ONE OF THE VERY BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR CHILDREN - Especially an Only Child - IS LET THEM HAVE TIME OUTDOORS. LET THEM EXPLORE. NATURE IS GOOD FOR THEM - NOT SO MUCH TECH. TOO MUCH TECH IS BAD FOR THEM. IT'S ACTUALLY COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE. ESPECIALLY TO THEIR IMAGINATIONS. SO CONSIDER INTRODUCING THEM TO SIMPLE DISCOVERIES OUTDOORS HEY?
Children’s Indoor Lifestyle Stunts Their Imagination
Sydney Morning Herald
The way we have allowed our housing market to develop means that most of our new our homes are extraordinarily close together (“Ban kids from social, but what will they do outside?”, September 14). They are designed to look inwards; there is no scope for seeing wider horizons. And with this comes a tendency for a narrowness of imagination and vision. This means that Daisy Turnbull’s point is well made. Where are the backyards to play in? Where are the creeks to dam? Where are the places to cycle to? It would be nice to think we can turn this around, but for many this will not be possible.
Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls
Daisy Turnbull manages to capture the plight of many of our children and their use of free time. Those fortunate enough to have backyards, the beach or parks within safe walking distance hold some advantages, but free access to activities for all are still needed. Even in the overpopulated Manhattan free basketball/handball/tennis courts are easily accessible, there are small parks on many corners to sit, read and play, pools built into both rivers (and a new one planned for East River) the massive Central Park harbours a zoo, ice skating in season, safe walking/running facilities and various ponds to occupy the young.
Sydney and many regional areas offer very little for family play or childhood/adolescent recreation facilities. In this country we should have the space to ensure our children and young adults have free facilities to enjoy and grow, otherwise they will look to electronic devices and a virtual world to inhabit.
Janice Creenaune, Austinmer
I have huge sympathy with Daisy Turnbull’s article. Back in the 1950s I (and everyone else) made my own way to and from school. At weekends and holidays my mates and I were free to roam the streets, parks and anywhere else we could get into. We had a lot of fun, and nothing bad ever happened. My own children had a few more restrictions but generally managed to circumvent them. But now the thought of our grandchildren going out into the street without an adult is simply inconceivable. Yet our streets are safer now than then. Give our kids back their freedom and they won’t need social media.
Guy Cox, Dee Why
TO BE CONTINUED!