How Technology Is Making Children Lose Interest In Outdoor Activities
One of the most fundamental activities during one’s childhood is the idea of going out to play and to engage in different kinds of sports i.e. Outdoor Activities. This is exactly what the previous generation had thrived on. But, the same cannot be said about the current generation, who have now started to put their interests elsewhere. Gone are the days when one waited for the sun to emit less heat so that they could run out and play all kinds of games- football, gully cricket to hopscotch. Now, children are pursuing other kinds of activities which are mainly present in the computer, play stations and mobile devices.
Researchers have pointed out that about a dozen of the outdoor sports or outdoor activities that the previous generation enjoyed has now fallen out of favour, with many children from the present generation not even knowing what those games were. A study found that about two-thirds of the screen-addicted kids of today have never made a daisy chain and have never played along in the mud. Almost a third do not know how it is to get soaked in the rain and face the wrath of their parents.
A study found two-thirds of today’s screen-addicted children had never made a daisy chain and more than 40 per cent had never squelched through mud. A third had never risked the wrath of their parents by coming home soaked after staying out in the rain.
These days children have the privilege to log into the internet and be entertained by video games, which did not exist for the previous generation. The previous generation was compelled to go out to secure entertainment for them. Because of this, many children are not inclined towards sports as much as their parents were. They surely know the ways around the hugely popular FIFA video game series, but when it comes to going outdoors and playing football in real life, they tend to back out.
There have been innumerable studies that have enshrined the benefits of going outside and being introduced to the world of sports. Sports and playing outdoors makes the child not only physically fit, but also keep them mentally sound. Even just outside increasing the level of Vitamin D, and helps develop motor skills and spatial awareness. The skills that one acquires from playing outdoors leads to healthy social-emotional development. Engaging in different sports not only leads to physically and mentally stronger kids, but also teaches them the aspect of team building, and how to lead a team.
In recent times, the balance between indoor and outdoor activities have been skewed. While there is no denying that indoor activity, even playing video games have their own advantages, but not when these activities are replacing the aspect of going outside and playing.
It is a fact to say that technology has had a big impact. According to a study in the US, about 91% of children aged between 2–17 are engaged in video games. They tend to prefer the imaginary and constructed world of video games more than the real world that exists outside. In a surprising find, it was also noted that about 28% of two-year-olds can operate a mobile device without the help of anybody else. Another problem is the advent of social media. Children have become so attached to the whole concept of Facebook and other media platforms that often they ignore the age limits and fake their age to log into it anyway.
Children are so addicted to the virtual world of the computer games that they have forgotten what it is like to live in the real world, and how to interact with people in the real world.
Video games provide a world to these young minds which real sports are unable to give. It allows the child to use their own choices and play alone within the comforts of their own homes. It also allows the children to see a fantasy world that cannot be recreated in the big outdoors. The lack of open spaces has also pushed many children to stay inside their homes and get into video games. Parents also tend to encourage this, when they shove a game in their mobile to pacify their nagging child.
This generation has been born into an age which is filled with all kinds of technology and more and more is coming up. All these technologies are so appealing that one only wants to play that and nothing else. In today’s time’s children are fed with new entertainment platforms like VR and other mobile games. There are too many distractions that occupy these young minds, which keep them away from going out and getting into different sports.
While technology is not the only factor that leads to such behaviour, there are other factors like lack of land due to the rise in commercialisation and new buildings. A lot of studies has been done in this phenomenon since it is a very important topic to discuss. This addiction can have severe effects on the child, and they fail to understand the value of playing outside and engaging in different sports.
One of the ways to tackle this is if parents encourage their children to go outside and play and to participate in various outdoor activities and also cut down their access to the world of computer games and mobile devices. This would force the children to go out and play. While this might be hard for this generation, but it will surely be a step in the right direction. Parents can also engage their child into a sport of their interest so that they can train and develop their skills. As an incentive, parents can offer additional online time, if the child has successfully played outside or enrolled in some parts academy.
The idea of rolling in the mud, or running away when the ball smashes a window is something that today’s kids will not realise. Yet, all these are an essential part of growing up. It is high time now to curb this screen-addicted generation and push them towards something more productive like Sports.
