No Child Left Inside
by Rev. Lana Charlton
A
movement is afoot throughout the are getting the mind set that they are too
nation to get our children moving good to walk, ride their bikes, or even
again and get them reconnected to the walk to the local bus stop.
earth. Researchers always have to prove Science is barely keeping up with
what we already know. Yet, there has the social networking effects on children.
been a great amount of research regard- One recent report shows that the streams
ing the effects nature has on children. It of information offered to children are too
stimulates their brain function and cre- fast for the brain to process. Children are
ative functions, their coordination and losing their moral compass.
balance, not even taking into account How often do we see reports of young
what it does for them physically. girls beating each other up for fun, young
As an adult some of my fondest boys trying the tricks they see on a TV pro-
memories are of times spent in the creek near my home gram like surfing on the top of a car, and the saddest reports
walking with my Collie. Thinking of it again, I can see the of children’s idols being the Paris Hiltons? Ask a young person
trees, the rocks, the flowing water - I can almost smell the what they want to be when they are grown up and many of
earth’s mustiness as I sit here today. Don’t you remember them will answer, “rich and famous”.
your forts, tree houses, creeks, lakes, capturing fire flies, or The science will not be in until possibly too late in the
watching earth worms squiggle after a good rain? “game”, so to speak, regarding the violence in video games.
More often than not schools keep their focus indoors It has been proven that violent video games raise blood
with auditoriums and little physical education instead of an pressure and increase the heart beat. Science does suggest
open field. Many schools have cut not only athletics, but that some video gaming helps children develop better visual
many of their creative endeavors like band, choir, art, and skills, interest in computers, and therefore opens them up to
field trips. greater learning.
Parents are fearful of child abduction so bike riding, Personally, I am dismayed at how much time my seven
walking to school, even playing in the yard are minimized. grandchildren play video games, watch videos, have music
Not only are the parents’ fears involved, but many children blasting in their ears or, are otherwise entertained. It is as if
they are not entertained unless they are being hurt in some
way. I get tired physically just listening to my daughter’s three
boys’ schedules. Between football, baseball, camps, and
homework, there is only time for dinner on the fly. In be-
tween times they always seem to have a video game in their
hands or are plugged into their iPods.
Ironically, our grandchildren, when visiting, love to walk
with us in our local park as is our daily routine. Picking up a
stick and stirring things up, chasing lizards, or just having the
opportunity to talk with no noise is priceless.
How can we ever expect our children to respect Mother
Earth when they never get acquainted with her? Spending an
evening in your backyard watching the stars, planting a small
garden, or walk in the park with no headphones is so simple.
What if once a week a family’s intention was to explore a
new park or nature trail just to see what can be seen.
We have created a perfect storm through commercial-
ism, sexism, violence, busyness, trying
to be our child’s friend, and not allow-
ing “No” to be a complete sentence.
We then look for the child and there is
“no child left inside”.
Rev. Lana Charlton is the senior
minister at Unity Gateway Church,
Coral Springs, and writes for numerous
worldwide, national, and local publica-
tions. See ad page 38 and 62.
20 Broward County
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