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October 28, 2004
"Kids, Go Outside And Play"
Growing up was a magical time for me. Our home was a hub of activity especially during the summer. My mom stayed at home with all six of us kids, and my dad ran his own company from the home. I was blest to have both of my parents around as I grew up. Video games were just gaining popularity, Gameboys were the guys you wanted on your football team, and Walkmans were those old men you would see taking their afternoon strolls around the neighborhood. My parents didn't have the technological tools of pacification that exist today, so they resorted to the natural alternative...the great outdoors.
Our afternoons began with an after school snack, followed by a regular dose of "Kids, go outside and play." Yet, the afternoons were too short. As kids, we longed for the summer. That wonderful time of year when we had absolutely no responsibilities and yet so much to do. We would begin planning our summers weeks in advance. Who would be on whose neighborhood baseball team, where we would build our latest fort, and what movie we would be "playing" this year.
My siblings and friends shared my passions so cooperation was never lacking.
On year we built ancient Rome in our backyard, another we attempted to civilize a portion of our local woods, another we renacted our favorite war movie. Each year was full of creativity, imagination, and ingenuity. We went to whatever links necessary to make our dreams reality. We also learned to get along. We had to communicate, we had to share.
The point of this childhood nostagia is this: how many of our kids have this type of opportunity? It seems today that our children are bombarded with state-of-the-art video games and downloadable music. They seem to expect entertainment from things rather than creating magical worlds of their own. They spend their afternoons glued to television sets or computers rather than learning how to communicate with one another. This concerns me as a father. I want my son, and hopefully other future children, to experience the wonderful world of imagination and cooperation that I knew as a child. I want them to get dirty, to have fun, to love being outside.
At an early age I came to have a great appreciation for nature. I know that my continual presence outside fostered this in me. So the next time your kids simply want to sit around and play video games remember this brief meditation and say "Kids, go outside and play." In an age when laziness and indifference seem to run out of control, teach your children to play hard, to enjoy being outside, to get along with their siblings and friends. Parents have to care enough to develop good children with imagination, creativity, cooperation, and fellowship. This is a wonderful way to do just that.
Posted by HolyFamily at October 28, 2004 12:48 AM
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Comments
I was always an indoors type of kid - reading, hanging out in my room daydreaming, very interior oriented. My husband is the opposite - he can't spend more than half a weekend day inside before he goes a little nutty. We compromise - I've discovered how much I love to garden, which forces me outside. He'll take the dogs for long walks or come and work in the yard with me. Even as adults, we need to remember to go play outside - life is just too short. This is a great blog, by the way - just what a beginner Catholic hoping for a happy Catholic family in the future needs to read!
Posted by: Rebecca at October 28, 2004 10:01 AM
