Active Children Before Indoor Playgrounds: A Time of Outdoor Adventurousness
Nowadays, the prospect of outdoor play for children often conjures the image of bouncing on a trampoline at a soft play center. However, prior to these facilities, active children presented a picture that was quite different. This article explores the experiences and adventures that children had before indoor play areas were built, focusing on outdoor play and the unique risks and rewards of their playful adventures.
Free Play as the Norm
Children were permitted and encouraged to engage in outdoor play from a very young age. A child as early as two years old would be appropriately dressed for the weather and sent outside for a couple of hours every day. Sometimes these few hours might be split up into shorter segments throughout the day, but the majority of the time, children played outside. Parents also instilled a sense of responsibility in their children from a young age by assigning them tasks such as picking up leaves from the garden, sweeping the path, putting out the rubbish, or tidying up. These activities not only helped the household but also encouraged the children to develop a sense of independence and self-reliance.
Weather-Dependent Outdoor Activities
Children did not let the weather deter them from outdoor play. Recalling my own childhood, I vividly remember the active children who would bike in the snow and play catch in the cold. In urban settings, boys would play ball in the streets, while on hot days, both boys and girls would run through sprinklers provided by the local fire department. In suburban and rural areas, kids engaged in running games. Both boys and girls participated in tree climbing and softball. Soccer was just beginning to emerge as a popular sport, but it was not as common or widespread as these other games.
Physical Risks Were Part of the Game
The environment of outdoor play was a unique setting where physical risks were an integral part of facing life's challenges. Playing outdoors often meant that one of the children would likely come home with a bloody knee or an arm in a cast. However, these incidents were not deterrents but rather points of pride. Children often saw these injuries as badges of honor, showing that they had participated in intense and adventurous activities. The level of physical risk was quite different from today, as active supervision was rare. It was common for older siblings, neighbors, or even the children themselves to run the games, with adult supervision being more rare unless a parent or guardian was directly involved.
Comparing Past and Present
Recalling the lives of active children, it’s quite a different scene today. While modern technology and safety concerns have undoubtedly improved many aspects of childhood, they have also altered the nature of outdoor play. Today, indoor play spaces offer a controlled environment with padded surfaces and age-appropriate activities, reducing the physical risks to children. However, this may come at the cost of a lack of spontaneous adventure and risk-taking, which are essential for personal development and confidence-building.
Despite the changes, the joy and importance of outdoor play have remained constant. Children benefit from the physical activity, mental stimulation, and social skills that come with outdoor play, regardless of the setting. As parents and caregivers, we should strive to balance the benefits of modern safety standards with the need for children to engage in adventurous and physically challenging activities that contribute to their overall well-being and resilience.