EDITORIAL: Recreation
In the 90’s, “Dial up” internet was still around and mobile phones were only used by important professionals, huge white desk top computers were prevalent and there was no touch screen technology available. Children would play in the streets until sunset. If they behaved badly they could be reprimanded by any adult in the neighbourhood. Most young people had to eat the food that was prepared at home, things like corned beef, macaroni and english potatoes, otherwise known as “1,2,3” were often enjoyed, mackerel and sardines were used as quick protein options and the occasional pigtail was enjoyed. It was a happier, simpler time. Children were more aware of the things going on in their small communities instead of paying attention to worldwide trending topics like the lives of the Kardashians.
The 80’s and 90’s were a transition period, in some cases bridging times of plenty with times of need and in other cases doing the opposite. Although there were not many fast food restaurants, there was an abundance of local fruits and vegetables which were shared among family and friends and were healthy snacks for children. Now, imported fruits such as strawberries and tangerines are substituted for our home grown guavas and grapefruit.
There were no video game arcades where children could spend the day, paying money to play games electronically indoors. Children in the neighbourhood would meet and form bonds over common interests like marbles or jacks and spend time exploring the outdoors creating free entertainment for themselves. This was an opportunity for exercise and adventure, getting a good supply of Vitamin D and fostering useful social skills. Some of these friendships created as young people stood the test of time lasting well into adulthood and up until death in some instances, often leading to entertaining childhood nicknames that leave unfamiliar persons with many questions on their faces.
Children now spend plenty of time at lessons or educational summer camps and complain of a lack of fun and joy in their lives. Childhood should be a time to be fondly remembered we must ensure that these children are not robbed of that opportunity. There must be a way to balance recreation with work, ensuring that the homework is completed, assisting them where necessary and allowing them to have a specific amount of time to enjoy screen time or sports where possible.
The way in which children are disciplined now is very different from previous years. Some would go as far as to say that children are rarely disciplined now. There has emerged a thin line between punishment and abuse which parents must be mindful of. Corporal punishment is on its way out in schools causing educators to have to find other ways to discipline children while in their care. Corporal punishment was prevalent, used to reprimand children for their deportment and cleanliness, lack of academic effort and any misbehaviour whether it was serious or minor. Now, with the advent of recreational technology such as tablets, smart phones and gaming systems, the discipline must largely be left up to the parents who can choose either to employ corporal punishment them selves or go the route of withholding technology or social gatherings from their children. It seems however, that these actions may be failing to bring about change in the behaviour of children and by the time they reach the middle of their teen years, it may be a little too late to positively impact some of them.
There are clear visible differences in the child rearing methods of the past and present, the latter coinciding with the apparent decline in societal morals. It is time we return to some of the old ways of doing things. All effort must be made to save our society and to save our children from the current downward spiral.