Here's where I lapse into my old-person voice: when I was a kid, if the weather was nice and the homework was done, we played outside until it was too dark to see. Lots of tag and hopscotch and
stuff like that. In case you need a timeline, this was some time between the invention of the automobile and the rise of the CD player. Now
some parents and advocacy groups are trying to bring back ye olde timey games, like marbles, stick ball, and four square. The idea is to move kids away from the video game consoles and computer monitors and into some good old outdoor, unstructured play.
The benefits are kinda obvious, like increased physical activity for stress relief and healthy weight maintenance. Whether or not the kids will ditch the video games for the outdoor games is another question. I'm not at all anti-technology, but I think it is good to have a balance. I wouldn't want to force my own games on my kid out of nostalgia, but I think a little fresh air and low-tech time is crucial. One fact that barely gets mentioned here: I agree with some researchers that the rise in media reporting of crime and problems with urban and suburban planning have meant many parents are scared to let the children roam freely outdoors. And that's a problem we'll have to address, whether or not freeze tag is a hit with this generation.
