I was recently at one of my kiddo’s homes waiting to start an OT session. She had houseguests staying with the family for a short period of time, one of them being a boy close to my kiddo’s age. As he was introducing himself, he asked me what shows l liked to watch on TV. I found it interesting the topic that he chose to start a conversation with—but proceeded to say that I really didn’t watch a lot of TV that I would be able to tell him my favorite shows. He looked at me in bewilderment and asked “what do you do then”. I proceeded to say “ I like to play”—“play?” He stated in a question and surprise. “Yes” “Play either with my dogs, or crafts, or with the kids I work with”. I asked him what he liked to play. He went back to watching “TV and playing video games”. I asked if he goes outside —to play sports or games with other kids his age. He thought about if for a minute and basically said “No”. I asked if his parents played with him outside—going for bike rides, playing sports, even hide and seek. He replied “no” they are working and busy.
I have to say I was saddened with the response that I received from this young boy. I realize that times have changed, and the emphasis for many of these large motor activities have gone by the wayside. What has not changed has been the necessity and benefit that these large motor activities have on brain development and for regulation of a child’s activity level. Our movement system (vestibular) system is the most powerful system to assist a child’s ability to regulate their body and assist with overall organization of any input or stimulus coming into their system. If we do not provide needed movement throughout the day, majority of children will struggle one way or another with handling the everyday demands that are presented to them. Aside from assisting with regulation and organization, think of all the skills that children are gaining with those activities such as hide and seek, red light-green light game, team sports like kick ball, soft ball.
We need to look back at our own childhood and hopefully reflect on those fun activities that we were able to participate in and learn from. How can we bring those activities into our kids lives. Many of us did not have computers or tablets like kids have today. What did we do in our free time—especially in the summer months.
Words of wisdom—Bring back the movement and motor activities into your kids lives and watch the change that can happen with their overall disposition as well as their participation in school.
-Judi