“I like to play indoors better ’cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.” A fourth-grader quoted in Last Child in the Woods

Think back to when you were a child growing up…what were some of your favorite things to do outside?

And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play. (Zech. 8:5;NLT)

I recently saw a Facebook entry from one of my young friends saying, “Why do I have to force my son to go outside and play?” Jerry and I live in a nice neighborhood with wide streets. I’ve often commented that we rarely hear the delightful sounds of children at play. Where are the children? Today’s quote from a fourth grader represents the sad state of affairs with our children.

Children are growing up without the joys of climbing a tree, building a fort, catching lightning bugs, and falling into bed at night totally tuckered out from the raucous activities of spending hours on end in the great outdoors. Growing up on a farm found me outside from morning till night. My mother (sorry to say), would have to beg, cajole, and yell at me to help with indoor chores. Who wanted to clean the bathroom when you could be outside riding horses, playing ball, or exploring the woods?

Numerous studies indicate that problems such as obesity, depression, and ADHD improve when kids are exposed to the outdoors and nature. Cornell University researchers found that children with ready access to nature handled stress more successfully. Nature’s regenerative effects can be observed in all children.

I discovered an interesting link where author Carl Pope says, “No wonder that our kids are disconnected and alienated from the natural world, when adults have decided that most places outside the car and the home are dangerous and that every hour needs to be scripted. It’s rarer and rarer for kids to have access to fields or streams or woodlots or even decent city parks, so instead of joyfully mucking about outside they’re offered a physically safe world of video games and television. As a result, nature and place are losing out to the virtual world. Who needs mud puddles when your computer can provide you with dozens of imaginary planets full of gory combat with scary monsters?”

Reflect back on the joys of your “days in the sun” while growing up. What can you do as a parent and grandparent to have the children in your life engage in regular, outdoor activities rather than having them sit in front of a computer screen or TV for hours on end?

Prayer Power
Father, we are so grateful for children and we are so thankful to You for the wonderful outdoors that You have created for us to enjoy.

Link of the Day
The Forgotten Family Value – playing outside

Blessings on you as you look for ways to get the children outdoors.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomaspetermueller/4401531673/

Photo by thomaspetermueller