What happened to the good old days of our childhood and imagination?

@toe_ster (770)
United States
August 16, 2007 11:32am CST
Remember those fun days as a kid? I don't know about you, but mine was ok. I lived a few houses down from a park and right around the corner from school. So we had access to some places other than our small backyard. During the summer we were up at sunup and did not come back home until the street lights came on. We stopped in for food and bathroom breaks, but other than that we were always outside. Now as an adult with three boys ages 6, 4 and almost 2, I'd say we are pretty fortunate to have a huge parklike yard surrounded by a forrest of trees. Yet I can't get them to go outside unless I literally kick them out and threaten to lock the door. They are constantly complaining about being bored. They hate to be inside because there is nothing to do but watch t.v. and they are not t.v kids. So the alternative is to whine that they are hungry all day which I know is not true it is just boredom. We have hills out back to ride skateboards, skooters, and bikes down. We have a huge enough yard to get a good game of football, soccer, or baseball going. We have a huge empty shed that is great for a fort. A few trails in the trees to go to the neighbors house. Blackberry bushes to go berry picking. And yet I get nothing. Any ideas how to get them motivated to get outside? I have tried everything my own adult narrow minded brain can come up with. AAAGGGHHHH. I cannot wait for school to start.
2 people like this
7 responses
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
17 Aug 07
When I was young we had to use our imagination. Today's kids want to be entertained all the time. Try having them plan things for themselves.
1 person likes this
• China
17 Aug 07
Me too,i'll remember it forever.
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
16 Aug 07
well that is the thing...as tv as a crutch along with the computer, they dont have much to do...my older daughter is just the same...i am blessed however, with my younger daughter, she loves to play with her toys by her self! she makes up games and stuff like that... declare a day a no tv day!!??
1 person likes this
@kitkat1 (1227)
• Canada
17 Aug 07
I know what you mean when i was younger we used to go swimming build camps out in the woods have a camp fire build things in the snow. We used our imagination big time. Kids nowadays dont seem to have an imagination at all. If it is not a video game or a computer or televsion they just dont know what to do with thereselves. I also believe that is why so many children nowadays are over weight they are just not out and about no more they are sitting on their butts like zombies in front of things like a video game how much exercise do you get doing that.
1 person likes this
• India
16 Aug 07
Hi!Well, children nowadays have their own choices & most of the time manage to have their own way.Our times were really different & we dared not disobey our parents.But hings change with time & we have to accept it.My suggestion is to bring in more company for them who would play some outdoor games with them.Then I a am sure they would develop an interest & lookforward to go outside. GOD BLESS!! www.creatingcolourfulfuture.com
1 person likes this
17 Aug 07
I completely agree with you mate. World has turned around since we were kids. I remember growing up in the country with unadulterated nature around us. Running along the fields, climbing trees, catching butterflies, camping these were some of our pastimes. There was no hi-fi gadgets, computers and believe there wasnt any television broadcasting. Children these days are becoming more techno freaks. Watching TV or spending hours on the internet. They are losing the opportunity to become more imaginative and pro-creative. We are responsible for a large extent because it is we who distract our kids from coming in between our busy work. Put a nice cartoon and ask them to watch it. Maybe these days they can go to science museums or give them little projects of there interests and also can teach them house hold jobs in a interesting and competitive way.
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
16 Aug 07
I know what you mean. My grankids don't want to really do anything either. They do however always want their mother to take them to the park and the beach. They also just like to sit on the game and the computer. Like you back in the day when I was a kid there was so much to do. when I was a kid we went berry picking, walks in the woods, baseball, tag, building forts, swimming in the creek. We also put on talent shows and charged 5 cents. we lived on a hill. And sometimes we would get big pieces of cardboard and ride them down the green fields. we also had a few tarzen swings. There was so much to do! I also can't wait for school to start, as I babysit my grandkids during the day. Now I need a vacation.
1 person likes this