How much do you think children have changed today in regards to how they play?

Children have changed dramatically over the years. When i was a kid, i'm 28 now, we used our imaginations and played outside for hours and didn't wanna just sit around and watch tv or play video games. Granted there weren't that many games out besides nintendo, but today's kids seem to only want to plant themselves in front of the tv either to watch or play video games. You ask them to stop and do something else constructive and then they ask what they are supposed to do. What is happening to our children that they can't come up with stuff to do other than play video games? It's insane. I think sometimes that games were the worst thing invented. It has turned our children into vegitables, only wanting to sit in front of the tube. Kids need to learn how to play outside again, ride bikes, play hide and go seek...something. thanks for posting and God bless

i agree with you fully when i was younger i remember playing hop scotch,marbles,and swapping pictures in a book amongst other things which my friends and sisters did too--i think today even what children under five what they watch on the television has too much violence even in cartoons--no wonder teenagers turn out the way they do, even discipline has gone out the window its bad--in all i totally agree with way you think all these high tech gadgets are no good for them and they are too expensive!

a whole lot... when i was a kid, i used to play some very physical games like, cops and robbers, etc... now, all kids do is be a couch potato! they have no exercise, the only thing working for them are their fingers! i wonder what would be the effect of this in the future... hmmm

Children definitely play and interact much differently then they used to, even say 20 years ago. Video stimulation is so instant, that its hard for children who are accustomed to instant gratification to truly "play". Personally, my 3 children are encouraged to play more. We homeschool so I have some freedom in scheduling. If it is nice outside they spend most of the day outside playing in the yard, or digging in the sand. When they are inside we read a lot, they have mostly non-electronic toys, and we do not have a TV, so they really have no choice but to use their imaginations when they are playing with each other. I think there is a place for some of the technology, but personally I believe that children these days have too much of it constantly available.

I totally agree, I am 31 years old, I remember playing outside ALL the time, cops and robbers, freeze tag, hide and seek,etc, and We were never bored! My two boys, ages 14 and 11, can't entertain themselves for nothing, without their gadgets, all I hear is "I'm bored!" When I tell them to go play outside, they're like, "there's nothing to do outside" I sometimes think they have NO imagination at all! I also agree that all these high-tech gadgets are way too expensive and all you are paying for is the name, like I-pods, they have much cheaper versions that do the exact same thing, but my kids only want I-pods. I could go on and on! (lol) Great topic for discussion by the way! :)

hi kiran, There is a popular saying that goes "Nothing is permanent but change". I am 30 years old and I still remember that as a kid I used to enjoy playing out with my friends. I used to wait eagerly for school session to end and then used to go out with friends and enjoy a good outdoor session of games. The added pressure of studies is also a major contributing factor for this change. After the hectic activity at school and attending tutions, little time is left for playing outdoors. Also they are so used to staying indoors that there seems to be no other alternatives other than listening to ipods or xbox. Also todays children relate more to such technologies as a source of entertainment which leaves them with little or no time for outdoor activities. You are correct in pointing out that there is a drastic change when we compare it to our childhood. But then when we were children, we had no access to such technologies. But todays generation do have access to such technologies at a very young age. So the outdoor activity has been substituted with the indoor activity. But I believe that parents can change this by enforcing some balance between the amount of time spend on indoor and outdoor activity. They can also educate their children on the benefits of spending quality time outdoors. but as i said these are outcomes of our hectic lifestyles and there is very little that can be done about it

My first two children were really close in age, and my youngest is seven years younger than my second child, and yes, I see a huge difference. When my older two were little, (they are now 26 and 24) they would play outside all the time, ride bikes and such. My youngest was affected more by technology than they were. She is now 17, and she definately didn't play outside like the older ones did, I had to chase her out of the house!

i agree with you fully when i was younger i remember playing hop scotch,marbles,and swapping pictures in a book amongst other things which my friends and sisters did too--i think today even what children under five what they watch on the television has too much violence even in cartoons--no wonder teenagers turn out the way they do, even discipline has gone out the window its bad--in all i totally agree with way you think all these high tech gadgets are no good for them and they are too expensive!

I think it is still better that you xpose your kids to other form of play because that is when they learn how to socialize and develop self-esteem and their other talents. I have a 5-year old daughter who is exposed to technology (computer, PS2, media players, etc) but I still see to it that she will be allowed to explore at the mall, playpens and playschools, parks and play with her peers. We still have jigsaw puzzles, train sets, kitchen ware toys, dolls etc. We, as mothers, play a great role in molding our kids socially. they should be exposed to as many social events as much as possible.

i think, A LOT.. i noticed that my little sister dont have much experience like me with regards to having playmates outside our house.. during my childhood days, i would even go to other blocks just to play with my pals.. we would play in the streets till we are called by our mothers to go home.. now, my sister is still playing, yes, but in a different way.. she would only play the computer games..

If you are very spiritual Im sure you have heard of the word the old born children, it mean that the older spirits have been reborn into these days body. So as they are like 3 or 4 they are more experienced and fast learners then others that they call the new born spirits. I dont beleive in this to much but it might be true. I mean as computers first came out and we first got a home computer I was about 9 years old and I kept trying new things out and everything. By the time I was 13 I could use the internet already... or whenever broadband came out??... Anyways todays children are much more technoligic... or however you call it then children used to be. If this is making any sense...