The winter day was pristine, quiet and clear. The provincial blue sky hadn't a cloud in it and there wasn't a whisper of a breeze. The sun was bright and if you put your face up, you could feel the heat, just as if you were sitting on a deck after a day of spring skiing and your face was absorbing the sun's warm rays.
The difference being, that on this perfect winter day on the hills, people and children were out enjoying the elements, but in our small town of Alexandria, one could go up and down the streets, the main street, the back streets, even visit the picturesque park with its inviting frozen pond and not see a soul.
Walking there on the pond, one could imagine the echos of children's laughter of days gone by. But now the silence was eerie. Had some epidemic swept the town to rob its streets and parks of the activity of youths? Well, actually, yes! Yes, there was an epidemic in Alexandria, and perhaps everywhere else. Its called technology: the iphone, ipad, ipod, Mac, PC, Face Book, Nintendo, Play Station, video games, TV and the innumerable games given for birthdays and Christmases. They were the epidemic.
What happened to the 'OUT' method? The kids are making too much noise? 'OUT'! Kids are too bored? 'OUT'! Too much fighting? 'OUT'! Mom, with one hand on the hip and one pointing to the door, giving the best advice to her kids to get out and play. Play is the work of kids. They get fit, interact, learn life skills to deal with others and sport skills to play the game. If no one is there to play with them, they learn to be resourceful and rely on their own imaginations and talents. This pays off later in life on both career and personal areas. One learns to think for oneself and find a solution to problems.
TV and other technologies steal our children's childhood from them and they steal our children from us. Technology may be an important element today's kids, but we are misguided if we think we are being responsible parents if we let them spend all their free time at it.
Perhaps parents slip into that routine because its easy and keeps the kids out of their hair, but it is not the best thing for them nor does it teach them the true values of life. Spending time with our kids and allowing them to have that resourceful time to themselves is much healthier for their development. Besides which, we live in the country! After a visit to Ottawa, Toronto or Montreal, we realize how blessed we are to live here in a peaceful, clean and natural environment.
Let's have more of the 'out' method for raising our kids to get the playing, fun and laughter back in our parks and neighborhoods.
The difference being, that on this perfect winter day on the hills, people and children were out enjoying the elements, but in our small town of Alexandria, one could go up and down the streets, the main street, the back streets, even visit the picturesque park with its inviting frozen pond and not see a soul.
Walking there on the pond, one could imagine the echos of children's laughter of days gone by. But now the silence was eerie. Had some epidemic swept the town to rob its streets and parks of the activity of youths? Well, actually, yes! Yes, there was an epidemic in Alexandria, and perhaps everywhere else. Its called technology: the iphone, ipad, ipod, Mac, PC, Face Book, Nintendo, Play Station, video games, TV and the innumerable games given for birthdays and Christmases. They were the epidemic.
What happened to the 'OUT' method? The kids are making too much noise? 'OUT'! Kids are too bored? 'OUT'! Too much fighting? 'OUT'! Mom, with one hand on the hip and one pointing to the door, giving the best advice to her kids to get out and play. Play is the work of kids. They get fit, interact, learn life skills to deal with others and sport skills to play the game. If no one is there to play with them, they learn to be resourceful and rely on their own imaginations and talents. This pays off later in life on both career and personal areas. One learns to think for oneself and find a solution to problems.
TV and other technologies steal our children's childhood from them and they steal our children from us. Technology may be an important element today's kids, but we are misguided if we think we are being responsible parents if we let them spend all their free time at it.
Perhaps parents slip into that routine because its easy and keeps the kids out of their hair, but it is not the best thing for them nor does it teach them the true values of life. Spending time with our kids and allowing them to have that resourceful time to themselves is much healthier for their development. Besides which, we live in the country! After a visit to Ottawa, Toronto or Montreal, we realize how blessed we are to live here in a peaceful, clean and natural environment.
Let's have more of the 'out' method for raising our kids to get the playing, fun and laughter back in our parks and neighborhoods.
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