' social basis.

I agree totally, it is so important, interaction with peers is how we learn to respond to the world around us ...how to handle conflict, rejection,feeling empathy, belonging....If that part is missing you are forever at a disadvantage.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Boothy

I'd say the obesity, depression and behavioural problems are more to do with poor diets than being kept indoors but that's another issue.

Although I do agree that kids should be sent out to play. Between the ages of 10 and 15, I used to get home from school, eat my tea, go out and not come home until 9.30/10. Same thing in the summer holidays, I hardly ever stayed inside. I played my PS2 quite a bit, but only when the weather was miserable, no-one was about or a new game had just come out. Glad I did too. Had some of the best times just knocking about in the streets on out bikes or playing football at the park.

I'd say you'd have a good point to make there - it could indeed very the case, or very closely related to lack of stimulation, affecting all areas of the body, not just psychologically/phsyically - how can I put this over? Not being out getting fresh air, and not using up all that energy doesn't stimulate the appetite in the same manner: I'm thinking back to when I we'd be out playing and come across rapberry bushes etc and eat the things without a care in the world - same with strawberries - trying to get apples from the 'old guys tree' up the road etc.

[Mystic Mock]

As long as it isn't extreme I don't see why people can't like staying in there homes, you have to aswell because psychos come out at night.

[joeysteele]

I as a child liked to be out, I also liked my own space and time in my room too. As has been said by a good few posts a healthy balance is the best thing,however,although I agree with the article in part, at least you know where the children are if they in their rooms on computers or whatever, at least they are safe.

As jf says, there are very odd people around and it's really not that safe for Children now to go to parks or even out of sight of their homes for their own safety,even in their own areas.
Prisoners is a strong term, if children are in their room on comps etc by their own choice, they are far from like prisoners,they can do that as they wish for as long as they wish or stop and do anything else if they want to.
At least they are safe and that's the main thing.

I do though think at mealtimes, they should be with others in the house and get some other stimulation, I do know families where their child comes and gets their meals but takes them upstairs to their room to have them while playing their games or are on the computer, that is something that should not to be encouraged, in my view.

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Josy

When we were younger we hated being kept indoors, if it wasnt raining heavy outside we were out first thing in the morning and stayed out for hours but it seems to be the complete opposite these days.

This. My mum had to fight to keep us in or to do something with her. We all used to hang out and head to the park, woods, orchards and each others gardens as soon as we could and would be out until dusk.