I can remember playing outdoor in the 1950s and 1960s.  I never stayed at home, I was always outside doing stuff and playing with friends, and in my late adolescence onward into my teens I also worked.
"Screen time" was the time when you came indoors and and watched cartoons on TV before dinner, and then watched TV with the family at night.  But myself and my friends where outdoor creatures and even TV was limited by our parents.  

Now?  

Decline of Childhood Play: Impact of Less Outdoor Time

In recent years, children's outdoor playtime has significantly decreased, raising concerns about its impact on their physical and mental development. Experts note that modern lifestyles, driven by technology and safety fears, have reduced unstructured outdoor activities. This shift limits creativity, social skills, and resilience, as kids spend more time on screens than engaging in active play. Studies suggest that just seven minutes of daily outdoor play is insufficient for healthy growth, potentially contributing to rising rates of anxiety, obesity, and attention disorders. Encouraging free play in natural environments fosters problem-solving, independence, and emotional well-being. Parents and schools can counter this trend by prioritizing outdoor activities, such as park visits or sports, to nurture well-rounded development. Balancing screen time with nature-based play is critical for children's health.

Key Takeaways:

• Reduced Outdoor Play: Children today spend minimal time outdoors, averaging just seven minutes daily, which hinders physical and mental growth.

• Health Impacts: Limited play correlates with increased anxiety, obesity, and attention issues, emphasizing the need for active, unstructured play.

• Solutions for Parents: Encouraging outdoor activities like park playtime or sports can boost creativity, resilience, and social skills.

 

https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/7-minutes-outside-the-collapse-of-childhood-play-5923618

3 minutes ago, connda said:

Studies suggest that just seven minutes of daily outdoor play is insufficient for healthy growth

Strange article. Who thinks that seven minutes outside is sufficient? Why dont they say how much time is sufficient instead would be more helpful

My school banned phones entirely this year.  I've seen a huge change in behavior in most students.  All of them spend more time talking to each other and playing with each other.

8 minutes ago, Callmeishmael said:

My school banned phones entirely this year.  I've seen a huge change in behavior in most students.  All of them spend more time talking to each other and playing with each other.

Honestly.  Phones should be banned in schools.  

6 minutes ago, connda said:

Honestly.  Phones should be banned in schools.  

And parents should limit internet acess at home.

5 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

And parents should limit internet acess at home.

And there is the big issue - many parents use mobile devices (even without internet access) as child pacifiers, just like the TV 30+ years ago

11 minutes ago, NotEinstein said:

And there is the big issue - many parents use mobile devices (even without internet access) as child pacifiers, just like the TV 30+ years ago

30+ years ago, my parents controlled the TV... both in what was watched and the on and off times.

36 minutes ago, connda said:

Honestly.  Phones should be banned in schools.  

What's good for kids is good for adults

30 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

What's good for kids is good for adults

Yes and no - young, impressionable minds need protecting from 'unhelpful' content, but adults are supposed to be aware enough to not be influenced. Having said that, it is patently not the case for a seemingly growing percentage of so-called adults, given the relentless psychologically twisted narratives aimed at them. Banning content that isn't government approved in order to protect is being escalated - 1984 is here.

41 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

What's good for kids is good for adults

adults in schools, are they addicted to their phones ?

26 minutes ago, NotEinstein said:

Yes and no - young, impressionable minds need protecting from 'unhelpful' content, but adults are supposed to be aware enough to not be influenced. Having said that, it is patently not the case for a seemingly growing percentage of so-called adults, given the relentless psychologically twisted narratives aimed at them. Banning content that isn't government approved in order to protect is being escalated - 1984 is here.

Welcome to Australia.

Laws coming in banning under 16 to access a lot of sites including YouTube.

Soon access to porn sites will be by facial recognition of some sort.

The busybodies know what's good for us.

I wish they would get out of my life.

2 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Welcome to Australia.

Laws coming in banning under 16 to access a lot of sites including YouTube.

Soon access to porn sites will be by facial recognition of some sort.

The busybodies know what's good for us.

I wish they would get out of my life.

Register for your porn sites with a mask. 

4 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

Register for your porn sites with a mask. 

I think the powers that be are smarter than that. 

This was 55 years ago - an alien environment for today's kids I suppose - making a camp out of discarded materials? Where's the 'like' button?

The kids now are growing up with psychological problems. Too much time playing and scrolling on their phones or watching TV

Some Thais take their kids to the beach.

Some kids building sand castles, swimming. 

Maybe only a small percentage though .

 

Kids these days are stuck indoors on their phones or playing violent video games.

 

In my day we were outdoors enjoying some innocent fun.

 

52 minutes ago, Baht Simpson said:

Kids these days are stuck indoors on their phones or playing violent video games.

 

In my day we were outdoors enjoying some innocent fun.

 

 

Is that Mike Pence? 

Good , keep those little pests glued to their phone. 

Better than loud kids playing outside .

Now get off my lawn.

 

Kids should be able to have their phones in their school bag, but only use it during lunch break and after school. The reason is parents need to be able to contact their kids (to arrange pick up etc.) and vice versa. But the kids should not be able to play with them in class. That's nonsense.

 

The same goes for employees in a workplace. They shouldn't be sitting around idly scrolling through their phones, they should be actively working. It wasn't that long ago - and maybe still happens - that employers were monitoring remotely their employee's work station internet traffic.

9 hours ago, NotEinstein said:

And there is the big issue - many parents use mobile devices (even without internet access) as child pacifiers, just like the TV 30+ years ago

Yup. I still see it today. Mum has a new boyfriend. The 2 kids each have phones.

Problam solved.🙃😘

It's not just the lack of outdoor time, it's also the sugary and salty junk they are constantly eating. Childhood Type 2 Diabetes and obesity is now an epidemic in developed countries and a serious concern in upper income developing countries.

1 minute ago, ronnie50 said:

It's not just the lack of outdoor time, it's also the sugary and salty junk they are constantly eating. Childhood Type 2 Diabetes and obesity is now an epidemic in developed countries and a serious concern in upper income developing countries.

 

1 minute ago, Lucky Bones said:

 

Agreed.

1 hour ago, blaze master said:

 

Is that Mike Pence? 

Not unless he appeared in a 1951 French film.

I used to walk about a mile each way to grade school, no matter the weather — often trudging through six inches of snow.

 

High school was about 2.5 miles each way. I’d take the bus in the morning to make it on time, but most days I’d walk home.

 

After finishing homework, I’d be outside for the rest of the afternoon until evening — playing basketball, manhunt after dark, or tackle football in the snow once winter came. Sometimes, would walk a few miles to the public skating rink just for fun.

 

When we needed money, we’d go shoveling — walking all over town looking for uncleaned driveways or cars buried in snow, offering to clear them for five bucks each.

There was no social media, no cable TV, and no home video game consoles.

Our bodies grew strong and resilient — nothing like what you see in much of today’s generation, who too often seem soft, entitled, and quick to complain.

 

12 minutes ago, NickyLouie said:

I used to walk about a mile each way to grade school, no matter the weather — often trudging through six inches of snow.

 

High school was about 2.5 miles each way. I’d take the bus in the morning to make it on time, but most days I’d walk home.

 

After finishing homework, I’d be outside for the rest of the afternoon until evening — playing basketball, manhunt after dark, or tackle football in the snow once winter came. Sometimes, would walk a few miles to the public skating rink just for fun.

 

When we needed money, we’d go shoveling — walking all over town looking for uncleaned driveways or cars buried in snow, offering to clear them for five bucks each.

There was no social media, no cable TV, and no home video game consoles.

Our bodies grew strong and resilient — nothing like what you see in much of today’s generation, who too often seem soft, entitled, and quick to complain.

 

Fair call. I came from a similar but different background. Worked a paper round on bicycle, then a butchers shop @ age 14. Casual supermarket work after school age 15. 

Played cricket at any spare time in the road. Age 67+ now.🙃🙃

I asked my kids about their earliest childhood memories.  My two boys and one girl all said it was of them being thrown in the air and routine  rough and tumble play on the living room floor as three-year olds, being made to wait their turn to be somersaulted or balanced on my hands. The boys are both now Alpha men, the daughter is an Alpha+ female.

 

It was only a few years ago (via JB Peterson) that I learned that apparently this play taught them delayed gratification and instilled them with personal confidence. 

One of the biggest problems for kids is not having a safe place to play outdoors any more. When I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, there were tons of beautifully maintained public parks. We even had college kids earning credits for babysitting us during the summer break. I don't know of ANYWHERE in the world where this kind of care for kids is available.

On 10/12/2025 at 10:03 AM, connda said:

I can remember playing outdoor in the 1950s and 1960s.  I never stayed at home, I was always outside doing stuff and playing with friends, and in my late adolescence onward into my teens I also worked.
"Screen time" was the time when you came indoors and and watched cartoons on TV before dinner, and then watched TV with the family at night.  But myself and my friends where outdoor creatures and even TV was limited by our parents.  

Now?  

I remember hours of boredom, endless days of wind and rain, being bullied by skinhead gangs at school.

TV didn't start until 5:30pm and there were only two channels, listening to music was pot luck with radio 1 and radio Caroline.

 

It wasn't that great!

 

 Whereas now, kids can fill every minute of every day without any need for good weather, and they don't need to ever leave their home and risk bullies, grooming, stabby illegals, etc.