Our Children Have Lost the Art of Playing Outside

Recently, I planned a playday for my 9-year-old grandson. His playmate arrived at our home to the smell of warm chocolate chip cookies and a large bowl of buttery popcorn. Food when guests visit has been a family tradition. Earlier that morning, my husband and I had replaced the basketball net alongside the driveway, and we put James’s bike, electric scooter, and other options outside to keep the boys busy and in the fresh air. After the excitement of James’s playmate’s arrival, I let the boys decide what they wanted to do as I answered a phone call.

When I returned, I found our guest playing a game on my grandson’s phone that only plays games, and my grandson on his computer. As I watched them, my childhood flashed before me. I saw myself with long braids, playing in the dirt, either digging up worms, trying to catch a grasshopper or butterfly, or counting the fragrant lilac along the fence. My two sisters and I were either riding our bikes, playing jacks on the sidewalk, or roller skating, and even in the winter in St. Paul, Minnesota, the activities were endless. We had to be dragged in from the outdoors for lunch or dinner. I had a different freedom than today, even when we moved to Anna Maria Island in Florida, and later Tucson, Arizona. 

Our children have lost the art of playing outside because of safety concerns, increased screen time, and, in many cases, overstructured, busy schedules. I am not worried about the one-on-one time that my grandson gets from his grandpa and me. He receives an abundant supply of that. My main concern is teaching a 9-year-old the importance of connecting with nature each day, embracing weather changes, and staying aware of what he sees and hears around him at all times – a healthy awareness in the moment. It takes involvement on my part and a constant reminder, not by lecturing, but by my reacting to the moments we are experiencing together.

My wish is for my grandson to be proficient in the world of technology, to enjoy it safely, but not allow it to consume his free time. A healthy balance in whatever we choose to do creates a happier lifestyle and a greater appreciation of what truly matters – time together as a family and the wonders of nature that help us to center ourselves. James is learning to treasure the feeling of peace that comes from the warmth of the sun on your face, a cool breeze, stories and images discovered in massive clouds, the magic found in a bed of leaves, or the unexpected creatures hidden in the tall grass.