Have you seen the articles about intelligence falling? One attributed it to the controversial notion that educated women are having fewer children. Another zeroed in on children playing video games and overburdened with structured activities that do not allow them to veg out and just be kids.
As a child, I spent summer days mostly playing outside. There was Hide and Seek behind the massive Elms (now gone because of Dutch Elm disease) and behind parked cars — fewer cars then, less danger.
The alley also was a wonderful play yard. We could set up an entire baseball diamond, in which the smallest child had a chance of making it to first base. My aunt once took my turn at bat. I was standing too close when she connected a mighty swing. I was knocked flat. It was a home run! Too bad I couldn’t get up to circle the bases.
I watched some television, but the choices were slim. I read and played house in the attic that was full of old furniture, which actively engaged my imagination.
A child today does not have such healthy options. Have you seen some of the reality shows that are on daily? There’s Springer and his ilk. The doctors (Oz, Phil and others) discuss worthwhile topics, but not child friendly. The courtroom shows are little better. People tell too much for their 15 minutes of fame. No wonder our teens and preteens devour popular magazines and then desire to be famous like a Kardashian. Confession may be good for the soul, but it seldom makes the one that heard it feel good. Words cannot be retrieved once they are spoken.
So here we are, a nation with falling intelligence and too little down time. But, there is a possible solution – allow children to have unstructured play.