I overheard a strange conversation the other day between Millie and her granddad.
"Granddad, are you dead yet?"
His reply was, "No but I am tied up in a net waiting to be rescued."
They were playing Bugdom on an old laptop. The latest craze of the granddaughters when they visit us.
When I was a child we had no television. In fact I cannot recall anyone having a TV until I was well into my teens. Obviously there were no computers either.
Books were always great joy and having some one read me a story was a wonderful treat. I was a fairly good reader though and spent many happy hours reading my own stories.
My brother and I loved the radio and while listening, we could draw, and do any other craftwork that we wanted to.
We were out in the fresh air most of the time exploring our local environment, long before it was considered a terrible risk to go out unaccompanied by a grown up.
How things have changed.
I have noticed when my four grand children come to visit, they come armed with Nintendo DS, favourite DVDs, in fact anything that is dependent on a screen! From the four year old to the almost thirteen year old, they are not happy unless they have their heads down staring at some game or video.
However when I can prise them away, they do usually enjoy an outing even if it is after much protesting beforehand.
What is going on? Why is it such a battle to get them to go out?
Why are children only interested in staring into a screen? Is it the curse of modern day living?
"Come on," I say, "We are going to go for a lovely walk and get some exercise."
Completely blanking me out, I raise my voice.
"Ding, ding, ding......... I am over here...... look at me. We are going out for some exercise."
When I eventually get their attention and they protest about my unreasonable request to leave the screens, and I mention that there's no way you would get me to stare at a screen all day, Amber casually looks up and says, "But you're a blogger!"
Uhhhhmmmmm well ......
27 comments:
Out of the mouths of babes, Maggie.....
Hee, hee, indeed, and where would we be without it?!!!
Mine always fuss about going out for walks and outings but always enjoy it, I just wish they'd remember they like it, so we don't have to go through all the fuss the next time!
Oh Maggie, don't we just love these losing battles us Grandma's have... this conversation has been had in my house over and over again.
"But why not Nan, you spend a lot of time on the computer too when we aren't here"
Me, "Yes well I don't want you doing it when you are visiting me" "Come ON NOW." "OUT"... mutter mutter moan moan all the way out then they have such fun they don't want to come home.
Some Inventor geek has a lot to answer for though... Curses cursor as you so rightly said.
Love Granny
Snap... as I hit Go we all popped into the comment box!!!
Ahh kids....gotta love em! They come out with the absolute truth don't they!
Yes but you don't blog ALL DAY!!
I only have to say "football" and mine will be out... :)
Out of the mouths of babes, indeed! Don't they always have an answer for you??
I grew up the same as you and loved it so much. We climbed trees and spent all day in the forests. Nobody was worried. They knew we'd come home when we got hungry. Oh, the imaginative games we played. We were lions, tigers, dragons, pirates, fishermen, faeries, monsters, whatever took our childish fancy. It was fun!
Screens are addictive to everyone.
She does have a point, doesn't she?:) Some days I find myself scolding myself for spending too much time here, but usually it's time I might have wasted watching television or just sitting.
We're all so computer-oriented these days, I worry about us turning into one of those futuristic movies where people never go out of their houses and never interact with one another.
Keep pushing those grandkids out the door for a walk, Maggie May!
Mine moan about walks too, but love it once we're out. I enjoy going away somewhere for hols where there are no gadgets or screens, it's totally different and I feel like I have my kids back!
It's sad but true. We're all becoming a world of people staring into screens and not into each others' faces.
I'm gld you manage to get them outside for some fresh air now and then. That's important!
Peace - D
I must own up to a close relationship with my computer screen myself and understand the fascination. But I would gladly forsake it for an interesting walk and good company, providing it isn't too cold outside. Visitors can come and distract me too, no problem. I know I will get some computer time in at one point in the day that will satisfy me. I'm not for games though, they make me feel very stressed out and I don't know how kids do it.
Like you and Wendy, I grew up with no TV. And here I am staring at the screen in my, um, senior years. One of my step grandsons was totally computer game addicted from about age eight on and it left him jumpy and bored with everything else.
On the other hand, his six year old sister wants to be outside while she is here because it is so much fun outside. She is restricted to a pocket handkerchief back yard in the city. She is escorted to the parks. I find that very sad.
I loved it! Amber is a hoot.
But yea, my husband and I were talking the other day about that same thing. We were not even ALLOWED in the house during the summer and unless it was time to eat, we had to go to the bathroom, or time to get ready for bed. TV? No way. We played outside all summer, and had a damn good time doing it.
Amber's got you there, Maggie! I have to say I'm nearly as bad..cept for last week and weekend..couldn't get me in the house on a bet! Oh well...keep on bloggin'!
Sandi
They do love their screens don't they? But I am becoming a convert - the Wii, in particular, is both active and fun, and as such gets my approval. I have now got my own account on my son's Brain Training Nintendo DS game - if you can't beat them, join them!
Oh and an excellent punishment for wrongdoings is 'no screens!' ;-)
x
Hahaha, they gotcha with that one!
My eldest son came to wish me happy mothers day yesterday with his two youngest children. I asked where Sam the eldest was - "Can't prise him away from the Xbox" was the reply!
I had a lovely singsong with the other two grandchildren though. :)
I know exactly what you mean Maggie! A x
I have 2 childminding nippers that as soon as I pick them up from school head straight for the playstation..... even though there is a house full of games and toys and crafts and equipment.... but now the better weather is on its way we will live in the garden.... :)
x
My eleven-year-old great-granddaughter just became one of my Facebook friends. I know she doesn't spend all her time looking at a screen, and it's nice to have an easy means of brief communications. Sounds as though Grandpa is enjoying computer games too. That first quote is priceless! I agree, though, that today's children miss much of the outdoor freedom we had as children.
Oh that made me laugh so hard. I guess I myself am caught along with you!
Ah, she socked it to you. ;) Too cute.. and too right.
One day they will be telling their own grandchildren about their blogger granny and how things have changed!
Kids will say the darndest things! I have to limit myself to how much time I spend blogging - but nice weather is on the way so I will be in the garden for hours!
Hahahahahaha I loved Amber's quick-witted answer to you! But I agree times have indeed changed so much! It seems children don't go outside anymore... when I was a child we would be out playing all day, no cellphones of course, Mum never knew where we were but we were always home in time for tea, and we survived!
But it's the world that's changed and not the people... we've just had to adapt to the dangers of a new world!
Big Hugs!
Donnie XX
The curse of the screen. Very well said.
Oh, she gotcha!
Post a Comment