There is something seriously wrong with the state of childhood in this country if the American Academy of Pediatrics has to release a major, "A Nation At Risk"-style report telling parents to let their kids go out and play.
What’s next, a federal task force urging parents to make sure their kids are wearing clothes when they go to school? How screwed up do things have to be if a group of doctors with enough diplomas to wallpaper a room have to remind parents about something so patently obvious?
Actually, pretty screwed up.
Kid You Not has a healthy skepticism when is comes to media reports about how messed up kids are today, but generally today’s youth are more sheltered, more controlled and more pressured than ever before. It’s why children today are fatter, doped up on Ritalin and unable to think on their own and make their own decisions.
How does this happen? Parents are scared stiff. And I’m not talking about pedophiles. Parents are frightened their kids won’t fit in in school, get straight A’s, score a soccer goal. They’re worried their kids aren’t happy, well-adjusted little achievers. So they micromanage every detail in their children’s lives. Including playtime.
Parents buy "educational" games like Baby Einstein and Leap Frog. They fill every block of free time with sports lessons, music lessons, dance lessons and tutoring.
So the AAP report is actually needed. Kids should know what their backyard looks like. Which trees are good for climbing. Which secret places are best for hiding.
I know it’s hard. As a parent, it’s difficult to tell my kids to go out and play. I always feel a twinge of guilt, but I know they’re always in view. A scraped knee is worth it if my daughters learn to be creative on their own, settle their own disputes and then come in for some book reading with daddy on the couch.
It’s always fun to think back to our own childhoods. In the 70s, our parents simply told us to get the hell out of the house, which gave them more time to buy harvest gold appliances, paneling and the most hideous wallpaper known to man.
Once set free, the kids in my neighborhood loved a game we called foundation tag. After the foundation of a new house was ready, we’d climb over the exposed rebar, jump down and whiz tennis balls at each other.
Not exactly educational, but we sure did have fun.