This view seems to be highly dependent on where you (and your kids) live. If there's a sense of a community, kids do have chances to play together and outside.

This view seems to be highly dependent on where you (and your kids) live. If there's a sense of a community, kids do have chances to play together and outside. The parents too have a reasonable feeling of safety for their kids. It goes without need to prove that most parents would rather have their kids learn an autonomous way of playing as soon as possible. This should free the parents' attention for their own 'playtime'. However, if such community does not exist, so goes away that sense of security and those helicopters go hover. The author's nostalgia likely relates to that community. Was it in early suburbia or a quiet village where 'everyone knows your name'? In present day metropolises, despite the density, the residents feel more apart. Meanwhile, the suburbia closed inwards. But kids being kids find ways to adapt... to their parents way of living. If anything to change, that should begin with the parents' view of their own 'playtime'. Camping, or being outside playing? Please, just find fun chances to step out, the kids would follow!