Can you remember your childhood?

I can and what I remember is hours of fun, mostly outside. I was born in the UK and moved to Zambia when I was 7, and between those two places I remember playing in snow that came up to my waist, playing hopscotch on the playground and compacting the snow to make icy slippery slides.

I pitched a kiddie’s tent in my bedroom and played in there with my friends. I ran outside with the dogs and
spent hours in my tree house; I climbed trees, swam and rode my bicycle around the house with a packed meal pretending I was going away for my picnic.

I used to turn the hi-fi up really loud and sing into my ‘microphone’ (a hairbrush really!) In England we’d go hunting for mushrooms in the early morning or go berry picking in the right season, surely eating more than we ended up with in our baskets. Does any of this ring a bell for you?

I wonder what our children are going to remember? Surely not record players and rotary dial telephones or life without cell phones and microwaves. As technology has advanced it has made many previous accessories obsolete and has also given us innumerable new instruments, gadgets and must-haves. Our children know all about cell phones, ipods, DVD recorders, PSP, PVR, DSTV and laptops, and while this is not necessarily a bad thing; this technology has overshadowed the outdoor activities and games that we played without the aid of technology. Are our children even going to know the feel of tree bark between their legs as they reach that upper branch, or the smell of grass as it is rolled and played on? Or the satisfaction gained from being physically exhausted after an afternoon of racing around outside with friends, bikes or dogs? So, what is the impact of this going to be on our children?

Sitting and eating in front of a TV, play station, or computer game makes children likely to eat up to 50% more food than they would if they sat at the table with their family. Many hours in front of the television places children at a disadvantage when they enter school as they are used to not interacting as they watch and therefore learn passively without questioning or interacting with the medium of instruction. How can any schoolteacher be expected to compete with a TV programme that presents a constantly changing image and is bright, vibrant and interesting? However, the impact of hours in front of technological games has an even bigger impact that this.

In order to succeed at school, our children need to spend time outside playing as well as completing jigsaw puzzles and threading beads, any idea why?

Our large muscles need to be stimulated and strengthened in order for us to sit up straight, sit for long periods of time, hold our shoulders back or work comfortably at a desk as well as hold a pencil and write with it. If these muscles are inadequate when our children reach school, then their upper body control will be about as effective as a rubber rod. Sitting in front of the TV, play station or computer, slumped over and relaxed does nothing to strengthen these muscles. Have you noticed how many children are being sent for physiotherapy and occupational therapy for ‘low muscle tone’ these days? Technology is one reason why low muscle tone is occurring in rapidly increasing numbers amongst our children. Leaning on his arms when working or resting his head on his hands is one sign of low muscle tone and it creates it’s own difficulties at school.

So what can we do to assist this?

• Encourage your child to complete activities on the floor, such as lying on his tummy colouring-in without resting his head on his hand or arms or building lego.

• Spending time climbing trees, hanging from jungles gyms, climbing up ropes and basic gymnastics (cartwheels, handstands, etc.)

• Get a large physio-ball and replace the chair in front of the TV, play station or computer with this. He will have to maintain his balance while sitting on the ball and this can only be done with the use of the large torso muscles.

• Animal walks on his hands and feet, either facing the floor or facing the ceiling; turn it into a race between your children or join in yourself.

• Stand at a blackboard to write and use both hands and arms to make the same movements, such as large circles or figures of eight.

• Don’t forget to skip, play with balls (catch them, kick them and throw them around) and play with the hula hoop (do you remember how to spin it around your waist?)

• Bike riding and trampolining are also great for this and it’s something that can be done at any age – that means parents and grandparents can join in too!!!!

Have fun and keep an eye out for next months letter as that will focus on the importance of small muscles and will include games and activities to develop and strengthen these in your children.

Author:
Melanie Hartgill
Educational Psychologist
Pr. no. 0860000115134
Click here to email Melanie
082 678 4300

Specialising in: Assessments (educational, psychological, school readiness, emotional and career), Learning Disabilities, Parenting Issues and Training and Child Development
Visit Melanie's Q&A page

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