Do kids go out to play nowadays?
Discussion
Was reminiscing on Google streetview where I used to live and I noticed that the local wooded area, that we spent most of our youth messing around in, looked unused. I say that because the well worn entrances are all overgrown and impassable and the one that is open is tiny.
This makes me think that no kids go out-out to play.
As a kid and into my teens I used to walk to my best mates house and asked if he was "Coming out to play". His and my parents would say "Come back when it's getting dark".
Do kids nowadays just communicate online and via messaging?
I think I know the answer but I hope it is not the case and any PHer who have young kids can let us know.
This makes me think that no kids go out-out to play.
As a kid and into my teens I used to walk to my best mates house and asked if he was "Coming out to play". His and my parents would say "Come back when it's getting dark".
Do kids nowadays just communicate online and via messaging?
I think I know the answer but I hope it is not the case and any PHer who have young kids can let us know.
bongtom said:
Was reminiscing on Google streetview where I used to live and I noticed that the local wooded area, that we spent most of our youth messing around in, looked unused. I say that because the well worn entrances are all overgrown and impassable and the one that is open is tiny.
This makes me think that no kids go out-out to play.
As a kid and into my teens I used to walk to my best mates house and asked if he was "Coming out to play". His and my parents would say "Come back when it's getting dark".
Culture has changed. Allowing kids to play unsupervised in wooded areas is now considered too dangerous.This makes me think that no kids go out-out to play.
As a kid and into my teens I used to walk to my best mates house and asked if he was "Coming out to play". His and my parents would say "Come back when it's getting dark".
bigothunter said:
bongtom said:
Was reminiscing on Google streetview where I used to live and I noticed that the local wooded area, that we spent most of our youth messing around in, looked unused. I say that because the well worn entrances are all overgrown and impassable and the one that is open is tiny.
This makes me think that no kids go out-out to play.
As a kid and into my teens I used to walk to my best mates house and asked if he was "Coming out to play". His and my parents would say "Come back when it's getting dark".
Culture has changed. Allowing kids to play unsupervised in wooded areas is now considered too dangerous.This makes me think that no kids go out-out to play.
As a kid and into my teens I used to walk to my best mates house and asked if he was "Coming out to play". His and my parents would say "Come back when it's getting dark".
In all my years alone wondering around I was never accosted or molested or saw a flasher (my sister did, but was more amused how small it was). I have known of abuse but it was always family/friend etc.
I went to a wedding in Northern Ireland last year and walking around Bushmills I commented to the mrs on seeing a big group of kids playing together outside.
It’s not something we saw very often in SW London unless they were wearing balaclavas and holding machetes.
It’s something I used to do all the time growing up in a small village in Yorkshire.
It’s not something we saw very often in SW London unless they were wearing balaclavas and holding machetes.
It’s something I used to do all the time growing up in a small village in Yorkshire.
Edited by LaterLosers on Wednesday 26th October 06:05
My lad has spent most of his youth in his bedroom, he connects to friends via headphones and a games console to do group chat. They dont always play games, often on social media sending each other videos and laughing together. It's a different kind of childhood to the one I had which was spent outside, playing in the woods and one which gave me an interest in joining the armed forces. But if I was a child today, maybe I would be living it the same way?
LeadFarmer said:
My lad has spent most of his youth in his bedroom, he connects to friends via headphones and a games console to do group chat. They dont always play games, often on social media sending each other videos and laughing together. It's a different kind of childhood to the one I had which was spent outside, playing in the woods and one which gave me an interest in joining the armed forces. But if I was a child today, maybe I would be living it the same way?
Probably.Mental health issues are going to go through the roof, not to mention the physical health conditions of doing nothing but staying in your bedroom staring at monitors.
I'm dreading my kids getting past the toddler stage where going to the local park is the best thing ever.
bongtom said:
Was reminiscing on Google streetview where I used to live and I noticed that the local wooded area, that we spent most of our youth messing around in, looked unused. I say that because the well worn entrances are all overgrown and impassable and the one that is open is tiny.
This makes me think that no kids go out-out to play.
As a kid and into my teens I used to walk to my best mates house and asked if he was "Coming out to play". His and my parents would say "Come back when it's getting dark".
Do kids nowadays just communicate online and via messaging?
I think I know the answer but I hope it is not the case and any PHer who have young kids can let us know.
My parents live near two big lakes, loved it as a kid,always in the woods playingThis makes me think that no kids go out-out to play.
As a kid and into my teens I used to walk to my best mates house and asked if he was "Coming out to play". His and my parents would say "Come back when it's getting dark".
Do kids nowadays just communicate online and via messaging?
I think I know the answer but I hope it is not the case and any PHer who have young kids can let us know.
Now the whole lake and banks are just overgrown and a total waste of space
Woodland paths have overgrown, so sad to see as an adult with child’s eyes
All day every day in the summer we would be out there, them were the days I tell ya
ChocolateFrog said:
LeadFarmer said:
My lad has spent most of his youth in his bedroom, he connects to friends via headphones and a games console to do group chat. They dont always play games, often on social media sending each other videos and laughing together. It's a different kind of childhood to the one I had which was spent outside, playing in the woods and one which gave me an interest in joining the armed forces. But if I was a child today, maybe I would be living it the same way?
Probably.Mental health issues are going to go through the roof, not to mention the physical health conditions of doing nothing but staying in your bedroom staring at monitors.
I'm dreading my kids getting past the toddler stage where going to the local park is the best thing ever.
Saying that I can still feel the excitement and pleasure as a kid of getting a new game for my Spectrum 48K, a level of excitement that can't be put into words, so I do understand that modern games of today are a big draw on kids.
Edited by LeadFarmer on Wednesday 26th October 10:08
There's a MUGA not far from us that regularly has children playing on the equipment and the kids living on the development round the corner can be heard most evenings and weekend on their bikes, skateboards or scooters or playing football. In the summer their families had a Queen's Jubilee street party, they run around on Halloween together, give us cards and cakes they've made at Christmas and they know us both by our first names.
We've given them chalk to draw on our wall with the instruction, "No rude words!", we throw their ball back when it's kicked into our garden and I've shouted at them when they've misbehaved - throwing gravel near parked cars - their parents apologised for that.
I suspect the distance from home that they venture nowadays has reduced but little else, kids are still kids when they're allowed to be.
We've given them chalk to draw on our wall with the instruction, "No rude words!", we throw their ball back when it's kicked into our garden and I've shouted at them when they've misbehaved - throwing gravel near parked cars - their parents apologised for that.
I suspect the distance from home that they venture nowadays has reduced but little else, kids are still kids when they're allowed to be.
Ours do - with some supervision as they're only 6 & 8 years old.
But, we live in a small village in Shropshire. Not much traffic to worry about, and everyone pretty much knows everone else - so relatively safe. Most of the village kids over 10 will go out and play by themselves. We've got plenty of woodland and fields for them to go mad in, plus a small river to jump in during the summer.
I think the attitude in cities would be very different now.
But, we live in a small village in Shropshire. Not much traffic to worry about, and everyone pretty much knows everone else - so relatively safe. Most of the village kids over 10 will go out and play by themselves. We've got plenty of woodland and fields for them to go mad in, plus a small river to jump in during the summer.
I think the attitude in cities would be very different now.
One of my nephews is at college currently and his tutor has asked to see his mother as he doesn't interact with anyone in the class. When at home he doesn't go out, he just sits in his room playing games, weekends he'll sit in bed all day apparently (his mum is a single parent and works weekends).
He's tried (been pushed) to get a small/weekend job but he has zero social skills, he won't start a conversation, and it's yes/no answers if you try and interact with him.
I'm sure there's a generation of kids out there exactly the same.
He's tried (been pushed) to get a small/weekend job but he has zero social skills, he won't start a conversation, and it's yes/no answers if you try and interact with him.
I'm sure there's a generation of kids out there exactly the same.
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