Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Evolution of play: unsupervised bat and ball to today's screens

Kids used to use the bat and ball unsupervised and free; today play is all about screens or organized sport, hovered over by parents.

1950s:

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? Outdoor play without adult supervision was common in both urban and rural US settings.

? Different ages played together.

? Bicycles and balls were the main outdoor toys, and board games were the most common inside.

? Much of play revolved around traditional games such as baseball, modified to fit space and materials.

1980s:

? Use of toys increased, and many were 'branded' ? connected to TV characters ? Barbies, Power Rangers, My Little Ponies, etc.

? Outdoor play was likely to be adult-supervised or part of an 'organized activity.'

? TV viewing was increasingly a part of free time.

? Athletics become more formal and age-based ? such as soccer camp for 7-year-olds rather than neighborhood pickup soccer in a vacant lot.

2010s:

? Toys are the center of play; most are connected to media characters and are somehow electronic.

? Most free time is screen time spent in front of the TV, computer, etc.

? Unsupervised outdoor time is almost nonexistent. Physical activity of any kind has decreased.

? Multi-age, cross-gender play is disappearing, even among siblings.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/RhTTDRIZbrw/Evolution-of-play-unsupervised-bat-and-ball-to-today-s-screens

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