A New Study Says Doting Parents Are Worried About Kids’ Lack of Independent Playtime
You don’t need SCIENCE to tell you that the main difference between summer for kids now . . . and summer for kids 25 years ago . . . is: Kids aren’t able to run off and play on their own as much anymore.
There’s a new study out of the University of Essex in England that came to the conclusion that “modern-day parenting pressures and expectations are keeping children from enjoying spontaneous play.”
The thing is: Pretty much ALL parents today can relate. Most of them grew up spending time with their friends outside . . . playing independently.
But it’s hard to do that now, without being JUDGED for it . . . by other parents, people online, AND maybe even local officials.
You know, stuff like, “Well, weren’t you paying attention?”
Some parents may WANT to keep close tabs on their kids, but other doting parents find themselves worried over this lack of “spontaneous play.”
Obviously, technology plays a major role in the shift, for both parents and kids . . . and that impact has positives and negatives.
Not to mention, kids don’t even NEED to go out to interact with their friends.
Another factor is the rise in “structured physical activities” in controlled environments . . . including sports, clubs, and even camps. If kids spend all day in programs like these, they aren’t off on their own.
There isn’t a quick fix . . . but the author of the study says there should be “a culture shift where health policy makers ensure children are encouraged to learn about the risks of physically active play, independent of adult supervision.”
(You can blame Millennial parents if you want, but they don’t really have a choice. Like, you could let eight-year-olds run around the neighborhood by themselves back in the day. Now, you might get arrested for it.)
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