Children Unplugged

The other morning, the breakfast radio news had a story about the record snowfall in London England. The on site reporter was interviewing people about the effects of the snow and most of them were complaining about the difficulty of travel - roads not cleared, buses and underground not running etc. The background noise in the broadcast told a different story. It was filled with the screams of joy and laughter of children as they enjoyed sliding down slopes, making snowballs and snowmen.

As I was thinking about this later in the day I realized this is a sound we don't hear very often anymore regardless of where we live, whether in a small rural town or village to the largest cities. Why is that? I think there are several reasons. One is fear. Fear of parents for the safety of their children. While not completely unwarranted, it is a fear fuelled by constant media stories of missing children and the horrific things that happen to them. Another reason could be organized sports or activities. By the time the kids are finished with practise, games, tournaments, music lessons, etc. there is no time left to play outside with their friends. Another reason and perhaps the major one is technology. Now don't get me wrong, I'm no Luddite. I use technology on a daily basis for business, research, marketing, etc. A great many children are glued to all forms of technology -TV, video, games, computers, Internet, texting, instant messaging, digital music, and the list goes on and on. They are losing the ability to communicate without some form of tech interface.

That's why we are losing the sound of children's laughter coming through our windows from the outdoors. And if we are missing that, what are the children missing? To name a few, the ability to develop relationships, fresh air, the excitement of playing an exhilarating game of some sort without an adult presence or a lot of rules, etc. The list could go on and on. You get the picture.

Probably the most important thing that is missing is the connection to the Earth. Being outside, even in the city, has a centering and calming influence. It puts us in touch with the cycles of nature and helps us to understand and connect our own rhythms to the world around us. Our world would be a better place to be if there were more sounds of laughter and play coming through our windows. It's the sound of "Children Unplugged".