| 18th Century History |
| ||||
|
Articles and Products of History Children Outdoor GameChildren outdoor game playing, such as the adult-free, spontaneous games of tag, hide and seek and others that we may remember from our youth, seems to be rapidly becoming a thing of the past. And, as these active pursuits become a part of the past, we see more kids than ever before that are overweight or obese. Children are much better served when they spend less time on passive entertainment and organized activities and more time in free motion, as they are during children outdoor game activities. The organized games, such as local baseball and soccer teams, that take place at children outdoor game sites do have merit when it comes to helping to keep kids active and at a healthy weight. However, there is another beneficial aspect of the games that children used to play outside of the direct supervision of adults. By playing together on their own, children learned how to get along and resolve conflicts on their own. Many children are overscheduled today, in addition to spending too much time indoors engaged in pursuits that do little to keep their bodies healthy. Over-scheduling, leaving little time for free thought and free play, doesn’t exercise the imagination and leaves no room for spontaneity and self-directed exploration. Encouraging children outdoor game activities of the sorts that children used to play regularly can be valuable. Naturally, letting children run wild without any supervision is not wise. However, sitting outside reading a book or with the laptop, instead of micromanaging interactions and activities, while the kids are engaged in a bit of traditional children outdoor game playing can be very smart parenting. Rather than having the kids sitting in front of the television or the computer all day or being shuttled from one planned, rigid activity to the next, try a little children outdoor game playing time. Teach them all the old classics – freeze tag, blind man’s bluff, double dutch, red light green light -- and let them run. It’s good for their health, both body and mind. Further Reading
|
|
