Outdoor games are better than video games. They teach important principles like responsibility and perseverance, teamwork and sportsmanship, and they promote physical fitness.
What happened to the days when having fun and playing outdoors were one in the same? Kids today live in a world that pulls their attention in a hundred different directions at once. From an early age, they’re constantly inundated by a barrage of entertainment. Between tiktok, console games, and all the gadgets & gizmos in their lives, there’s little time for children to experience life away from a screen. I don’t mean to suggest that technology hasn’t led to incredible breakthroughs in the development of mankind, however, as with any new advancement, it’s vitally important to understand both the good and the bad.
It’s hard to disregard the degree of immersion in technology we experience today and the challenges we face because of it. New forms of tech-based entertainment have seeped into every nook and cranny of our lives. But amidst all the excitement, many have found it difficult to keep not only themselves, but also their kids, grounded in the present with at least a mild degree of separation from all that is digital. How many of us parents haven’t had to pry phones away from our kids in a restaurant just so they can pick what they want to order? If we’re being fair, we also need to ask, “How many of us haven’t had to pry phones away from ourselves to do the same?” There are countless causalities in the battle for our attention, but perhaps one of the most interesting is the loss of the age-old games many of us used to play during recess.
Old-fashioned outdoor games such as hide and seek, hopscotch, freeze tag, jump rope, and dodgeball were engaging, physically demanding, and arguably had more of a positive impact on mental health than today’s video games.
Outdoors games are a fantastic way for children to improve their interpersonal skills, gain confidence, get fit, and have fun. Whether your child is competitive, an animal lover, or loves socializing, they can tap into who they truly are while playing outdoor games. Many studies suggest that spending time outdoors is an enriching experience that not only contributes to a child’s development but also promotes good health, the conservation of natural resources, and environmental preservation.
Time Spent On Video Games
According to a new national poll released by the Ad Council and Video Game Voters Network – a parental involvement initiative launched by the Entertainment Software Association – most American parents think their teens spend too much time playing video games and should instead spend more time doing things historically attributed to a healthy teenage lifestyle. Over time, parents have watched warily as their children have transitioned away from hanging out with friends in person, playing sports, exercising, and doing homework in favor of digital entertainment
According to a new global poll, video gamers spent roughly eight hours and 27 minutes per week playing games in 2021, a 14% rise from 2020. According to Limelight Networks, 44 percent of gamers spend more than seven hours per week playing video games, and 25 percent of gamers spend more than 12 hours per week playing video games.
7 Must-Know Negative Impacts of Video Games
1. Health Issues
Physical inactivity can be harmful to a child's health. Kids who do not play sports or play outdoors in their neighborhood are at increased risk of obesity. Obesity puts significant pressure on the heart and other vital organs, such as the kidneys. The chances of developing various life-threatening disorders, such as diabetes and heart-related complications, are extremely high among obese children.
2. Effects on Academics
I’ll be the first to admit that video games are fun. They provide entertaining challenges, interesting plot lines, and experiences that players could never have in reality. But even though video games are fun, they are also addictive and can steal time away from other important responsibilities. If given the choice, many children would choose to play video games over doing anything else, therefore it’s important to remind them that homework and school work must remain a top priority.
3. Immoral Principles and Values
Not all video games are suitable for children. Many games contain very violent content, graphic images, inappropriate language, and other harmful stimuli. When an impressionable child plays these games, there is a possibility of overexcitement or desensitization to violence. Excessively violent video games may teach kids negative behaviors that they wind up carrying with them into the future. Online gaming in particular rarely involves any supervision, thereby increasing the likelihood of immoral, antisocial, and criminal behaviors.
4. Disconnections from Social Life
It is alarming to realize the potential negative effects video games can have on kids. There is a clear relationship between socialization and violence, and its obvious that a lack of socialization can lead to behavioral problems, depression, and aggression. Some of these issues can be mitigated by instilling habits relating to physical activity and sports at an early age. A study conducted by the American Psychological Association explained that almost 90% of video gamers typically play alone in their rooms. This threatens their mental health and could be “a possible explanation for the strong link between the amount of time spent playing video games and psychological problems may be socially withdrawn behavior in teens due to playing video games.”
5. Addiction
Video games are a fun and exciting way for all age groups to pass the time. A lot of adults enjoy playing video games when they feel stressed or burned out from dealing with the pressures of modern life. But too much of a good thing isn’t always a good thing, and if not monitored properly, excessive amount of time spent playing video games can lead to addiction. If you cannot control the amount of time you spend playing video games, then you might have already crossed the thin line between enjoyment and dependency.
6. Alexithymia
Alexithymia (or psychogenic/acquired anosmia) is the inability to identify and describe emotions in one’s self, as well as the inability to distinguish between feelings and the bodily sensations of emotional arousal. Emotional suppression is a tendency to shut down or inhibit emotional reactions. One common measure of alexithymia is the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) – a 20 item self-report questionnaire that measures three domains: difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings to others, and externally oriented thinking style. A frequently occurring result of alexithymia is difficulty properly communicating with others because of an inability to understand how one’s words affect other people.
7. Repetitive Stress Injuries
Video Games are an entertaining way to pass the time, but they also present certain health hazards. Repetitive stress injuries can cause serious damage to hands and fingers. Using your hands to repeat the same movements over and over again can lead to damaged muscles, tendons, and nerves. Most of the gaming community has never heard the term “Repetitive Strain Injury,” or RSI for short, but then again, most long-term gamers have no idea that they may be damaging their wrists to the point where they might not even be able to open a door in the future.
Why Are Outdoor Games Better?
Kids who play outdoors are more likely to try new things and develop the self-confidence they need to face other challenges in life, such as learning to ride a bike or working up the nerve to raise their hand in class. Because children who play outside are more active than other kids, they’re more likely to eat well and get high-quality sleep.
5 Benefits of Outdoor Games
1. Lower BMI
Because they are so active, children who spend significant amounts of time playing outside are less likely to be obese. They burn more calories than their inactive peers by running, jumping, climbing, and generally being more active.
2. Better Overall Health
Limiting a child's risk of obesity involves a variety of long-term health benefits. Obese children are more likely to develop heart disease, asthma, diabetes, and sleep apnea. Meanwhile, children who play outside are exposed to more sunlight, which is connected to enhanced moods and a stronger immune system. Children with ADHD also benefit from outdoor play because it provides them with an outlet for the activity they would likely not be able to experience indoors.
3. Muscle Strength Increases
When you push your child on a swing, all of their muscles are engaged as they learn to hang on, sit up, and follow the movement of the swing. Swinging is a great way for young children to develop muscle strength, even though most parents think of it as a boring playground pastime. Scooters, bikes, and even skateboards demand that your youngster use and strengthen a variety of muscle systems.
4. Greater Transparency with Parents and Caregivers
When children are indoors, they are frequently in smaller spaces where they compete for attention with other children, such as classmates or siblings. It can become noisy and overwhelming, causing children, particularly younger ones, to become afraid and become quiet. This may make it difficult for them to open up emotionally to their caregivers.
5. Improved Peer-to-Peer Relationships
Children who play outside are more self-conscious, as well as more mindful of others and their moods. Several studies also show that they are less likely to bully other children. Outdoor play frequently necessitates inventiveness and cooperation, allowing children the opportunity to learn how to pleasantly interact with one another. It may not eliminate squabbles over who gets to go down the slide or shoot the basketball, but it does teach them how to establish common ground with their peers.
Final Thoughts
Get fresh air in your life with outdoor games. You can play almost anywhere, anytime, and it’s never the same game twice because no two playing fields are the same. Outdoor games are perfect for hot summer days – there’s always a new one to try! They’re also perfect for the winter when you need something to keep you busy outdoors on a snow day. They include all sorts of games – card games, sports, board games, silly games, team games, brainteasers, and more. Outdoor games are better than video games; they're real, they're social, and they let you explore your neighborhood, city, or town. When you play with your whole family, you learn how to compromise and communicate. So, bring your friends and family outside - unplugged!
