There’s a video circulating these days that we like a lot: a quick glimpse at the childhoods of three generations. It’s a little bit sweet and a little bit sad.
The silver-haired folks on the video remembered picking berries, watching things grow, fishing and escaping bears in the woods. The middle-aged fondly recalled building forts and playing ball and hide ‘n’ seek outside with their friends.
What did the kids say they play for fun? “Video games, definitely.” They also mentioned texting, playing on their phones and watching TV.
Hmmm. Those answers seem a little bankrupt by comparison, no?
Kids these days have the option of living in a fake world versus the real one. They can escape instead of engaging. And they can spend hours sitting still instead of running around.
The older millennials among us—people born in the early 80s—are really the last to know what it’s like to experience a slower, less tech-connected existence; to grow up using landline phones; to live without social media and even without the virtual universe we call the Internet.
What difference does that make? What does that mean for everyone who’s lived less than about three decades on earth?
Well, that’s obviously an easy question to pose and a tough one to answer. But it stands to reason that these kinds of lifestyle decisions in early years make a big impact on the kinds of adults kids grow into—and how healthy they are mentally, emotionally and physically.
One thing we know: there’s a rich beauty and a freedom in nature that you just can’t find in a video game. Moreover, there’s a healthful restfulness and simplicity to getting outside that you can’t replicate with the most sophisticated technology.
If we want our kids to conk out tired at night, to breathe fresh air and experience all the verve of engaging with the amazing natural world, we should make sure they spend time playing outside.
It’s about catching minnows, picking flowers, climbing trees and running fast—not so much about beating that high score on the iPad (although there’s nothing wrong with that)!
And it’s not only true for kids. Even those of us grown-ups who may not consider ourselves “outdoorsy” types have a choice between staying in with the screens or going out to spend some time in restful nature.
If you’re anything like us, when you pick the latter you’ll find yourself more tired and yet more rejuvenated than you ever felt after sitting in front of a computer. You might even sleep like you did when you were a kid.
Sleep Tight, Urbanites!