A warm-up question for a recent meeting asked each participant: “What games did you play as a kid that children today wouldn’t know?” We received a host of animated answers including freeze tag, kickball, kick the can, capture the flag, croquet, badminton, flashlight tag, sardines, and Wiffle ball. What did they have in common? We all played outside!
The common theme in our reminiscing was that we self-entertained — playing whatever, wherever — and “making it work with kids you barely knew.” If there was a game and kids willing to play with you, that’s all it took — until the street lights came on, of course. Then it was time to go home!
But children today have quite a different experience. The CDC reports that those ages 8-18 spend only 4-7 minutes/day in unstructured outdoor play — not the hours that occupied us as youngsters. Contrast that with a reported 7.5 hours/day in front of screens, not even counting homework.
Role model make-your-own outdoor play for the people around you. Maybe it’s reading a book out on the patio, taking a walk, riding a bike, or just playing fetch with the dog — but do something this weekend that isn’t inside. Appreciating nature and creating intrinsic satisfaction are valuable skills for everyone to cultivate.
