Is child play becoming too safe?
A recent interesting Wall Street Journal article has been picked up around the internet: "Experts Warn Playgrounds Have Become Too Safe." The report cited some child-development experts and parents concern much fun is missing from play and playgrounds. Over-protective helicopter parents along with fear of liability for injuries has limited the excitement of play and playgrounds.
A recent study indicated more than half of Los Angeles Unified School District students were overweight. One in three students were at risk of future medical problems negatively impacting their effective involvement in the workforce.
Instead of running around a playground these students sit, watching TV or engaged in computer games.
It would be wise for parents, educators, community leaders and others to carefully review the impact of rules and regulations governing students play. Adult concerns must be moderated to keep the fun in the physical activity playground games provide. Eliminating 'tag' games on playgrounds in my opinion reduces the opportunity for kids to safely run, play hard, chase and tag.
Bill Habermehl retired as superintendent for the Orange County Department of Education earlier this year.
Other experts warn "Healthcare Has Become Too Costly And Not Everyone Can Afford a Broken Bone And Accompanying Days Off Work to Care For Kid." 'Adult concerns must be moderated to keep the fun in the physical activity playground games provide.' OK fine, let's sprinkle some crushed glass and see which toddler gobbles down a handful. Let's blame technological advances, but for which we would not even hear of obese people, whose generation somehow live longer than their ancestors, so much that Congress wants to increase the retirement age. And, we actually get to hear about their existence. Wow!
These over-protective helicopter parents that try to dictate their kids playtime too much are not just preventing them from running around and staying fit, but also to think up what to do, who to play with, make friends, decide who they don't want to play with, who's nice, who's mean, who's cool, who's annoying, etc. Parents don't need to tell their kids exactly what to play and exhaust themselves (the parents) hovering over their kids with virtual bubble-wrap trying to protect them from every bump and bruise they'll ever experience. Just take them to the playground and let them go wild. You've crossed a line when they break a bone or need stitches, but boy do they learn some good lessons about danger and pushing the envelope and that actions have consequences. There's been a real sea-change the last thirty years (since I was a kid) in accepted norms of parenting and how good parents should let them play. We're headed towards an entire generation of lazy, fat, mentally soft, anti-social kids who never learned to play outside. Sad...
Not to sound too old, but back in my day we were free to roam within at least a 2-mile radius with just our bikes, with no helmets or cell phones, from after breakfast to sunset/mid-evening, especially in the Summer, and we all survived. What happened to happy, healthy childhood in this country??
Every generation bemoans the lost youth. Why does one look at "back in the day" as the gold standard? You do not have the same "freedoms" because the world has changed. Life has gotten better for many. More people live longer. Did you have gyms back in the day? As ubiquitous as they are now? Why not adapt? Your kid cannot play in a park like you used to. She needs exercise. Take her to the gym. Work out with her. An hour at the gym will get you fit(ter), and her too. Far healthier than playing three hours in the mud that you obviously no longer have the time for. And if you cannot spare an hour three times a week to work out with your kid, "back in your dad's days" he would have time to play catch with you. A lot more often. Just like the world changed for playing catch, it also changed with more efficient ways to get that exercise. Time on the other hand ticks just as fast. So rather than bemoan that parks are no longer parks of generations past, find a gym. Yes, I understand that gyms are boring. Your kid can be fitter than you were playing three hours in the sun and can enjoy her video games, too. When she is a parent she could post here complaining "back in my day, my dad and I used to go and work out...but my son is just into this martial arts ever since they made it totally safe"