When I was a little girl, I used to love playing outside in the snow! But today it is so cold here by the lake that I wouldn’t let our girls play outside even if they wanted to . . . . . but that’s the problem. They never want to. Even in the summer, they would rather stay inside where it is cool and comfy, instead of playing outside in the yard with the bugs, snakes, and toads. They do like to go swimming (but still, they prefer to go to the Y and swim in the pool instead of the lake!), and they love to play on the paddle boat, but it seems the kids just don’t play outside as much as they used to.
Of course, I know that has a lot to do with television, iPods, and other technology, but we aren’t exactly what you would call a “techie” family – we don’t have video games, and just this past couple of weeks I finally learned how to send text messages ;o) but we did get a Wii last year for Christmas so sometimes the girls (well, our whole family, actually!) set up a bowling tournament (Daddy almost always wins), or play tennis, or dance to Kid’s Bop . . . . or watch a movie on the DVD, but we don’t TEVO (is that what it’s called?), and we rarely even watch TV except for the news (and Downton Abbey, of course!).
We also do lots of craft projects on winter days, and the girls like to help me make soup and muffins for supper, and there are always chores to keep us busy around the house, but still . . .
So, I was just thinking this morning as I looked out the kitchen window to see a light dusting of snow, and snowflakes swirling through the air . . . . I remember playing outside and building show forts, sliding down the hill by our house on an old trash can lid or piece of cardboard that I snatched out of the burn barrel before it went up in smoke, and making snow angels in the front yard of our little cottage by the lake.
What about you? Do you remember playing in the snow? Do your kids play outside, or do they mostly do indoor activities in the winter months? I would be interested to know whay you think about all of the technological wonders of our modern age and whether they make our life better or perhaps they have robbed us of some of the joys of everyday life.
Please join the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop at Katherine’s Corner and tell us about YOUR favorite things! Hope to see you there ;o)
I remember as a kid that going outside or staying inside was an option. I was aloud one hour tv during the school week and two hours on the weekend (other than what my folks watched in the evening). When I got home from school it was eat dinner, do your homework, go outside and play. I was to be home when the street light came on. Once home into the bath, family time and off to bed. If I had a choice I would have likely stayed indoors too
I think now (at least where I live) sending your kids outside is potentially a dangerous thing without constant parent supervision. Crime is just so prevalent and a real concern. With that always being a concern we don’t send our kids out to play unless we too have the free time to supervise. I often think our children are missing out on the joy of childhood because some of the best fun I had was outside.
I know! It is so scary out there – we live in a rural area, so the danger is not quite as much as if we lived in a big city (or small city!), but still . . . . . you just never know! Thanks for your comments and observations. Sounds like your life was much like mine when I was a little girl; that was the way it was when my big kids were little, too, so I miss that kind of peaceful, safe time in my life ;o)
Sweet post my darling friend. Snow stories I have several. England and France both had some heavy snows when I was young. But then we moved to the equator! ( Turkey) so no more snow days until we moved to America. I still love to make snow angels. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things hop xo