Pickles by Brian Crane for February 10, 2017

The kid has no idea what he’s missing. We played fun games outside that beat Minecraft and Angry Birds all to heck (though I admit I never played either of those games). We created our own fun. I like playing games on the computer too, but kids need to have more outdoor play time and not so much computer time.

I have wonderful memories of going exploring with my buddies 60 years ago. Not having my mother hovering over me all day. Summer was a magic time back then, now our grandson only wants to sit and play games on his tablet.

Man’s evolution to machine

I’m glad the young’un in our family enjoys the outdoors and Angry Birds!

I’m glad the grandkids love to play with their grandma. Their parents know I prefer the TV off when I’m there. It is too noisy and distracting. And I hate it as background noise. I’m creating memories that last.

Yup.

I’ve done both, built treehouses and forts as well as played Minecraft and Angry Birds. The free-range life gave me epic adventures. The games just passed the time.

We can’t wish our past on our grandkids, but we can try to make sure that their parent allow their kids to be kids !

Within the confines of 21st Century society, children still need the space – physical, intellectual, and emotional – to grow into themselves, without parents trying to make them an extension of their own ego !

I wonder what that generation will tell their kids.. I.. played Minecraft? As trump would say. Sad!

Too bad!

There were kidnappings and etc just as much in the old days ( the 50’s and 60’s). But when someone was kidnapped in California, no one outside of that town knew about it. The other bazillion American kids that were playing outside all day, running all over the county without their parents worrying at all about them unless they didn’t show up for dinner were fine. Now, my granddaughter isn’t allowed to walk the ten blocks home from her school, for fear she might be that one kid out of the bazillion that gets kidnapped today. And, since none of the kids are allowed to walk ten blocks by themselves, she would actually be a lot more likely to be kidnapped, since she’s the only one out there.

If my memory serves me, those were pretty much the Only Choices I had!

Christmas Day really tells the tale. We used to have kids riding their new bikes, skateboards, roller skates. etc. Now there is not a kid in sight. They’re all inside playing with their new electronics.

I’ve played Angry Birds before but it’s not a game I would play all the time.

Not into Minecraft at all.

xxx

No reason you can’t play outside AND play minecraft.