It is said that new generation is always better and advanced than the previous one. But in actual where is our next gen heading? Do you remember your childhood days? Do you remember calling your friends and saying 'chal Cricket khelte hai'? Do you remember the pleasure we used to get after sweating hard outside and returning home to get a chilled rasna/nimbu pani and other refreshments? It used to rejuvenate us. Playing outside was a pleasurable and entertaining time for us.
But nowadays we don't see kids much involved in outdoor activities. Play grounds have gone vacant. Parks which used to be crowded by kids is now crowded by heath freaks and old people meditating, relaxing and enjoying with their friends. Extra spaces of parks have been turned to an open gym. New generation doesn't like to go outside to play. They have selected their own mode of entertainment by staying indoors.
It's said that base needs to be strong to make a strong building. In the same way in the overall development of kids it's necessary to have them involved in outdoor activities at young age. Parents should give time to them and have them involve in outdoor activities. But nowadays with a competitive corporate life, parents don't have time for their children. They don't take them outside to play. They instead give their child gadgets to play or turn on a cartoon to silent a wailing kid.
It's said that kids imitate their parents. They see you involved in phones, they will do the same. They see you read the book, they will do the same. They see you play outdoor game, they will do the same. It's for this reason that nowadays kids get spectacles at a very young age.
Talking about children of age 8 and above who don't require parents take to them out to play, too aren't much involved in outdoor activities. They have found their entertainment on their phones and computers. Playing games like PubG, Pokemon Go, GTA and many other these children are wasting their time in useless and non-productive games. They don't benefit from it. In fact it has negative effect on their mind and body. On the other hand playing outside is a learning experience.
Less visibility of children playing outside can also be attributed to academically oriented schools: their overall disregard to play and also to their parents who get their kid enrolled in tuition at a very young age due to their unwillingness to teach their ward at home. And mostly these tuitions are timed in the evening. At the time we used to play(4 to 7). If this is not enough, these kids along with school's homework are bombarded with tuition's homework. This creates a tight pack schedule for them due to which they aren't able to involve in outdoor activities. And slowly, this becomes a routine, and they become habitual to stay indoors. In order to get our child heavily prepared for rat race, we allow their childhood days to be ruined.
Instead of motivating and encouraging them to play outside, big corporates and developers are trying to capitalise on it by making games and devices which will keep these kids involved in their product. These games like PubG, Pokemon Go and Samsung Kids Device are its best example. Also, the number of cartoon channels have increased, which keeps these kids involved in television.
Major thing that has hampered their outdoor play activities is the environment that we have created around them. It all involves staying in front of screen, involved in studies and no physical & outdoor activities.
Over the years staying indoors have a negative impact on their mind and health. Research shows that it has resulted in the increase in anxiety and depression among them at a younger age. Research also shows that these kids usually face problems with self-control and emotional regulation. Talking about physical conditions, non-involvement in outdoor physical activities has resulted in increasing in physical problems such as obesity, diabetes and asthma. So, this clearly shows that staying indoors and non-involvement in outdoor activities has impacted them both physically and mentally.
On the other hand, outdoor play contributes to overall development of a child. You learn while you play. When children are engaged in outdoor play activities they learn to be free, to make choices and enjoy a day without a routine. Also, with it, children learn to engage in high level of social interactions and make friends. In turn, they are less likely to become inactive, inattentive, anxious, unhealthy and depressed.
A natural green space allows children to continuously explore ways to use materials, discover the beautiful environment and create their own play experience. These things can't be learned by remaining indoors and sticking to screens. Children who do not involve/ don't have access to outdoor play will surely miss out on many benefits that free play in the natural environment have on their growth.
So, where is our next gen headed? Will this generation run on medicines? As they aren't much involved in outdoor activities from a young age, they will be weaker in some way. Who is to blame for it? Academically driven schools, parents or these kids, who feel that entertainment derived from phones, games and televisions is more pleasurable and enjoyable than outdoor play activities.
No comments:
Post a Comment