A new study has advised that children in the UK will sit in front of a TV or computer screen for 7 hours a day when not at school. Dairy Farmers of Britain carried out the survey to show how our young are becoming disconnected from ‘outdoors.’
There are many reasons for this, other than technology. ‘Outside’ is now viewed as far more dangerous than it really is by parents and authorities. After all, killers stalk ‘out there’, and heaven forbid the poor mite may have an accident.
Socialisation
We are all to blame for this state of affairs, so it is no good just blaming the child. Yes, of course they will be happy with this slothful life. However, there is a greater danger to all this that is usually ignored.
A child grows up to be a sociable adult through close contact with his peers and society. This important educational process is now being eroded, leaving children with a new means of contact.
Hi-tech
Through hi-tech, the new friends are often distant, and full socialization does not take place. A friend is a brief image on a screen, a few words in text. Can full socialization be taught in such a way?
And yet another problem is that friends are no longer local but global. In one way this is good, the child having access throughout the planet. But is it possible to truly understand yourself if no sense of your place enters your world?
© Anthony North, July 2007
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