frolic
I'm somewhat appalled by the fact that more people are not appalled, or at least not so by the things that I feel should inspire appallation (or appallment). I'm appalled by the apparent disability of the young to entertain themselves without the aid of electronic devices.
I'm dismayed by the evidential lack of "joie de vivre" in many folks harried and hurried lives. I'm taken aback by the small amounts of oohs and ahs when viewing spring flowers or a sunset.
I even feel some consternation directed toward myself, because the only time I skip stones across the surface of the pond behind my house is when the "grand" ones are present - - it's been several years since I've flown a kite - - and I can't remember the last time I frolicked in a field of clover.
Maybe that's the problem - - we have forgotten how to frolic - - or at least in the innocent way. Puppies and colts just naturally know how to frolic - - so do children - they run, jump and play for no apparent reason other than they enjoy it and can do it.
Then with educational toys, TV and video games, the frolicking ceases and in fantasy worlds the fun is only had by the characters on-screen and enjoyed by us vicariously. We need to bring back the frolic - - quite possibly would take a series of lessons though. ec
I'm dismayed by the evidential lack of "joie de vivre" in many folks harried and hurried lives. I'm taken aback by the small amounts of oohs and ahs when viewing spring flowers or a sunset.
I even feel some consternation directed toward myself, because the only time I skip stones across the surface of the pond behind my house is when the "grand" ones are present - - it's been several years since I've flown a kite - - and I can't remember the last time I frolicked in a field of clover.
Maybe that's the problem - - we have forgotten how to frolic - - or at least in the innocent way. Puppies and colts just naturally know how to frolic - - so do children - they run, jump and play for no apparent reason other than they enjoy it and can do it.
Then with educational toys, TV and video games, the frolicking ceases and in fantasy worlds the fun is only had by the characters on-screen and enjoyed by us vicariously. We need to bring back the frolic - - quite possibly would take a series of lessons though. ec
posted by mreddie | 9:35 PM
17 Comments:
Are you suggesting educational toys to teach us to frolic?
You're right though. Kids seem to be jaded early these days. Everything happens too fast and they look around and say "is that all there is".
Frightening.
Kids are different now. They seem to stay inside too much. You're right; frolicking is needed.
granny - Sometimes the young ones need to be "unplugged" and "ed-batteried" so they can realize that there is a world outside to enjoy - and it's not just something to rush through to get to the next video game, movie or TV show.
AC - Right, about like the puppy in your post. :) I guess the outdoors just doesn't have enough action for some kids but just the fresh air would be enough for me. ec
granny - That should have been "de-batteried" it seems that I can't even spell my own made up word. :) ec
I once went on a crusade to get kids outside playing baseball and soccer while leaving their joy sticks and video games in the house. I failed—could raise enough kids for a soccer team.
I'd like to bring back my frolicking days! It just hurts so much more now to frolick!
I would totally say to a friend of mine, "Shall we go frolic in the summertime grass and explode from happiness as we hear the wind and the birds!?" Kids definitely spend too much time in front of the TV, and even the 20 somethings own x-boxes! It's in the US, and it's here too...it's everywhere!
SSN - They have so many more things to entertain themselves with - but are they really better. Do they even know what butterflys are and that they come from caterpillars?
ivy - I know what you mean - I still frolic, just at a slower pace and much of it is mental. :)
yours truly - So true - many seem to have lost the ability to just be quiet and listen when they are outside.
bjw - It just proves the point that they can have fun if they could just "unplug".
On our drive through the countryside last weekend, we saw little colts and lambs. Best to stop and watch awhile.... we sure did giggle and coo watching them.
I totally agree. I have three boys and can't seem to get them to run and scream and ride bikes and be crazy outside. They will, but only after much prompting. I hate it. When we were kids, you couldn't get us to come inside. My kids are even limited to how much computer they get but there's something about the visual stimulation that seems to deflate that inner frolic. We don't even have a TV either and it's hard to get them to love the outdoors. I can't imagine how hard it would be if they had all the other gadgets that the "lucky" kids have.
i don't think you've forgotten how to frolic, Mr.E. your word frolics are why i love to follow your posts.
my kids all had quotas on t.v. time and computer time (unless it was needed for a school project) the 2 youngest (now just finishing high school, and living in the city with their dad) didn't even have t.v. for most of their lives so far. it can only be picked up by cable or sattelite dish here, and i just didn't have the cash for that, so when we moved here, as the 2nd youngest began grade 1, we had only movies on the vcr. there were a few who thought i was a negligent parent, and some of the boys' friends were at a complete loss what to do with themselves the first time they came to visit, but there never seemed any shortage of kids coming over. there were lots of board games, cookies to bake, all the latest and greatest lego etc. in the winter, and a big yard with trees to climb, a tree fort, and hammocks to hang from, and the river only a half hour drive away, where we'd take some friends and the canoe in the summer. they were always building things and inventing things. still are. they know how to cook and fix their own bikes and cars. and they love to learn.
i think parents have given responsibility for raising their children over to others. we send them to school to learn the 3 r's, to church to learn faith, and to the television to fill their leisure time. they learn very little from us as parents any more, unless we make a conscious choice to participate in all aspects of their lives, and put in the very great amount of time that participation requires. most parents just don't have that time anymore, and they're burned out and overworked and overstressed when they get home and just want to escape, so they turn on the t.v. the kids have their own t.v. in another room, so they don't even do THAT together.
and what do kids in that environment learn to value? not the appreciation of simple pleasures, because no one has time to teach those things to them.
I'm so with you on this. Why does every person have to have multiple electronic devices in order to entertain themselves. And why have I been sitting at my computer for the last 10 minutes??
It really worries me about the games they play. I wonder if that is why we have school shootings. Some of the games are terrible. My little grandson carries it with him where ever he goes. I think too much is bad for their mind and their eyes. Blessings, Janie Marie
bonita - That is the kind of thing the young ones would benefit from - if the opportunity were available to them. Colts and lambs are natural frolickers.
jay are - It's sad to me when kids are not allowed to be kids without electronic stimulation interfering.
grannyfiddler - And when others, whether persons or some entertainment medium, raise children for parents, the child assumes the values of the person that raises them. Then the parents wonder what happened to their young ones. ec
jayleigh - We adults make our own mistakes as well and I probably spend too much time with my electronic marvel too.
CGS - That may possibly be one of the reason - the violent games. Then their young minds cannot separate the real from the pretend. This would certainly explain their lack of remorse when the bad happens by their hands. ec
I remember as a child finding great pleasure in just looking at the clouds and picking out fantasy figures there!
Kids never look up, these days.
June
junierose - I hadn't thought about that until you mentioned it - kids do not seem to look up, but are fascinated with what they hold in their hands. Whether that is a video game or the latest fashion they are buying - sad.
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