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> Hence my question: What happened? What happened to a lot of activities kids used to do? They got replaced by ubiquitous internet-connected devices that allo

by xienze 4y ago

> Hence my question: What happened? What happened to a lot of activities kids used to do? They got replaced by ubiquitous internet-connected devices that allow them to watch any video or play any game at any time. They’d rather do that than play outside, and childhood obesity rates track well with these developments. To put it another way, the neighborhood I grew up in 30+ years ago still exists, and the roads are the same size, the sidewalks are just as non-existent as they used to be, and there’s no more traffic than there used to be. But as you point out, sure there’s less kids out and about in the neighborhood when I was a kid. But I would note two things about that. One, when I was a kid, there was much less inside that could occupy my time than there is today. And two, I’d argue that if you’re an adult who has to work all day during the summer, you may not be noticing how many kids are actually playing outside during the day.

TimPC 4y ago
We also now call CAS on parents if their eight year old goes biking on their own. Two generations ago it was okay for a kid of that age to roam several miles on their bike. Now they need parental accompaniment at all times.
novok 4y ago
I think the devices thing is a bit of a chicken and egg in many ways. I have a 10yo nephew that I see a few times a year, and he uses the iPad and loves playing video games to a very large degree. But if you give him the opportunity to go outside and play with him or other kids, the device play time is pretty much ignored most of the time, and it's definitely not because of rules or structure the parents are setting, the parents have problems putting many restrictions on him due to various issues. He also love sports. If there were always 30 kids outside in your neighborhood to play with and you didn't need permission or help from the adults in your life, I really bet a lot more kids would be having a lot less screen time. Kids use the devices because there is not much else they are allowed to do, and playing by yourself or a sibling you are sick of in your back yard gets boring quick for most. Adults need to create an environment where there is something better, and that is the sad truth for most children.
rufus_foreman 4y ago
>> there’s less kids out and about in the neighborhood when I was a kid I would have to agree with this. I live in the same neighborhood I skateboarded in 35 years ago. Packs of us roamed the streets. We were all over and we got into all sorts of trouble. Not only can't I remember the last time I saw a kid skateboarding around here, I can't remember the last time a saw a kid in the neighborhood doing anything outside without an adult present. I know there are still kids around because I get the property tax bill every year that's supposedly paying for schools, but kids don't roam the streets around here no more. That world is gone. Which is good, because if there was a bunch of kids on skateboards fucking up the handrail on my front steps I would have to go try to run them off like the oldsters tried to do to us circa 1988.

by xienze 4y ago

TimPC 4y ago

We also now call CAS on parents if their eight year old goes biking on their own. Two generations ago it was okay for a kid of that age to roam several miles on their bike. Now they need parental accompaniment at all times.

novok 4y ago

I think the devices thing is a bit of a chicken and egg in many ways. I have a 10yo nephew that I see a few times a year, and he uses the iPad and loves playing video games to a very large degree. But if you give him the opportunity to go outside and play with him or other kids, the device play time is pretty much ignored most of the time, and it's definitely not because of rules or structure the parents are setting, the parents have problems putting many restrictions on him due to various issues. He also love sports. If there were always 30 kids outside in your neighborhood to play with and you didn't need permission or help from the adults in your life, I really bet a lot more kids would be having a lot less screen time. Kids use the devices because there is not much else they are allowed to do, and playing by yourself or a sibling you are sick of in your back yard gets boring quick for most. Adults need to create an environment where there is something better, and that is the sad truth for most children.

rufus_foreman 4y ago

>> there’s less kids out and about in the neighborhood when I was a kid I would have to agree with this. I live in the same neighborhood I skateboarded in 35 years ago. Packs of us roamed the streets. We were all over and we got into all sorts of trouble. Not only can't I remember the last time I saw a kid skateboarding around here, I can't remember the last time a saw a kid in the neighborhood doing anything outside without an adult present. I know there are still kids around because I get the property tax bill every year that's supposedly paying for schools, but kids don't roam the streets around here no more. That world is gone. Which is good, because if there was a bunch of kids on skateboards fucking up the handrail on my front steps I would have to go try to run them off like the oldsters tried to do to us circa 1988.