One thing I never hear or see anymore..

[Spawn67]

Is kids playing outside. Makes me sad that I never see or hear kids in my neighborhood outside and there's alot of them around here.
I remember when I was a kid there were always kids everywhere outside playing the street, the woods, etc. I sometimes wonder if it was me just thinking that cause I was a kid at the time but my mom confirmed to me it wasn't. I can remember when I was punished or doing homework hearing everyone outside.
It's not just kids either all the adults were always outside as well socializing with each other or doing their lawns, yardwork, etc.
Anyone else feel this way?

[Figuremod73]

I know its not everyone but it seems sometimes like all the adults are on facebook and the kids are playing the wii/ps3 or chatting on the smartphones. To much technology these days.

[spacecaps]

I'm watching my son play outside on his scooter right now. He's always out and about. I won't let him have a handheld game device and the only TV we watch is at night. The other day we went to a Devils game and the kid sitting next to us played his DS the entire game. I think he maybe looked up a few times at the ice but for the most part he went to a hockey game and played Mario Kart. I couldn't believe his father didn't take that thing away from him.

[Brazoo]

I totally felt that way living in the suburbs the last few years I lived there - the weird thing is now that I live downtown in the city I stand around chatting to neighbors all the time. Kids still don't play on the streets though - but they couldn't really do that here.

[Mikey]

Is kids playing outside. Makes me sad that I never see or hear kids in my neighborhood outside and there's alot of them around here.
I remember when I was a kid there were always kids everywhere outside playing the street, the woods, etc. I sometimes wonder if it was me just thinking that cause I was a kid at the time but my mom confirmed to me it wasn't. I can remember when I was punished or doing homework hearing everyone outside.
It's not just kids either all the adults were always outside as well socializing with each other or doing their lawns, yardwork, etc.
Anyone else feel this way?

You should live here.

Every night the kickball bangs my windows

Sometime I have to holler out in my old man voice --- HEY YOUS KIDS !!!

[Werewolf]

The average age of a gamer is 37. More kids are texting and tweeting than playing video games. Video games and arcades were hugely popular when I was a child. It's up to the parent to set limits on how much TV, tweeting or video games their child plays.

The Entertainment Software Association - Industry Facts

There have also been a lot of cultural changes since we were kids. Do the type of small towns many of the people here grew up in still exist? Were they even actually as idyllic as remembered? There is now the big culturally instilled fear of kids being abducted. Way more than our generations. Do people feel it's safe for their kids to play outside. Do busy working parents make the effort to take kids to parks? Play games outside with them? Do parents make the effort to supervise their kids playing outside or is it easier for them to keep them inside so they don't have to be watched as closely? No easy answers or single causes.

[Werewolf]

You should live here.

Every night the kickball bangs my windows

Sometime I have to holler out in my old man voice --- HEY YOUS KIDS !!!

Lol, yeah, it's like that here. Have to be very watchful backing your car out of the drive way because around here kids are shooting hoops or zooming around in those little peddle cars.

[sprytel]

I live at the end of a cul de sac, and it is always busy with kids playing some sport (street hockey, baseball, or the like). But I live close to an elementary school, so the neighborhood tends to attract young families.

[Figuremod73]

I know this kid (about 8) who plays videogames after school and on weekends. He does very little eles (no homework, reg tv, or toy play). I cant believe it. Its horrible to spend so many hours doing that. And I actually play games myself.

[raider5gt]

We have kids always playing in the street where i live,it's usually football or they are bombing around on their bikes and skateboards.

I have to be careful when i come home from work in my work van,as they are everywhere,i put on my warning flashers and they all wave or stick their thumbs up.

[4NDR01D]

They built a really nice skateboard park here a few years ago, lots of kids there during nice weather days. Youth hockey leagues and youth soccer are pretty big during their seasons.

[Captain Big Trousers]

Two years ago my kids were outside from dawn 'til dusk.

We moved one suburb away and now they never leave the house. They're allowed - they just don't want to.

So around here it seems to come down to planning - nowhere to be a kid.

[HardyGirl]

I started a thread on this very topic:

Do kids play outside in your neighborhood? - Mego Talk

It's really ashame. I remember when I was a kid and the days were getting longer, you'd hear more kids outside after school. Sadly that's a thing of the past. Parents are too scared, and kids are too plugged-in.