Kids spend less time outdoors than prisoners

[Ohiosam]

I heard this statistic on a news story this morning about a program to get inner city kids out in nature. I've been disturbed for a few years now how few kids I see outside playing as I drive around. Too many sit in the house on electronics.

Children Spend Less Time Outside Than Prison Inmates

Prisoners at a maximum security facility in the U.S. are guaranteed 2 hours of outdoor time daily, whereas 1 out of 2 kids worldwide spends less than an hour outside.

www.treehugger.com

 

[Wildlife]

That was never the case for me, or my brothers or all my friends back in the day. Boy, times have definitely changed, especially after the internet came along. That's truly a shame I think. I admit though, it was a chore to get my own kids outdoors at times when they were young. I did force the issue often and now they seem to be outdoor enthusiasts, which I hope they do think of me from time to time when they're out there enjoying it, but if they don't, that's okay too.

 

[Johnny44]

When I lived in Georgia, you wouldn't have had any idea our neighborhood had kids unless you were there in the morning when the school bus came through. We had hundreds! And you literally never would have known. I am thankful now, we hit the jackpot, that where we live there are kids outside every day. Parents meet in my driveway, drink beers and hang out, while the kids run themselves ragged. We are very fortunate to be in a great neighborhood for our 4 year old. As much as I want land, this is really beneficial for my son. As he has gotten older, he has started taking an interest in the woods and will ask to go hike or "hunt."

 

[giles]

Parental problem.

 

[Curran]

Parental problem.

It certainly does start at home.

But it's also much bigger than that. Our entire society has changed so much in the last 15 to 20 years due to electronics and technology. Just look at these conversations on TOO. They would happen if it weren't for technology. It's how most of us socialize anymore. We don't go to socialize at bowling league, or play cards at a friends house, or to any of the number of social gatherings that took place 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Kids are even more immersed into electronics because they've grown up with it. I hope we see a cultural shift, a rebellion almost, away from electronics and technology. It would all be for the better.

 

[giles]

It certainly does start at home.

But it's also much bigger than that. Our entire society has changed so much in the last 15 to 20 years due to electronics and technology. Just look at these conversations on TOO. They would happen if it weren't for technology. It's how most of us socialize anymore. We don't go to socialize at bowling league, or play cards at a friends house, or to any of the number of social gatherings that took place 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Kids are even more immersed into electronics because they've grown up with it. I hope we see a cultural shift, a rebellion almost, away from electronics and technology. It would all be for the better.

You need to make it to my house.

It starts with us. WE need to entertain these kids minds and SHOW them.