Do your kids spend enough time outside?

November 8, 2009 11:40 AM
M R. Duluth, MN  

My son doesn't get out enough because he sits on the computer all day reading comments on the DNT site and creating laugh wrinkles by the pound. He is starting to look like a shar-pei puppy.

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November 3, 2009 8:59 AM
Sara R. Minneapolis, MN  

I'm just getting to the age where my friends and I are starting families, or have kids just starting school. I've started to notice that kids DON'T go outside enough, they sit in front of cable TV, the computer, Wii, PS3, etc. When I was growing up, I had no video games. Now, I'm happy about that. We've decided NOT to get them for our son. He also will not have a TV in his room. I actually had a high school friend of mine tell me that I was being mean to my child by NOT giving him a TV for his room. But this person also lets her 2 year old watch TV all day long, and says it's benificial because she learned how to say a few words from a cartoon (she would have learned more if her mother taught her anything)

What do kids get out of TV and video games, other than learning how to sit on their butts all day?

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October 16, 2009 9:30 AM
nana o. Manitowish Waters, WI  

Our son and family have no tv in their home....and our granddaughter spends a lot of play time outside. It's a matter of the parents priority to get the kids off to a good start in life. We did have several tv's (and a computer) in our home when our son was being raised but he was allowed to watch only a few hours a week and the computer had NO games....he had to use his imagination (what a concept!).

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October 16, 2009 8:58 AM
J T. Cloquet, MN  

As a kid, you had to drag me, kicking and screaming, inside in the evening (summer OR winter!). I still prefer outdoors to indoors, camping to sitting at home, and picnicing to eating in a restaurant. It IS pretty sad though, that kids now are too absorbed with video games, tv & movies and computers to get off their duffs and get outside. My niece and nephew are that way, and unfortunately their parents don't set any boundaries or limits, just let them play video games or sit in front of the TV for days at a time.

Kids don't have to like sports to get outside. If your kid is more into video games or technology, teach them about photography, there are tons of trails streets and parks with perfect settings for getting great shots. If they don't like that, get them into nature walks, identifying trees, animals, plants, and studying why nature does what it does. I wasn't into sports, yet I had a blast outside.



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October 13, 2009 6:28 PM
janice m. Duluth, MN  

I have grandchildren and the amount of time spent outdoors depends on what they are interested in. One set of grandchildren are very interested in sports(playing) and therefore get plenty of outdoor sessions. They also when not actively in/at a game they are able with friends to be at home outdoors as well. Another set of grandchildren are glued to handheld games/computers/ and occasionally books. They have had problems with school work, problems with social interactions, problems completeing tasks,and for whats its worth these problem areas were not displayed prior to their recieving those modern distractors. And yes-limits were also not applied for use as parents thought they were learning tools for improving grades. WRONG--please parents limits are very important as well as breathing fresh air...improve the mind and the body.

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October 13, 2009 3:11 PM
K G. Esko, MN  

What's wrong with parents encouraging their children to go outside and spending time outside with their children? Why is it always the school or government that has to do everything? Come on people! Lazy!

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October 13, 2009 6:50 AM
Curry T. Two Harbors, MN  

I agree with the fact that kids need there outside time as parents to 5 boys most with some form of disability ranging from ADHD to PDD (a form of autism) to Heart condition. Our 2 older boys go to North Shore Community School it is inbetween Duluth and Two Harbors. They are outside learning a lot they have nature trails, they (they kids) tap the trees in the spring and all the kids get a pancake feast. They have a garden and have a nature watching place where they track animal tracks that had been there to feed. It also is wonderful if kids have disabilities or learing problems all the teachers there do great with the kids better than regular school I have seen. Our kids wouldn't be learning the nature stuff in a "normal" school in town. I love it! So do they!! One thing that is on the school list is mud boots so they can get ouside more!!!

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