Causes and Effects of Children Staying Indoors
Outdoor play is an essential aspect of childhood. It is exciting to see young kids exploring the natural surroundings, being curious regarding what surrounds them, and finding delight in getting to see the new things. There are numerous advantages attributed to engaging in outdoor play, such as mental and physical development. However, in recent years, the relationship between children engaging in outdoor and nature activities has changed dramatically. The drastic slump is attributed to various aspects and leads to adverse effects.
Causes
There are various causes of children not engaging in outdoor activities. Foremost, children have developed a liking for video games for various reasons, such as being a fun challenge, relieving stress, and providing companionship with other players or friends. Another reason is attributed to parents. A majority of parents are worried about picking up germs while outdoors. However, research shows the likelihood of contracting asthma than when engaged in outdoor activities. For families dwelling in cities, many parents fear for the safety of their children which has turned out to be a significant issue for children in the 21st century.
Effects
There are various effects attributed to children not engaging in outdoor play. Foremost, a decline in empathy and a surge in narcissism is experienced in children that do not engage in play. Young children are unable to learn social skills and values in learning institutions since a learning institution is demanding, not an autonomous setting. The other effect entails dissociation from nature. When children spend much of their time indoors, they tend to dissociate from nature. This has a detrimental effect on the knowledge of the world as well as their interaction with other human beings. Also, it may adversely affect the community as the generation knows less.
Conclusion
Engaging in indoor activities is detrimental to the growth of children. Children need to be engaged in outdoor activities as it results in numerous positive effects. Parents need to consider the health of the children as staying indoors is also a health hazard despite outdoor playing being a safety concern.